Newcastle go fifth after fourth successive victory

NEWCASTLE completed a note-perfect November as a 2-1 victory over West Brom made it four wins from four games in the month and lifted Alan Pardew's side to fifth position in the Premier League table.

Yoan Gouffran opened the scoring with a close-range header towards the end of the first half, and while Chris Brunt hammered home an Albion leveller at the start of the second period, Moussa Sissoko's 57th-minute pile-driver separated the teams.

The win was no more than Newcastle deserved given their general dominance throughout, and while the Magpies' last two home games have not seen them hit the heights they recorded against Chelsea, victories over Norwich and West Brom are notable achievements.

They have lifted Newcastle into the European places for the first time this season, and while Pardew will hardly be enthused about the prospect of another Europa League campaign, the club's supporters can justifiably dream of renewing continental rivalries next season.

As expected, Pardew made just the one change to the side that beat Norwich last weekend, with Mathieu Debuchy returning from suspension to replace Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in the back four.

The first chance went the way of West Brom, with Tim Krul turning Chris Brunt's third-minute free-kick around the post, but Newcastle gradually gained the upper hand and began to dictate the tempo of the game.

The first half was hardly a classic, with referee Phil Dowd's whistle interrupting play with disappointing regularity, but the Magpies enjoyed the better of it and merited their interval lead.

Loic Remy narrowly failed to connect with a dangerous Mathieu Debuchy cross in the 19th minute and Yohan Cabaye whistled a 22nd-minute drive wide of the target, but Newcastle were indebted to Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill when they finally broke the deadlock nine minutes before the break.

Shola Ameobi's leap partially obscured the goalkeeper's view as he attempted to clear Cabaye's corner from the left, but even so, the resultant punch was an especially poor effort.

The ball looped up on the edge of the six-yard box, and Gouffran rose to head home his third goal in the last four Premier League matches.

The goal was also Newcastle's second from a corner in as many games. Like London buses, you wait forever, and then two come along at once.

Boasting a one-goal advantage, Newcastle might also have had one more man than their opponents had Dowd not given Jonas Olsson the benefit of the doubt on the stroke of half-time.

Cabaye's through ball enabled Remy to turn towards the area, and the Frenchman crumpled to the ground after Olsson grabbed at his shirt.

The contact was minimal, and it would have been a harsh decision had a free-kick been awarded, but as the last man, Olsson would surely have been sent off had Dowd blown his whistle.

As it was, West Brom retained a full complement of players, and despite not really having threatened in the first half, the visitors claimed a surprise leveller within eight minutes of the break.

Shane Long flicked on Morgan Amalfitano's cross from the right, and with no one picking him up at the back post, Chris Brunt lashed a fierce finish into the roof of the net.

Brunt's strike was searing, but it was nothing compared to the long-range pile-driver that enabled Newcastle to regain the lead just four minutes later.

Gouffran nodded the ball down to Sissoko 30 yards out, and the Frenchman delivered a swerving effort that arced into the top right-hand corner. It was his first goal since February, and was undoubtedly worth the wait.

Newcastle might have had a penalty when Billy Jones appeared to handle the ball with 17 minutes left, but once again a key decision from Dowd went against them.

They almost claimed a third shortly after, with Debuchy hammering a shot straight at Myhill after James Morrison conceded possession in a dangerous area, but survived a last-minute scare when substitute Victor Anichebe headed wide from a decent position inside the box.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Sissoko (Remy 90), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Remy (Anita 83).

Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa.

WEST BROM (4-2-3-1): Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Morrison; Amalfitano (Gera 88), Sessegnon (Anichebe 76), Brunt (Berahino 76); Long.

Subs (not used): Daniels (gk), Popov, Yacob, Lugano.