Barton strikes as Newcastle gain valuable win

Joey Barton justified the faith of Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear by scoring the opening goal as the Magpies beat West Brom 2-0 for only their second Premier League win this season.

Barton, making his first start since being released from prison, struck from the penalty spot in the 10th minute before birthday boy Obafemi Martins added a second three minutes before half-time at St James' Park here on Tuesday.

West Brom substitute striker Ishmael Miller pulled a goal back in the 65th minute to fray the nerves of Newcastle's fans but the home side hung on for a first league win since August.

Victory took United out of the relegation zone and into 15th place, a point behind the Baggies, although all the other teams around them at the bottom of the table are in action on Wednesday.

“I know it's an old cliche but nobody wants to be in the bottom three,” Kinnear told Sky Sports. “Nobody likes being in that position but if we can carry on now and get a second win then that would be great.

“If we can get a second victory back to back then it would be a completely different picture.”

Reflecting on a fraught display after half-time, Kinnear added: “We started the second-half too cautiously.

“We kept defending deeper and deeper because we were trying to protect what we had but we sat back instead of going for it and we caused ourselves some problems.”

Barton returned last weekend in the north-east derby against Sunderland after a six-game ban imposed by the Football Association (FA), following the 74 days he served in prison for assault on a 16-year-old boy, and also a training ground assault on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo which earned him a suspended sentence.

The midfielder was only on the pitch for the final few minutes of the defeat but was pelted with coins and bottles as he warmed-up on the touchline.

His response was to kiss the badge on his Newcastle shirt, a move that many saw as inflammatory and a contributory factor to the violence which broke out after the final whistle between rival fans at the Stadium of Light.

Kinnear insisted, however, the midfielder would be picked on the same basis as any other player and Barton, eager for responsibility, showed no sign of being under pressure when he slotted home a penalty after Shola Ameobi had gone down in the box under a challenge from Ryan Donk.

Nigeria striker Martins, 24 on Tuesday, doubled United's lead, when his powerful header was deflected in off West Brom defender Jonas Olsson.

By that stage, Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given had preserved the home side's lead with a fine save when one-on-one with James Morrison.

Miller, a 54th minute replacement for Chris Brunt, did get the goal the Baggies' pressure deserved when, after Robert Koren's precise pass had opened up United's defence, he calmly rounded Given and shot into the unguarded net.