HT: Newcastle 1-0 Stoke - Nolan penalty puts Toon ahead at the break

Kevin Nolan fired Newcastle ahead from the penalty spot as Stoke's stubborn resistance was finally broken.

The Magpies' skipper converted from 12 yards to give his side a deserved lead two minutes before the break after Robert Huth had barged Andy Carroll.

They had made all the running without creating too many clear-cut chances, but the visitors offered little in reply during the opening 45 minutes.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton turned to his big guns once again as nine of the men who fashioned a midweek Carling Cup victory over Chelsea made way for the game with Stoke.

Summer signings Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote were handed first starts at St James' Park and James Perch returned from suspension as the Magpies looked to end a good week with a third win after their 1-0 success at Everton last Saturday.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made four changes to the side which dumped Fulham out of the Carling Cup as Asmir Begovic, Danny Higginbotham, Ricardo Fuller and Tuncay Sanli sat out.

Thomas Sorensen, who famously saved an Alan Shearer penalty at St James' during his Sunderland days, Danny Collins, Dean Whitehead and Jon Walters were drafted in.

The visitors kicked off and threw the ball straight up to Kenwyne Jones, one of four former Black Cats in the starting line-up, but although he out-jumped full-back Jose Enrique, the Magpies were able to clear.

Ben Arfa was quickly into the game as he tried to get the home side moving forward, and he fired in a promising cross after collecting Joey Barton's excellent pass inside full-back Andy Wilkinson, although Wayne Routledge miscontrolled.

The home fans were calling for the Frenchman to shoot every time he got the ball after his stunning strike at Goodison Park, and with Barton running the midfield battle, Newcastle were starting to dominate.

Stoke were looking to hit Jones early and Wilkinson's 12th-minute long ball got him in behind Jose Enrique, although the Spaniard's pace allowed him to recover and shepherd the ball out of play.

Robert Huth did just enough to prevent Andy Carroll connecting with Enrique's cross two minutes later, and Sorensen claimed Barton's free-kick above the striker seconds later.

Ben Arfa whipped a 19th-minute free-kick wide after Mike Williamson had been fouled by Salif Diao and Enrique blasted across the face of goal after being played in by Barton a minute later with the Magpies continuing to make the running.

The visitors mustered their first real effort with 25 minutes gone, but Steve Harper's deputy Tim Krul was not called upon.

Dean Whitehead's long ball over the top found Jones wide on the left, but although he cut inside and went for goal right-footed, he dragged his effort well wide.

The Trinidad and Tobago international needed treatment after a clash of heads with the battling Tiote, but he was able to continue.

Enrique got away with an audacious piece of defending on the half-hour when, having been penned in by Walters close to the corner flag, he slipped the ball between the striker's legs to allow team-mate Fabricio Coloccini to clear.

Barton got a chance to go for goal 11 minutes before the break after Kevin Nolan had been fouled by Glenn Whelan 25 yards out, but he drilled his free-kick into the defensive wall.

Newcastle were handed another opportunity from similar range two minutes later after Huth was adjudged to have handled Ben Arfa's pass, but this time the Frenchman was well off target.

But it took a vital interception by Ryan Shawcross to deny Carroll a free-header at goal after Routledge sent in a teasing 39th-minute cross.

However, Carroll was to play a significant role in the opening goal when he was barged to the ground by Huth as he ran on to Enrique's cross two minutes later.

Referee Mike Jones pointed straight to the spot as the Germany international's protests were waved away, and skipper Nolan calmly sent Sorensen the wrong way to open the scoring.