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Newcastle 1 - 0 Norwich

KO: Sun Sep 23 15:00:00 BST 2012 Ground: St James' Park, Newcastle 
Att: 49402 Referee: N Swarbrick 

Newcastle United v Norwich Preview

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Video: Newcastle v Norwich preview - Pardew, Hughton and 'Toon Talk'

Newcastle United host Norwich City in their third game in six days following the 2-2 draw with Everton and the stalemate in Portugal with Maritimo in the Europa League.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote will be available for Alan Pardew after a spell out through injury but the game with Norwich may come too early for captain Fabricio Coloccini.

The game will also be a first return to Newcastle for City manger Chris Hughton who takes his side back to his former club looking for his first Premier League win of the season.

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Video: Alan Pardew looks ahead to the game with Norwich City

Canaries boss Hughton will be guaranteed a good reception from the home fans as he makes his first return to the club since his sacking in 2010.

 Newcastle will be seeking their second win of the campaign after drawing two and losing one since their opening day victory over Tottenham.

Norwich have drawn their last three games after losing their opening game of the season at Fulham.

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Video: Why Newcastle are 'on the up'

Newcastle go into the game on the back of their goalless draw with Maritimo in the Europa League on Thursday night.

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  • Norwich have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 35 Premier League away games
  • Norwich City are the first team since Blackburn in 93/94 not to pick up a single card in their opening four Premier League games
  • Jonas Gutierrez has been fouled more often than any other player in the Premier League (14).

Newcastle United 1-0 Norwich City

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Video: Pardew on 'important' Norwich win

Demba Ba scored the only goal of a tight contest as Newcastle United edged out Norwich City 1-0 to leave their former manager Chris Hughton still without a Premier League win this season.

Hughton was given a warm reception on his return to St James' Park and Norwich started the game strongly, but it was Newcastle who took the lead against the run of play in the 19th minute when Ba slotted a cool finish past John Ruddy after expertly controlling Hatem Ben Arfa's defence-splitting pass.

The Magpies had an opportunity to double their advantage on the stroke of half-time after Steve Morison conceded a penalty for a shove on Mike Williamson, but Papiss Cisse blazed his spot-kick high into the stands.

Norwich kept battling after the interval as Newcastle struggled to find their best form, but Steve Harper pulled off a fine save to deny Andrew Surman and the Canaries were unable to find an equaliser.

Slow start

Alan Pardew's side were guilty of once again starting slowly as Norwich arrived determined not to allow them to have it all their own way.

City might have been ahead within five minutes had Wes Hoolahan not headed straight at defender Steven Taylor after full-back Javier Garrido had played a one-two with Surman on the left and crossed.

The outlet provided by Surman and Garrido down that side prompted Pardew for the second time in a week to switch right-back James Perch and midfielder Vurnon Anita and, although that stemmed the tide to a degree, Robert Snodgrass was also prospering down the right to keep the Magpies' defence on their toes throughout.

But as the game wore on, the home side found their feet as an attacking force and with Ben Arfa causing all kinds of problems for Garrido and Davide Santon repeatedly stretching Russell Martin, they began to create chances.

They might have taken the lead with 18 minutes gone had Cisse made a meaningful connection with Yohan Cabaye's free-kick at the near post with Perch seeing his effort from the rebound blocked.

However, they were in front seconds later after Ben Arfa produced a moment of sheer class.

The Frenchman cut inside from the left before sliding the perfect pass into the path of Ba, who calmly slotted past the advancing Ruddy.

But to their credit, Norwich refused to fold and Mike Williamson had to be in the right place at the right time to clear Snodgrass' header off the line following good work by Hoolahan.

Video: Former manager Chris Hughton on his return to Newcastle

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Cisse passed up another good opportunity 13 minutes before the break when he missed his kick from Santon's near-post cross, and Cabaye smashed the loose ball just wide, while Ba failed to make the most of more brilliance from Ben Arfa when he miscontrolled his pass in front of goal after the winger had embarrassed Surman.

But the Magpies should have extended their lead in first-half injury-time when, after striker Morison had barged into Williamson inside the Norwich penalty area, referee Neil Swarbrick pointed to the spot.

