Six of the best from Magpies

THIS was not the debut that Stephen Ireland anticipated after joining Aston Villa from Manchester City.

Ireland was no more than an irrelevant onlooker from midfield as his new team were swept aside in startling fashion by Chris Hughton’s Premier League newcomers.

Even Newcastle’s manager, former Republic of Ireland international Chris Hughton, was startled at the scoreline. But he cannot have been as surprised as Ireland, who failed to make any impact against the midfield authority of Joey Barton and Alan Smith.