Newcastle United 3, Stoke City 1

Demba Ba scored a hat trick to give Newcastle a 3-1 win over Stoke on Monday and make sure his team remained unbeaten in the Premier League.

Ba put the visitors ahead 2-0 by halftime before handing Stoke a lifeline by bringing down Peter Crouch in the area, with Jonathan Walters pulling a goal back from the spot in the 75th. However, Newcastle was given its own penalty just five minutes later, and Ba converted the spot kick to put the game beyond reach with a low shot into the left corner.

Ba was close to joining Stoke from Hoffenheim in January, but the club pulled out of the deal after he failed a medical exam.

The victory puts Newcastle in third place with 22 points from 10 games, six points behind leader Manchester City.