Ben Arfa, who struck from 12 yards during the opening day victory over Tottenham, immediately grabbed the ball, but was persuaded to hand it over to Cisse, whose need for a goal was plain for all to see.

But the Senegal international skied his effort high over the bar, in the process earning Ben Arfa a tirade from assistant manager John Carver with Pardew sitting high in the stands as he served out his touchline ban.

Carver's wrath might have been incurred once again within two minutes of the restart when Hoolahan turned the ball perfectly into Surman's path to put him through on goal.

Harper was quickly off his line and the 37-year-old got down superbly to make a vital block as the midfielder attempted to lift a shot over him with the outside of his left foot.

Newcastle were struggling to find their rhythm once again, and Jonas Gutierrez had to get a block on a 53rd-minute Snodgrass effort with Santon clearing Morison's header at the far post from the resulting corner.

Ben Arfa prompted a fine diving save by Ruddy three minutes later as the Magpies stepped up a gear with Taylor and Cabaye going close in quick succession.

Williamson headed a Cabaye corner straight at Ruddy five minutes later and the keeper claimed Ba's weak 83rd-minute effort as Newcastle negotiated their way nervously, but safely, to the final whistle, although substitute Gabriel Obertan was left nursing the after-effects of a robust challenge from Michael Turner.

Newcastle United Team Statistics Norwich City
1 Goals 0
1 1st Half Goals 0
6 Shots on Target 3
10 Shots off Target 4
2 Blocked Shots 3
4 Corners 5
11 Fouls 20
3 Offsides 1
1 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
78.6 Passing Success 73.1
17 Tackles 15
64.7 Tackles Success 73.3
53 Possession 47
42.2 Territorial Advantage 57.8
429 Total Passes 364
21 Total Crosses 29
165 Lost Balls 182
74 Recoveries 43
59.7 1st Half Poss. 40.3
47.4 2nd Half Poss. 52.6
 

Man of the match: James Perch. Pushed forward into midfield after a difficult start to the match for the home team, he helped Newcastle gain control by breaking up play and distributing the ball sensibly.


Moment of the match:
Newcastle looked set to take full control of the match when they were given a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Papiss Cisse fired horribly over the crossbar.


Save of the match:
Steve Harper rushed off his line quickly to smother Andrew Surman's shot early in the second half after the Norwich man had been played in by Wes Hoolahan.


Talking point: Should Alan Pardew keep faith with Papiss Cisse as the striker continues to struggle for form? Is Norwich's first win of the season just around the corner?

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Match links

Newcastle

37 Steve Harper
14 James Perch
6 Mike Williamson
27 Steven Taylor
3 Davide Santon
10 Hatem Ben Arfa
8 Vurnon Anita
4 Yohan Cabaye
18 Jonas Gutierrez
9 Papiss Cisse
19 Demba Ba

Substitutes
21 Rob Elliot
20 Gael Bigirimana
23 Shola Ameobi
24 Cheick Tiote
25 Gabriel Obertan
28 Sammy Ameobi
34 James Tavernier

Norwich

1 John Ruddy
2 Russell Martin
20 Leon Barnett
5 Sebastien Bassong
18 Javier Garrido
7 Robert Snodgrass
8 Jonny Howson
4 Bradley Johnson
11 Andrew Surman
14 Wes Hoolahan
16 Steve Morison

Substitutes
28 Mark Bunn
6 Michael Turner
9 Grant Holt
10 Simeon Jackson
12 Anthony Pilkington
24 Ryan Bennett
27 Alexander Tettey

Barclays Premier League

Pos Team P Pts
1 Manchester United 38 89
2 Manchester City 38 78
3 Chelsea 38 75
4 Arsenal 38 73
5 Tottenham Hotspur 38 72
6 Everton 38 63
7 Liverpool 38 61
8 West Bromwich Albion 38 49
9 Swansea City 38 46
10 West Ham United 38 46
11 Norwich City 38 44
12 Fulham 38 43
13 Stoke City 38 42
14 Southampton 38 41
15 Aston Villa 38 41
16 Newcastle United 38 41
17 Sunderland 38 39
18 Wigan Athletic 38 36
19 Reading 38 28
20 Queens Park Rangers 38 25