After an 18-day enforced break, Newcastle returned to action at the Britannia Stadium knowing that any points put on the board would lift them out of the relegation zone following Tuesday night's results. With Fabricio Coloccini ruled out, Jonjo Shelvey was handed the captain's armband - just as he was in La Manga - but it was the same old story for the Magpies as we lost yet again away from home. On a night in which the blustery conditions played their part, we hardly looked like threatening Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland - who had produced a masterclass in the reverse fixture at St James' Park. After a pretty tame 80 minutes in which the home side had dominated the play without really creating any chances, Xherdan Shaqiri unleashed a piledriver from just outside the box which rifled into Rob Elliot's net. Although the 'keeper could argue that the wild weather caused him problems, the Toon Army can feel disappointed in the shotstopper's efforts as he stood routed to the spot as the ball whistled past him. The home side looked more likely to clinch a second as the all-too-often Magpies capitulation threatened to set in, but a snapshot by loanee Seydou Doumbia in the dying stages produced the only save worth mentioning that Butland had to pull off all game before Marko Arnautovic rattled United's woodwork at the other end. The result piles more pressure on the club whose away following were once again in full voice and the home game against Bournemouth is surely now a must-win clash if we are to stand any chance in surviving the dreaded drop. From a total Newcastle bias, here's the match ratings from last night...
Goalkeeper...
Rob Elliot - 4
The shotstopper could be questioned about his part to play in Shaqiri's goal after he was static when the shot fizzed past him. After dealing with the blustery conditions well in the first half, playing against the wind in the second 45 appeared to cause Elliot some problems, with many kicks getting nowhere near the halfway line.
