Newcastle 2-1 West Brom: Cisse nets priceless stoppage-time winner

A stoppage time winner from Papiss Cisse saw Newcastle United take all three points in a 2-1 victory against West Brom at St James' Park.

Newcastle top scorer Demba Ba opened the scoring with a 34th minute volley but Albion hit back through the impressive Romelu Lukaku, whose 55th minute header looked to have ensured that the Baggies take a share of the spoils.

Second-half substitute Cisse stole the points though, deflecting a Sammy Ameobi effort past Ben Foster for the win.

Alan Pardew made nine changes from Thursday night’s 1-0 win over Club Bruge in the Europa League, with only James Perch and Davide Santon starting successively.

West Brom made three changes to the side that narrowly lost at home to Champions Manchester City last weekend. Steve Clarke brought in Zoltan Gera, Peter Odemwingie and more surprisingly, Lukaku, who started in place of top scorer Shane Long who was dropped to the bench.

After a cagey opening, the first real chance of the game came on 11 minutes and it should have provided the opening goal too.

Shola Ameobi swung over a peach of a cross from the right hand side for Ba to attack. The Newcastle front man threw himself at the ball but from just 6 yards out headed over.

Ba’s chance seemed to turn the game into the home sides favour and 8 minutes later Santon stung the palms of visiting goalkeeper Foster with a 30-yard effort. The resulting corner seen Foster called upon again, holding well from an Ameobi header.

On 25 minutes a quick Albion counter attack almost turned the game on its head. After a Newcastle corner broke down, Graham Dorrens slipped in Lukaku to get a left footed shot away from just inside the Newcastle box. A fine Tim Krul saved thwarted the big striker to keep the game at deadlock.

Newcastle continued to dominate the first half and just before the opening goal some magic was injected into the game through a superb run from Hatem Ben Arfa. His run down the left hand side provided Ameobi with a chance on the edge of Albion’s box. His poor left footed effort sailed over.

Ba then opened the scoring minutes later with his seventh league goal of the season. Krul’s route one approach worked perfectly. His lump up field was flicked on by Ameobi and after poor attempt at a clearing header from Jonas Olsson, Ba spun round the Swedish international and pounced to volley home.

The goal woke up the visitors and Lukaku should have equalised for West Brom 5 minutes later. Youssouf Mulumbu played a superb through ball, splitting the Newcastle backline and Albion’s front man saw another left footed effort in the box saved by Krul.

Just before the break Peter Odeminwingie flashed a right-footed effort at Krul’s goal but his 25-yard effort from the right hand side could only find the side netting.

West Brom started the second half as well as they had ended the first and the Baggies had the ball in the net 2 minutes after the break .

Odemwingie’s scuffed effort was helped goal wards by Lukaku whose slight touch diverted it past Krul only to be correctly ruled out offside.

On 55 minutes the tireless Lukaku finally got his goal and levelled the game. After some excellent hold up play by the Belgian striker he picked out Gera on the left hand side. Lukaku then converted Gera’s superb cross, his strong header finally beating the impressive Krul.

Pardew responded to the equaliser 5 minutes later, brining on Cisse and Gabriel Obertan for Danny Simpson and Ameobi reverting to a 4-4-2 system. Sammy Ameobi later joined the action after Ba was forced off through injury.

The game seemed destined for a draw after Cisse missed the chance to convert a late header after some good work from Obertan down the right hand side.

There was still time for some late drama in the north east though. After some good advantage play from referee Chris Foy, Sammy Ameobi smashed a 25-yard effort toward goal. With the ball heading wide of the target it deflected off Cisse, whose touch took it away from Foster and into the net to claim his first Premier League goal of the season and pinch the win.