Newcastle United secured their third successive victory in the Premier League with a comfortable 2-1 win over Norwich City.
Loic Remy scored his eighth goal of the season in the second minute of the game, while Yoan Gouffran doubled the home side's advantage before half time.
Leroy Fer got a late goal for the Canaries to make the last few minutes tense at St James' Park but Alan Pardew's side held out for the win.
Sports Mole now looks back at the game to see if the Magpies deserved their win.
Match statistics:
Newcastle:
Shots 21
On target 5
Possession 49%
Corners 6
Fouls 8
Norwich:
Shots 10
On target 2
Possession 51%
Corners 5
Fouls 7
Was the result fair?
Newcastle deserved the win as they controlled the game despite not being at their free-flowing best. They didn't create many clear-cut opportunities but they took the ones that were on offer and restricted the visitors in terms of their chances. Norwich didn't muster much going forward at all bar five-minute spells in either half, they didn't attack the Magpies with an impetus in the second half to get back into the game and when they did, it was far too late to change the course of the game.
Newcastle's performance
The Magpies were solid if unspectacular. They were gifted two goals and did not have to work too hard to earn their victory. They were pretty relaxed with the ball as the Canaries failed to press and that allowed them to control the tempo of the game, which after taking a 2-0 lead was slow and to their liking. Defensively they were sound for the majority of the game with Shola Ameobi make a crucial block on the ground to deny Nathan Redmond, a sign of a team playing for each other and with confidence. A good sign for Pardew that his team won without playing especially well.
Norwich's performance
There's a reason Norwich don't win many games away from home and this performance proved that. They were far too passive in this game and didn't take the game to the Magpies at all despite having some good moments in a five-minute spell in the first half when they should have equalised. Defensively they conceded two very cheap goals, which were avoidable as two players fell asleep with Bradley Johnson allowing Remy to creep in behind him for the first, while no-one reacted to John Ruddy's initial save from Ameobi for the second. A poor display that showed little ambition or fight.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Shola Ameobi: The striker could have scored two goals today but was a real focal point on his attack and allowed Remy and Gouffran to play off him with ease and little attention. He was unlucky to see his header saved by Ruddy, which was turned in by Gouffran and minutes later his shot which was destined for the corner was also saved by the keeper. He also did his part at the back with a crucial block on the floor in a complete performance.
Biggest gaffe
In the second minute of the game the Canaries weren't switched on from Yohan Cabaye's corner and Remy slipped in behind Bradley Johnson to net the opener. Remy had scored seven goals before that strike, so how you can allow him to nip in free at the back post in the opening minutes of the game is baffling and downright poor. Not the midfielder's finest moment.
Referee performance
Mike Dean had a good game and was forced to go into his pocket for a yellow card just once to caution Ryan Bennett late in the match. He allowed the game to flow as much as he could and his decisions on the while were fine. A solid performance as at times it was thought that he was not there.
What next?
Newcastle: The Magpies host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League next Saturday.
Norwich: Chris Hughton's side face Crystal Palace at Carrow Road next week.
Simon Sinclair
