Hull City travelled to St James' Park this afternoon hoping to end their run of 26 Premier League away matches without a win against an improving Newcastle United side.
Prior to kickoff, the Magpies were unbeaten in three matches and they looked in good shape once again when Loic Remy netted his first goal for the club on 10 minutes.
Robbie Brady equalised for Hull shortly after, but Newcastle did enter the break with an advantage courtesy of Remy's superbly-taken second.
Former Sunderland full-back Ahmed Elmohamady headed the visitors level minutes after the interval, and Sone Aluko completed the second-half comeback with a side-foot volley 14 minutes from time.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded on Tyneside.
Afternoon, all! Steve Bruce is Newcastle born but his Sunderland connections mean that he shall not be greeted as a Geordie hero when he takes his Hull side to St James' Park today.
Team news is filtering through, and the Tigers boss is forced into a couple of changes...
NEWCASTLE: Krul; Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon; Anita, Sissoko, Cabaye; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Remy
SUBS: Elliot, Dummett, Williamson, Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran
HULL: McGregor; Rosenior, Davies, Chester, Elmohamady; Brady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Quinn; Aluko Graham
SUBS: Harper, Bruce, Faye, Boyd, Meyler, Proschwitz, Sagbo
Captain Robert Koren is missing for Hull and will be for around five weeks with a fractured foot. Stephen Quinn comes into the visiting midfield, and will probably play off the left.
Another key figure for Bruce, Maynor Figueroa, is unavailable after being granted passionate leave to return to Honduras for family reasons.
Ahmed Elmohamady switches from the right side of defence to cover Figueroa's absence at left-back, and he will play behind Quinn in a new-look Hull left side.
Liam Rosenior makes his first Premier League start of the season, although the 29-year-old right back did start for Hull in their Capital One Cup victory at League One table toppers Leyton Orient.
Having completed his suspension following his red card in the 1-0 in over Norwich City, Yannick Sagbo returns to the Tigers squad, but is only on the bench as Danny Graham continues up front.
The Sunderland loanee has not scored in his last 20 Premier League appearances, with his last goal coming on New Year's Day in Swansea City's draw with Aston Villa.
One man who has not had any problems finding the net in recent times is Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa, who has bagged in each of the Magpies last two games, both of which they have won.
This afternoon, the Frenchman, of which their are six in Alan Pardew's XI, forms part of an attacking trio that also includes Loic Remy and Papiss Cisse. That is a strike force that, on their day, could cause problems to defences significantly stronger than Hull's.
Newcastle's aforementioned French connection is one of the main reasons that the Magpies are without an Englishman in their starting lineup...
Steven Taylor may have been in line for a recall after serving his ban, but the homegrown defender is missing with a hamstring strain, so Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa continues to deputise.
Goalkeeper Rob Elliot, Mike Williamson and Sammy Ameobi do give Newcastle an English representation on the bench, but Sammy's brother Shola Ameobi is sidelined with injury.
HEAD TO HEAD: Newcastle and Hull have only met twice in the Premier League. They drew 1-1 at Hull in March 2009, while Hull won 2-1 at Newcastle in September 2008.
While they may have tasted victory on their last trip to St James' Park, Hull's top-flight record on their travels will not give their fans much room for optimism this afternoon.
A 1-0 success at Fulham in March 2009 was the last time Hull picked up maximum points on the road in the Premier League, and they actually went through the entirety of their last campaign in the big time without an away win.
In fairness, the Tigers have faced some daunting coach journeys so far this season. They have been to Chelsea and Manchester City in the opening weeks, so this is probably their best chance to date of a positive away result.
Under 10 minutes until kickoff now in the North East...
The players emerge out of the tunnel, and on to the St James' Park turf, as Steve Bruce finds his way to the away dugout, where he is greeted with a loud chorus of boos by the home fans behind him!
PREDICTION: I like the look of this Newcastle attack, and I think they prove too much for Hull this afternoon. I'll plump for 2-0 to the Magpies, with Loic Remy on the scoresheet.
The hosts get the action underway on Tyneside, where Martin Atkinson is our referee. Here we go...
Newcastle have certainly started on the front foot and are stroking the ball around confidently. Remy collects a Cabaye pass on the left side, throws a dummy and unleashes an early sighter that flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
Cabaye clatters into Robbie Brady with a late challenge. The Frenchman is known to like a tackle and he doesn't always get it right. A free kick is awarded and Cabaye probably owes it being the early stages of this match as to why he was not more severely punished.
Another long-range effort from another Newcastle Frenchman fails to test Alann McGregor in the Hull goal. In-fact, this strike from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa failed to test the handling skills of anybody in the lower tier as it went sailing high into the stands.
