Newcastle 3-1 Peterborough

Newcastle United cemented their place at the top of the Championship table with goals from Jonas Gutierrez, Andrew Carroll and Danny Simpson.

Gutierrez broke the deadlock with a stunning strike after weaving past four defenders with a run from his own half.

Carroll made it 2-0 when heading Danny Guthrie's corner past keeper Joe Lewis.

Simpson found the top corner of the net from the edge of the area before Peterborough grabbed a late consolation with Dean Keates' close-range strike.

However, the game will be remembered for the angry reaction from fans towards Mike Ashley after the owner's decision to re-name Newcastle's stadium.

The new name - sportsdirect.com@St James' Park Stadium - provoked furious protests before, during and after the match.

But, thankfully for the under-fire owner, the players did the business on the pitch in Chris Hughton's first home game since being confirmed as the club's manager.

From the moment Gutierrez capped an enterprising 15th-minute run with that sparkling opener, the bulk of a crowd of 43,067 were at least able to enjoy the fare on the pitch.

The Argentina international set out from inside his own half before cutting inside from the left wing, carving his way through the blue shirts and firing right-footed past a stunned Lewis.

Newcastle were 2-0 up within three minutes when Carroll guided Danny Guthrie's corner beyond Lewis with a deft near-post header.

Gutierrez then limped off but Lewis was beaten for the third time seven minutes after the break.

Full-back Simpson cut inside from the right to curl a left-foot shot into the top corner.

Peterborough kept battling but, by the time Keates struck from close range with 80 minutes gone, there was no way back.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"We have got a totally-focused group of players who, from minute one, saw an opportunity for us to stay on top of the division, and very much took that opportunity.

"We have got used to getting on with the job. There are things we can't affect, but I am very lucky that I have got a group of players who are focused on one thing, and that's on staying where we are at the right end of the table with the ultimate aim of getting promotion.

"We are focused enough and it certainly hasn't taken anything away from the victory."

Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"Out of every game I've got to take positives, but we just don't give ourselves a chance.

"We spoke at length about trying to keep and trying to get control of the game quickly.

"We knew they'd come out of the traps quick they always do at home. I think they were hurting a little bit from the defeat in the cup."