Newcastle United regained promotion to the Premier League as winners of the Championship in season 2009/10. Roared on by their extraordinary fans, the Magpies kept their top-flight status last season.
Manager Chris Hughton, who led Newcastle to promotion, was surprisingly axed by club owner Mike Ashley on December 6. Alan Pardew took charge of the team after Hughton’s sacking.
Hughton, who had been appointed manager of Newcastle in October 2009, did a good job at St James’s Park and his dismissal confounded the critics. Yet, the expectations at Newcastle are so high that not even a manager who guided his side back into the top echelon as champions, and positioned the team in mid-table, survived the sack. Newcastle eventually finished 12th in the Premier League.
A poor record of only six home wins was probably the reason why the directors opted for a change. Three straight wins in the first phase of the campaign went down well with the fans since one of them was a 5-1 hammering of eternal rivals Sunderland at St James’s Park.
Yet Newcastle’s most memorable match last season was the 4-4 draw at home to Arsenal after the Magpies trailed 4-0 at half-time.
Critics argued that Newcastle, who sold England striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January, had exceeded expectations by finishing 12th in their first season after clinching promotion to the Premier League.
The players’ approach was positive and the season was a roller-coaster ride for the Newcastle fans who were treated to some high-scoring victories and commendable away days. The Toon won five matches on their travels compared to the six they chalked up at home.
First final
Stoke City did well to achieve survival in the Premier League and reach the final of the FA Cup.
In the semi-finals at Wembley, Stoke surprised one and all by running riot against Bolton, winning 5-0. This boost failed to lead to another positive result against Manchester City as the Potters went down 0-1 in the final.
However, they still managed to make club history by appearing in their first ever FA Cup final.
As Manchester City qualified for the Champions League last season, Stoke will compete in the Europa League this term.
In the league Tony Pulis’s team failed to improve on their 11th position in 2009/10 as they dropped two places to 13th. Yet, their performances at home almost equalled those of the top five as Stoke went into double figures, notching 10 wins. They struggled on the away front, managing only three wins.
This was the third straight Premier League campaign for Stoke. One must also remember that in his long career, manager Pulis has never suffered relegation.
Kenwyne Jones, who joined Stoke from Sunderland, was their top scorer in the league with nine goals.
On their way to the FA Cup final, Stoke knocked out West Ham and Wolves before their semi-final victory over Bolton.
In the League Cup, Stoke went out early at West Ham, losing 1-3 at Upton Park in the fourth round.
Newcastle produced a shock in the third round of the League Cup after eliminating Chelsea by the odd goal in seven at Stamford Bridge. But in the next round, Newcastle went down 4-0 to Arsenal.
In the FA Cup, the Magpies suffered humiliation after losing 3-1 away to Stevenage.
Premier League results
Newcastle United
August − Away vs Manchester United 0-3.
Home vs Aston Villa 6-0 (Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3).
Away vs Wolves 1-1 (Carroll).
September − Home vs Blackpool 0-2.
Away vs Everton 1-0 (Ben Arfa).
Home vs Stoke 1-2 (Nolan pen).
October − Away vs Manchester City 1-2 (Gutierrez).
Home vs Wigan 2-2 (Ameobi, Coloccini).
Away vs West Ham 2-1 (Nolan, Carroll).
Home vs Sunderland 5-1 (Nolan 3, Ameobi 2, 1 pen).
November − Away vs Arsenal 1-0 (Carroll).
Home vs Blackburn 1-2 (Carroll).
Home vs Fulham 0-0.
Away vs Bolton 1-5 (Carroll).
Home vs Chelsea 1-1 (Carroll).
December − Away vs West Brom 1-3 (Lovenkrands).
Home vs Liverpool 3-1 (Nolan, Barton, Carroll).
Home vs Manchester City 1-3 (Carroll).
Away vs Tottenham 0-2.
January − Away vs Wigan 1-0 (Ameobi).
Home vs West Ham 5-0 (Best 3, Nolan, Lovenkrands).
Away vs Sunderland 1-1 (Nolan).
Home vs Tottenham 1-1 (Coloccini).
February − Away vs Fulham 0-1.
Home vs Arsenal 4-4 (Barton 2 pens, Best, Tiote).
Away vs Blackburn 0-0.
Away vs Birmingham City 2-0 (Lovenkrands, Best).
Home vs Bolton 1-1 (Nolan).
March − Home vs Everton 1-2 (Best).
Away vs Stoke 0-4.
April − Home vs Wolves 4-1 (Nolan, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Gutierrez).
Away vs Aston Villa 0-1.
Home vs Manchester United 0-0.
Away vs Blackpool 1-1 (Lovenkrands).
May − Away v Liverpool 0-3.
Home vs Birmingham 2-1 (Ameobi pen, Taylor).
Away vs Chelsea 2-2 (Gutierrez, Taylor).
Home vs West Brom 3-3 (Taylor, Lovenkrands, Olsson og).
Stoke City
August − Away vs Wolves 1-2 (Faye).
Home vs Tottenham 1-2 (Fuller).
Away vs Chelsea 0-2.
September − Home vs Aston Villa 2-1 (Jones, Huth).
Home vs West Ham 1-1 (Jones).
Away vs Newcastle 2-1 (Jones, Perch og).
October − Home vs Blackburn 1-0 (Walters).
Away vs Bolton 1-2 (Delap).
Home vs Man. United 1-2 (Tuncay).
Away vs Everton 0-1.
November − Away vs Sunderland 0-2.
Home vs Birmingham 3-2 (Huth, Fuller, Whitehead).
Home vs Liverpool 2-0 (Fuller, Jones).
Away vs West Brom 3-0 (Etherington pen, Walters 2, 1 pen).
Home vs Manchester City 1-1 (Etherington).
December − Away vs Wigan 2-2 (Huth, Etherington).
Home vs Blackpool 0-1.
Away vs Blackburn 2-0 (Huth, Wilson).
Home vs Fulham 0-2.
January − Home vs Everton 2-0 (Jones, Jagielka og).
Away vs Manchester United 1-2 (Whitehead).
Home vs Bolton 2-0 (Higginbotham, Etherington).
Away vs Fulham 0-2.
February − Away vs Liverpool 0-2.
Home vs Sunderland 3-2 (Carew, Huth 2).
Away vs Birmingham 0-1.
Away vs Arsenal 0-1.
Home vs West Brom 1-1 (Delap).
March − Away vs West Ham 0-3.
Home vs Newcastle 4-0 (Walters, Pennant, Higginbotham, Fuller).
April − Home vs Chelsea 1-1 (Walters).
Away vs Tottenham 2-3 (Etherington, Jones).
Away vs Aston Villa 1-1 (Jones).
Home vs Wolves 3-0 (Jones, Shawcross, Pennant).
Away vs Blackpool 0-0.
May − Home vs Arsenal 3-1 (Jones, Tennant, Walters).
Away vs Manchester City 0-3.
Home vs Wigan 0-1.