It actually looks as though Rosenior, and not Elmohamady, is deputising for Figueroa at left back.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Hull (Remy)
Loic Remy has his first goal in Newcastle colours! Sissoko travels with the ball before crossing deep to the back post, where Cisse miscues a volley into the ground. It bounces over Curtis Davies in the centre of the goal and onto the head of Remy, who cannot miss from six yards.
Well, that is one half of my prediction that I have got right! The last time Remy was on the scoresheet, it was against Newcastle in a Queens Park Rangers shirt last season.
BLOCKED! A lovely move from Newcastle, as Cabaye finds a pocket of space between the Hull midfield and defence before spinning to release Cisse, who switches it to Ben Arfa on the right flank. The playmaker cuts inside onto his favoured left foot and shoots, but Davies throws his body in the way.
PENALTY APPEAL! Brady delivers a wonderful cross from the left which is headed behind before Livermore has the chance to make contact at the far stick. From the resultant corner, Davies feels that he was fouled by Coloccini as he went to strike the loose ball, but referee Atkinson is unmoved.
BLOCKS! Vurnon Anita does well to halt the dribble of Sone Aluko, but then Davide Santon's pass inside is intercepted by Livermore. He opens up his body for a curler that is blocked by Yanga-Mbiwa, and a second attempt from the Spurs loanee is foiled by Coloccini.
Remy illustrates his pace by bursting past Chester on the left flank before crossing. The delivery is overhit, but Ben Arfa collects it on the right byline, only to dwell on possession and allow Stephen Quinn to pinch it from him.
SAVE! It just won't happen for Danny Graham, will it? Brady does brilliantly to cross on the spin and the Hull striker climbs above Coloccini to head goalwards from inside six yards. Tim Krul makes a superb reflex stop and Newcastle clear the second ball before Graham can pounce for his first goal in 20 Premier League matches.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Hull (Brady)
Hull are level and it is Robbie Brady's third of the season! Newcastle never really regain their shape after scrambling Graham's attempt partially clear. Quinn plays inside to Aluko, who shifts the ball left to an unmarked Brady. Right-back Debuchy is nowhere as the former Manchester United trainee drives low through the legs of Krul.
That goal will disappoint Alan Pardew as he will feel that his side had dominated much of the opening half-an-hour of this contest. In truth, they had, but that shows how quickly things can change in football, as Hull now mount another attack.
Santon is lucky to escape without a yellow card after he goes to ground under absolutely no contact from Elmohamady on the halfway line. In fairness, he didn't really appeal for a free kick, and was quick to get back on his feet, which might have just saved the Newcastle full-back.
Huddlestone picks out Graham with a superb ball over the top. The striker times his run to perfection, but his first touch is poor and Coloccini can make up the ground to dispossess him before he can get a shot away.
BLOCK! Livermore is again denied by a sprawling Newcastle body as he picks up a failed Coloccini clearance in the box and looks to bend a shot into the far corner, only for Debuchy to block.
SHOT! A pedestrian Newcastle passing move is injected some life when Ben Arfa cuts inside, as he loves to do and lays the ball back to Cabaye. The Frenchman surprises McGregor by striking the ball first time, but in the end the Hull stopper is untroubled by the effort that dips just over the crossbar. Good try from Cabaye.
A nervous moment for the home fans, who gasp in angst as Yanga-Mbiwa's back pass dribbles slowly towards Krul, who sprints out to boot the ball away before the charging Graham can pounce.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-1 Hull (Remy)
Remy restores Newcastle's lead with his second of the game just prior to the break! Cabaye's shot is blocked by the outstretched foot of Chester. The ball falls kindly to Remy, but from then on the QPR loanee does brilliantly as he bends the ball nonchalantly into the bottom left corner. What an accomplished first-time finish that was.
We are entering first-half stoppage time, of which there will be two minutes...
HALF-TIME: Newcastle 2-1 Hull
Loic Remy's first Premier League double has given Newcastle a half-time lead against the Tigers, who had regained parity when Robbie Brady shot through Tim Krul in between each of Remy's goals.
The second of the Frenchman's strikes really was a fantastic first-time finish, and director of football Joe Kinnear was visibly delighted in the box as he celebrated his only summer signing's contribution.
STATS: Newcastle have enjoyed 62% of the possession and managed to convert their time on the ball into 12 attempts on goal. That have, though, only found the target twice, both of which led to goals for Remy.
We are back underway at St James' Park. Can Hull find another equaliser?
