Stoke City have opened up a 1-0 lead over Newcastle United at the interval thanks to a Peter Crouch header at the Britannia Stadium.
A quiet opening period was quickly forgotten when the Potters broke the deadlock in the 15th minute through Crouch, who timed his jump to perfection inside the box to head a Victor Moses cross past the helpless Tim Krul.
The home supporters felt that Stoke should have been given a penalty midway through the first half, but Craig Pawson resisted the temptation to point to the spot after Yoann Gouffran had appeared to foul Moses inside the box.
Newcastle went close to levelling the scores with the counter-attack which followed the penalty appeal when Moussa Sissoko fired a powerful effort just past the post.
Crouch had the opportunity to double his tally before the break, but he was unable to direct his header past Fabricio Coloccini at the back post.
An extended spell of pressure almost brought an equaliser for Newcastle late in the first half as Asmir Begovic was forced to tip Daryl Janmaat's low strike wide.
Callum Mulvihill
