Newcastle 5 - 1 Cardiff

Andy Carroll had a hand in the first three goals, which came in 15 minutes.

The striker scored the first from close range, saw his shot off the post turned in by Gabor Gypes for an own-goal, then rose unmarked to head his second.

After the break sub Peter Lovenkrands added two more, poking in before adding a fine curled second, with Aaron Wildig hitting a late Cardiff consolation.

Former Magpies striker Michael Chopra had promised not to celebrate if he scored at St James' Park, but his restraint rarely looked like being tested on a black night for the Welshmen.

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton fielded all six of his January transfer acquisitions in his starting line-up, and that meant debuts for Leon Best and Fitz Hall and a first appearance at St James' for Patrick van Aanholt.

But it was one of the old guard who struck the first blow with just three minutes gone, after Gyepes had conceded a third-minute corner trying to stop Wayne Routledge.

Danny Guthrie's cross was headed back across goal by Hall and flicked on by Kevin Nolan for Carroll to stab home from close range and give his side the perfect start.


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The 21-year-old striker should have collected his eighth goal of the season three minutes later when he smashed a left-foot shot against the foot of the post.

But the unfortunate Gyepes could only help the rebound into his own net as the Magpies raced into a 2-0 lead.

Ross McCormack might have pulled one back immediately for the visitors, but his stinging volley cannoned back off the bar.

Carroll then claimed his second of the game when he met Danny Simpson's inch-perfect cross with an unstoppable header.

Bluebirds full-back Adam Matthews drifted a 20th-minute cross on to the angle of bar and post with goal keeper Steve Harper once again beaten, but it was not Cardiff's night.

The second half was never likely to start as explosively as the first, although Harper had to be on his toes to turn over Chopra's 51st-minute shot after it looped up off Hall.

Dave Jones' men were enjoying plenty of possession, but were rarely able to trouble Hughton's rearguard.

They were made to pay with 21 minutes remaining when Routledge fed Lovenkrands and he finished with aplomb, sliding the ball past David Marshall.

Carroll was denied a hat-trick by Gyepes' 80th-minute goal-line clearance, but Lovenkrands made it 5-0 with a fine finish two minutes later.

Cardiff substitute Wildig's late strike was scant consolation for the demoralised visitors, who never the less remain in the play-offs and have an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Chelsea to look forward to.

One plus point for the Bluebirds was the return of midfielder Stephen McPhail, who played his first game - lasting 75 minutes - since returning from treatment for cancer.