SHOT! Aluko receives the ball into feet on the edge of the box, and he spins Coloccini before shooting, tamely, into the gloves of Krul.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-2 Hull (Elmohamady)
Hull level the scores for a second time this afternoon, and, again, the defending is questionable from Newcastle. Anita gives away a needless free-kick on the left flank when he goes through the back of Aluko. Brady delivers and Elmohamady makes an unchecked run into the near-post area and delicately flicks the ball in off the far post.
It's a goal against the Magpies for a former Sunderland player, and he may be wondering how he had it so easy. Nobody followed Elmohamady's run and the Egyptian was in yards of space when he guided Brady's cross beyond Krul.
UPDATE! There have been four goals in this game, and in an amazing story from the Championship match at St Andrews, there has also been four goals, all scored by Birmingham City's teenage debutante Jesse Lingard. What a way to make a name for yourself! The Blues lead Sheffield Wednesday 4-0.
SHOT! Debuchy makes the decision to shoot from all of 35 yards when he had options left and right of him, and the final result is another catching opportunity for the fans behind the goal. Newcastle have been very wayward from range today!
Sissoko makes an overlapping run down the right, and Ben Arfa is happy to release him. A cross is delivered into the box, where there are three Newcastle bodies, but Chester climbs highest to head clear the danger.
Cabaye is down receiving treatment after being caught in the leg while going in fiercely for a 50-50 with Curtis Davies. Yoan Gouffran is limbering up on the sideline.
SUBSTITUTION: Gouffran enters the fray in place of Cabaye, who is not able to continue. He will play off the left, with Remy now moving into the centre as Pardew switches to 4-4-2.
That's a pretty attacking change from Hull, who might fancy that they can snatch maximum points here. Since they equalised, the visitors have certainly looked just as likely as Newcastle to add to the scores...
SUBSTITUTION: Sylvain Marveaux is introduced to the action by Pardew, who brings off striker Cisse, who has not had a clear sight of goal this afternoon. That change will likely mean Gouffran being moved into a more advanced forward position.
SUBSTITUTION: Hull also make a change as another former Sunderland player, David Meyler, replaces goalscorer Robbie Brady.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-3 Hull (Aluko)
Hull have completed an unlikely turnaround by taking the lead, and in some style too! George Boyd runs down the left flank and crosses back to the edge of the box, where Aluko meets the ball with a side-foot volley which pings off the post and into the net. What a finish!
Whether the Tigers have done quite enough to warrant their lead, Aluko has certainly put in a performance worthy of that goal. His work rate has been fantastic. He's been a constant nuisance to the Newcastle defence and now he has his reward.
Again Danny Graham is left to rue his first touch as he fails to control a loose ball inside the area and a combination of Coloccini and Krul foil him. He could have put the game to bed there.
Ben Arfa is penalised for a tug on Rosenior on the Newcastle right. The Magpies seemed to have attacking options aplenty in the first half, but they now seem devoid of a plan B. They shift the ball out to Ben Arfa on the right, and then just wait for the Frenchman to create something.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A change from either side, as Pardew swaps Debuchy for Tiote and Bruce brings on Sagbo in place of Graham, who certainly had chances to end his now 21-match wait for a Premier League goal.
Around three minutes plus stoppage time remaining at St James' Park and only now are Newcastle starting to throw bodies forward and build some established pressure in the Hull half. Their territory has not yielded a chance as yet, though...
Sagbo has a chance to break as a Newcastle attack breaks down, but Bruce points his striker towards the corner. His attempted time wasting is not the best though, and the hosts have possession again.
We are now entering second-half stoppage time, of which there will be FIVE minutes!
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Loic Remy to complete his hat-trick and snatch Newcastle a point. Marveaux chips into the box and when Gouffran flicks on, Remy controls the ball brilliantly, but drags his follow-up shot just wide!
BOOKING: Just a short moment ago, Hull's Huddlestone became the first player to be cautioned this afternoon when he is yellow carded for kicking the ball away in an attempt to wind down the clock some more.
FULL-TIME: Newcastle 2-3 Hull
Steve Bruce exacts some revenge on Newcastle for the 5-1 thumping he took as Sunderland manager by taking three points away from St James' Park with his Hull side this afternoon.
The Tigers twice went behind courtesy of Loic Remy's first two goals for Newcastle, the second of which was superbly taken, but Robbie Brady and Ahmed Elmohamady were on hand to cancel out each of the Frenchman's strikes.
Sone Aluko then capped a man-of-the-match performance with a fantastic side-foot volley on 76 minutes that earned Hull their second win since returning from the top flight.
That is all from me for this afternoon. Be sure to stay with Sports Mole for live text coverage of the West London derby between Fulham and Chelsea. Thanks for joining us today. Over and out...
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
