Ba hat-trick lifts Newcastle to third

Demba Ba

LONDON, (Reuters) – Demba Ba scored a hat-trick as  Newcastle United continued their impressive start to the season  with a deserved 3-1 win at Stoke City in the Premier League yesterday.   

Newcastle, among the pre-season favourites for relegation,  climbed to third place in the table and remain unbeaten after 10  matches.   

French-born Senegalese striker Ba headed home Gabriel  Obertan’s teasing cross from close range after 12 minutes and he  doubled the away side’s lead with another neat finish five  minutes before halftime.  
 

Demba Ba

Ba gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul on Peter Crouch  and Jon Walters converted the spot-kick to give Stoke hope with  15 minutes remaining.   

Ba, however, quickly made amends when he coolly dispatched a  penalty, his eighth goal of the season, after Robert Huth was  adjudged to have shoved Leon Best in the area.   

“I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t play the way we  should have in the second half but we defended well and you  don’t get to 22 points without showing different sides to your  game,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told Sky Sports.   

“All the big sides have been here and not won so that just  shows how good Stoke are. They are a top team and will finish  top 10.”  
 
Newcastle climbed above Chelsea into third place, one point  behind Manchester United and six adrift of leaders Manchester  City. Stoke remained 11th in the standings.