Five-star Toon rout Bluebirds to go six clear

Newcastle 5 Cardiff 1

Carroll plundered a double inside a devastating opening 15 minutes and in between, was instrumental in defender Gabor Gyepes putting through his own goal as the home side cruised to victory.

Even Ireland’s Stephen McPhail, playing his first game since returning from treatment for cancer, was unable to stem the tide as Cardiff wilted in the face of a storm and a delighted crowd of 44,028 saw substitute Lovenkrands claim a brace of his own as Chris Hughton’s men extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games.