Stoke City have moved into seventh position in the Premier League table after Xherdan Shaqiri netted nine minutes from time to earn the Potters a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
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The first chance of the match went to the visitors as Jonjo Shelvey picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was tame and straight at Jack Butland.
Before the quarter-hour mark, Stoke tested Newcastle stopper Rob Elliot but his biggest drama came from tipping by a cross from Erik Pieters that seemed destined to find the bottom corner.
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Neither side were able to seize the initiative during the remainder of the opening 45 minutes, with the biggest talking point being an injury to Phil Bardsley which adds to the Potters' growing problems in the treatment room.
The action did not pick up after the restart either, with only a volley from Ibrahim Afellay threatening a goal for either side.
The swirling wind at the Britannia made it difficult for any kind of sustained play in the final third, but with nine minutes remaining, Stoke went ahead.
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Shaqiri picked up the ball from 25 yards out before unleashing a well-struck effort into the corner of the net, but for some reason, Elliot did not attempt to dive to his right when the ball was within touching distance.
Substitute Seydou Doumbia almost equalised for Newcastle in added-on time before Marko Arnautovic struck the crossbar, but one goal was enough to move the Potters further into contention for a Europa League place and leave Newcastle in the relegation zone.
Darren Plant
