Newcastle overtook Bordeaux at the
top of Europa League Group D with a
clinical 3-0 win over the French club at
the Sports Direct Arena.
The Magpies surged ahead through
Shola Ameobi's early tap-in and after
an own goal from Henrique doubled
the lead before the break, Pape Cisse
rounded things off with an acrobatic
third.
Yohan Cabaye was the first to threaten
as he sent a dipping effort just wide of
the far post from the corner of the
area and then found the side-netting
with a free-kick - but the visitors should
have opened the scoring in between.
Jaroslav Plasil's inviting cross looked
perfect for Ludovic Obraniak only for
the Pole to misdirect his header high
and wide, and the hosts quickly
punished his folly on the quarter-hour
mark.
Gabriel Obertan was the architect as he
skipped past Mariano's poor challenge
to get to the by-line, and his low ball
across goal was easily converted at the
far post by Ameobi.
Yoan Gouffran twice threatened Rob
Elliot's goal and the home stopper was
soon into action to deny Ludovic Sane,
but Alan Pardew's side secured a two-
goal advantage five minutes before
half-time when Henrique turned Danny
Simpson's cross into his own net.
Bright spark Shane Ferguson laid on
the third in the 55th minute - the
young Irishman's centre being coolly
swept into the far corner on the
bounce by an unmarked Cisse who
may well have started his run a yard
offside.
The remainder of the game was less of
a spectacle with Newcastle happy with
their night's work, but substitute
goalkeeper Steve Harper - on for the
injured Elliot - stayed alert enough to
prevent former Manchester United
forward David Bellion from grabbing
late consolation.
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