In the end it only took one goal for Newcastle to wrap up all three points, but it was a winning goal of the highest quality as Leon Best netted for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa back in September. Best has been overshadowed on the goal scoring front this campaign by top scorer Demba Ba, but with Ba absent on African Cup of Nations duty, Best was given an opportunity to lead the line and regain his form in front of goal.
The Irish international made no mistake and grasped his chance with both hands, as on 37 minutes he collected Ryan Taylor's lay off on the edge of the area before elegantly knocking the ball past Luke Young and slotting home a cool finish into the bottom corner past Rangers' keeper Paddy Kenny.
Most highlight compilations from the game will show that QPR enjoyed the better chances, but in truth if any team was going to score the game's 2nd goal it was Newcastle. Yes, Mark Hughes' new charges spurned a number of decent opportunities, but in the cold light of day they lacked the cutting edge of a Premier League side and look like a team destined for a struggle against survival.
This is undoubtedly something that will worry the former Fulham; Man City; Wales and Blackburn boss but for Alan Pardew's Newcastle it meant that they were able to see out the game in remarkably comfortable fashion.
Danny Guthrie was arguably Newcastle's star man, the midfielder, coming in for the absent Cheick Tiote, used possession efficiently and was composed on the ball throughout. Davide Santon was impressive again at left back, while defensive partners Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson were rarely troubled.
What was perhaps most pleasing for Pardew though was the contribution of Hatem Ben Arfa, who came on midway through the first half for Yohan Cabaye after the former Lille man had sustained minor ligament damage following a rash tackle by Sean Derry. Ben Arfa's introduction sparked a period of Newcastle dominance that eventually led to Best's opener.
The Rangers' defence struggled to handle the enigmatic Frenchman, as he regularly switched flanks with Jonas Gutierrez in a Magpies' midfield that became drastically more fluid following the former Marseille player's arrival from the substitutes bench.
Indeed, the shape of Newcastle's midfield changed on many occasions throughout the contest, and it is a testament that to the versatility of messrs Guthie; Taylor and James Perch - who was deployed as a holding midfielder late in the 2nd half - that Pardew's side were able to maintain their defensive solidity while allowing Ben Arfa and Gutierrez such freedom to roam.
This wasn't a great Newcastle performance by any stretch of the imagination, but it was one that gives this particular blogger hope that the team can remain in contention for a top six berth minus the sizeable talents of Ba and Tiote.
Pardew has clearly drilled an ethic of defensive responsibility into every member of his squad, and it is especially important to note that even supposed bad boy Ben Arfa was seen tracking back with increasing frequency on Sunday. That in itself probably tells you all you need to know about the commitment of this Newcastle team.
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