Demba Ba was the hat trick hero once again for Newcastle United as they continued their superb start to the season season to inflict a first home defeat of the season on Stoke City.

The Senegalese hit man’s second treble of the season stretched the Magpies’ unbeaten run to 10 games in the Premier League and lifted them above Chelsea into third on 22 points. It was a controlled performance from Alan Pardew’s men as they neutralised Stoke’s physical approach also dealing well with the aerial assault from Rory Delap’s long throws with Jon Walters scoring their consolation. The Potters struggled to get the better of the visitors back line all evening and were put to the sword by a player who they almost signed in January. Ba was all set to move to the Britannia Stadium only for Tony Pulis to turn his back on the deal over the strikers injury record and how it came back to haunt him. His side went into the game protecting an unbeaten home record that had seen them conceded only one goal and take points from Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. The pre-match build up billed this as Newcastle’s biggest test of the season – a tag which is beginning to attach itself to every one of their games. Once again they came through with flying colours with some resolute defending, especially from man of the match Jonas Gutierrez,  and incisive counter attacking play seeing them to victory.

Pardew was shorn of the services of his midfield enforcer with Cheick Tiote missing the trip to the Potteries due to a knee injury with Danny Guthrie stepping in to replace him. The Magpies’ game plan this season has been to get the ball down and play but they took a book straight out of the Stoke textbook taking a route one path to goal in the 12th minute. A long punt from Tim Krul was flicked on by the unchallenged Leon Best finding Gabriel Obertan in behind the defence. The Frenchman kept his composure to lift a delicate ball into the box for Ba to stoop and head past Asmir Begovic. The home side were reduced to set pieces as they sought a way to goal but were unable to find a way past the back four and their game plan was further weakened after captain Ryan Shawcross limped off through injury. They almost got themselves back into the game but Krul was equal to Matthew Etherington’s rising effort as Stoke struggled to contain the away sides sharp movement. They found themselves two behind just before half time with Ba on hand once again to tap home from Leon Best’s cross shot. The Republic of Ireland striker had done brilliantly to control Fabricio Coloccini’s ball into the area before finding Ba at the back post.

Stoke increased the pressure after the break as they fought admirably to find a way past a sturdy Newcastle rearguard that was put under serious pressure from a barrage of aerial balls. Substitute Robert Huth came the closest heading over the bar before Walters offered them an avenue back into the game. Pulis threw Kenywyne Jones on for the last 20 minutes and his presence in the penalty area caused panic with Ba going from hero to villain, conceding a penalty for a shove on Peter Crouch. Walters made no mistake from the spot blasting the ball high into net causing the Britannia faithful to sent the decibel level soaring. They were silenced six minutes later though as Ba converted a penalty of his own after Best was nudged by Huth in the area. The former West Ham striker cooly slotted home his eight goal of the season to complete his hat trick to secure Newcastle’s first top-flight win over Stoke and send them soaring into third – a position even the most loyal Geordie fan wouldn’t have thought possible at the beginning of the campaign.