Stoke City felt victory comfort at the Britannia Stadium through Peter Crouch’s header and this is no good news for Newcastle and Alan Pardew.

Pardew have only Five wins in 27 games and is at the zone of being removed at Saint James’s Park should the Management loose patience.

The lead-up to the Britannia Stadium clash had been dominated by controversy over comments from Newcastle owner Mike Ashley indicating that Pardew would be sacked if they lost to Stoke.

A legal representative for Ashley later insisted that the remarks were made in jest, but he now has a decision to make after watching another lifeless performance which leaves Newcastle still awaiting their first league victory of the season.

The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in wet Staffordshire conditions but their failure to create clear-cut chances was punished by Crouch.

The 33-year-old striker hit home his second goal in as many league games, converting a Victor Moses delivery
to seal victory and spark further calls for Pardew to be removed from his post.
Jack Colback somehow crashed an effort against the crossbar as the minutes ticked away, leaving Pardew sweating once again over his future on Tyneside.

Marc Muniesa was retained after scoring twice against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup in Stoke’s only alteration from their draw with QPR, but an unchanged
Newcastle side had the first real chance in the 14th minute as Emmanuel Riviere lashed over following good work from Remy Cabella.

Indeed, it was a convincing win for Stoke City and a wasteful loss for the Magpies.

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