NEWCASTLE UNITED climbed into the top four of the Premier League table as they claimed a 2-1 win over Stoke City.

Jamaal Lascelles was the match winner for the second weekend in a row as his second-half header ensured the Magpies made it three Premier League wins in a row for the first time in three years.

An impressive Newcastle claimed a deserved first-half lead through Christian Atsu, but were pegged back when Xherdan Shaqiri scored with a fine long-range strike at the start of the second half.

Lascelles headed home Matt Ritchie’s corner in the 69th minute to settle things though, with Newcastle rising to fourth position behind Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Having returned to work following his recovery from surgery, Rafael Benitez made three changes to his Newcastle line-up. DeAndre Yedlin, Chancel Mbemba and Christian Atsu came into the side that started last weekend’s 1-0 win at Swansea, with Javier Manquillo, Jesus Games and Jacob Murphy dropping out.

The Magpies had been in impressive form at the Liberty Stadium, and they quickly picked up where they had left off as they dominated the opening 45 minutes against Stoke. If anything, the only disappointment at the interval was that they were only one goal ahead.

They scored with their first real chance of the afternoon, with Atsu claiming his first goal of the season in the 19th minute.

Matt Ritchie swung over an inviting in-swinging cross from the right-hand side, and Atsu stole ahead of a dawdling Mame Biram Diouf to stab home at the back post.

The goal sparked a flurry of Newcastle chances, but Lascelles was unable to make it two goals in two games as he headed Ritchie’s corner wide of the target from inside the six-yard box. Crucially, he would improve on that effort in the second half.

Rob Elliot produced a superb save to tip Shaqiri’s curled effort over the crossbar, but that proved a rare scare for the Magpies, who continued to dominate.

Joselu was lining up against his former employers following a £5m summer move from the Britannia Stadium, and the Spaniard was unable to convert two excellent first-half opportunities to double Newcastle’s lead.

He broke clear of the Stoke defence to reach Chancel Mbemba’s cross shortly before the half-hour mark, but his first-time half-volley drifted wide.

Seven minutes later, and Joselu was clear in front of goal again, but while DeAndre Yedlin’s shot deflected fortuitously into his path, his low strike was saved by the legs of Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Joselu should really have done better on that occasion, and he wasted another glorious opportunity just 16 seconds into the second half.

Atsu’s cross eluded Kevin Wimmer to fall into his path, but he blazed over from ten yards out when with a little more composure, he would surely have scored.

With only a one-goal cushion to defend, Newcastle were vulnerable to a Stoke recovery, and Elliot produced his second fine save when he got down well to keep out Shaqiri’s shot after the Swiss winger was teed up by Jese Rodriguez in the area.

However, when Shaqiri next threatened in the 57th minute, Newcastle’s goalkeeper was powerless to prevent him levelling the scores.

Picking up the ball from Joe Allen, Shaqiri drifted across the face of the area before sweeping a crisp low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

Suddenly, Stoke were enjoying their best spell of the game, and Elliot had to produce yet another excellent save to keep out Diouf’s header from Shaqiri’s cross.

At the other end, Newcastle had a strong penalty appeal turned down despite Kurt Zouma appearing to foul Atsu in the box, but the Magpies did not spent too long stewing about the decision and reclaimed their lead four minutes later.

Ritchie was the provider once again, swinging in an inviting corner to enable Lascelles to out-jump Kevin Wimmer and power home a header via the underside of the crossbar.   

Stoke boss Mark Hughes threw on Peter Crouch in search of a second equaliser, but the visitors were unable to convert their best chance of another goal with three minutes left.

Crouch nodded Shaqiri’s cross into the path of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, but the striker blazed over the top from ten yards out.

Stoke  threatened again in the second minute of injury-time, but Diouf’s glanced header from Bruno Martins Indi’s cross drifted wide of the far post.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba; Hayden (Shelvey 69), Merino; Ritchie, Perez (Diame 85), Atsu; Joselu (Gayle 78).

Subs (not used): Woodman (gk), Manquillo, Lejeune, Murphy.

Stoke (3-4-2-1): Butland; Zouma, Martins Indi, Wimmer; Diouf, Allen (Crouch 84), Fletcher, Pieters; Jese (Sobhi 62), Shaqiri; Choupo-Moting.

Subs (not used): Grant (gk), Johnson, Tymon, Adam, Berahino.