Soccer: Newcastle United get back to winning ways

Newcastle Upon Tyne - Newcastle United put there past draws and FA cup to defeat to West Brom on Friday evening when they beat Cardiff City 5 1 at St James Park.

The magpies got off to a flying start with striker Andy Carroll netting after only three minutes after a corner was headed back across the face of goal by Kevin Nolan. Three minutes later Newcastle doubled their lead after Carroll broke into the box and had a shot deflected into the back of the net by Cardiff defender Gyepes. Ross McCormack almost got city back into when his shot deflected back of Steve Harper's cross bar. Carroll took his tally to two goals for the game only 15 minutes into the first half sending an a cross by Danny Simpson cannoning into the back of the net. United's new boys in the defence put up an excellent fight against Cardiff City with centre half Fitz Hall making his debut for the club, alongside new signing Mike Williamson and loan signing Patrick Van Aanholt, with Danny Simpson fit to take his place in the right back position. Routledge had his second start for the club on the right hand side of the midfield and manager Chris Houghton gifted a debut to signing Leon Best. Newcastle United seemed lack luster in the second half until the introduction of Peter Lovenkrands, Lovenkrands replaced debutant Best not long after the break, and it took only ten minuted for Lovenkrands to make an impact scoring his first goal of the game after a fine through ball from Routledge to make the score 4 0. Lovenkrands scored his second goal of the game to make the score 5 0 with a curling left footed shot hitting the post and rebounding into the net. Cardiff rounded of the scoring in the 89th minute with Wilding finding space to slot the ball past keeper Steve Harper. This 5 1 win puts United 3 points clear at the top of the championship going into an away clash with Derby County at Pride Park on Tuesday.