Shola Ameobi wins it for Newcastle United

Newcastle United substitute Shola Ameobi fizzed home in the 81st to see Newcastle United come out on top in a game of few chances against Queens Park Rangers at St James' Park this afternoon.

© PA Photos

The home side created the best of a bad bunch of openings in the opening 45, with Papiss Cisse hitting the sidenetting in the seventh minute.

Soon after the interval, Papiss's namesake Djibril forced Tim Krul to turn a shot around the post as QPR looked to take a surprise lead.

© PA Photos

Papiss Cisse then wasted a chance by nodding his free header wide of Robert Green's post on the hour mark. Moments later, the QPR stopper was forced into a save from Vurnon Anita's cross.

Magpies substitute Shola Ameobi broke the deadlock in the 81st minute by cutting inside from the right and firing low with his left foot.

Three points for the Magpies see them climb to 14 while QPR remain five points adrift of safety in 19th.