Barclays Premier League

IMPORTANT POINT FOR THE TOON ARMY

Newcaslte made hard work of what was a simple task in reality. QPR offered next to nothing but the hosts couldn't find a way through for 80 minutes. The difference? Sylvain Marveaux - he looked so much more threatening in the centre of the park and provided the decisive pass moments after coming on. Shola Ameobi once again pops up with an important goal for Newcastle!

LAST CHANCE WASTED

A late late free kick goes straight through to Tim Krul and that's the last action of the game. Newcastle United 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.

DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR QPR

Queens Park Rangers don't look like creating anything now, despite Newcastle's strange urge to hurry things up. Demba Ba keeps racing off to collect the ball for a quick free kick, and Pardew is demanding for him to slow things down in the dying seconds.

ADDED TIME

Much to the surprise and dismay of Alan Pardew, the fourth official announces five added minutes. Pardew has a point though, there's hardly been a break in play. Can QPR rescue a point late on?

PERCH BOOKED

James Perch is cautioned for dissent.

INCHES WIDE

Demba Ba dummies the free kick and Sylvain Marveaux drills it inches wide of the near post.

YELLOW CARD

Clint Hill is booked for bringing Demba Ba down. Advantage really should've been played as Sylvain Marveaux was through on goal. A subsequent foul is given bang on the 18-yard line - free shot for Demba Ba...

ALMOST TWO!

Queens Park Rangers commit several players forward and almost get caught out. Newcastle break with speed but Sylvain Marveaux, who has Gabriel Obertan free on the overlap, is denied by Robert Green.

MORE ON THAT GOAL

What a big goal that could prove to be! It's the two substitutes that combine, Sylvain Marveaux providing the final ball that his side have lacked all afternoon, and SHOLA AMEOBI cutting inside and curling one beyond Robert Green.

GOOOAAALLL

Newcastle finally find a way through and it's Shola Ameobi!

SUBSTITUTION

One last throw of the dice for Alan Pardew: Sylvain Marveaux on, Cheik Tiote off.

NERVY ATMOSPHERE

The tension is rising inside St. James' Park, and you can understand why. The home side have completely dominated in terms of possession and chances, yet the scoreline remains unaltered.

MORE CHANCES TO NO AVAIL

Gabriel Obertan has been superb since coming on, and puts another dangerous ball in from the right. Demba Ba heads straight at the keeper and QPR live to see another onslaught.

THIRD TIME UNLUCKY

Demba Ba has a third chance from a free kick, but his effort from the right goes straight into the wall. At least he kept the ball in play and Newcastle can win a corner, which is cleared with relative ease.

NO END PRODUCT

Gabriel Obertan puts a mouth-watering ball in but once again Newcastle are outnumbered in their opponent's box and nobody can provide the finishing touch.

PRESSURE INCREASING

Newcastle are beginning to turn the screw once more - this time Vurnon Anita's cross is headed wide by Shola Ameobi. Junior Hoilett has come on for Djibril Cisse, who demonstrated his dismay to the manager, which was the most enthusiasm we've seen from him all day.

MISTAKE FROM GREEN

Vurnon Anita's average-looking free kick is spilt by Robert Green, but none of the Newcastle players in the area can capitalise. Meanwhile, Cheik Tiote is booked, meaning he misses the Boxing Day trip to Old Trafford.

LAST CHANCE FOR CISSE

One of the best chances of the game falls to Papiss Cisse, who heads Jonas Gutierrez's cross over. That's the pair's last chance as they both depart for Shola Ameobi and Gabriel Obertan. Cisse is furious with his manager - and himself for missing that chance.

RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY?

QPR seem the brighter side at the moment, as they defend and attack as a unit. Newcastle, on the other hand, look sluggish and uninspired. Time for a substitution, perhaps?

SUBSTITUTION

QPR sense the game changing and send on Shaun Wright-Phillips to try and create something a little more noteworthy. Esteban Granero - who has been useless this afternoon - departs. Sylvain Marveaux and Shola Ameobi are warming up for Newcastle.

SCRAPPY PLAY

Newcastle have loosened their grip on this match and it's become a bit of a free for all in the centre of the park. That plays into QPR's hands as the game is wide open now, although Djibril Cisse seems reluctant to make any effort whatsoever.

FIRST SAVE FOR KRUL

Adel Taarabt takes matters into his own hands with a scything run at the defence. He picks out Stephane Mbia, who fires towards goal. It travels marginally wide and after a long period of indecision, the linesman awards a fruitless corner, judging that Krul got a slight touch.

GOING DOWN TOO EASILY

Jonas Gutierrez has been in quite a few promising positions this afternoon, but he just goes down far too easily each time. The ref knows exactly what he's doing and has waved play on each time.

KICK OFF

The second 45 is underway.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

The home side have been in complete control for the first 45 minutes, but have nothing to show for it. Vurnon Anita and Cheik Tiote have had no challenge to their midfield authority yet have been unable to create anything meaningful. Davide Santon probably had the best chance late on, but a deflection denied him his first goal for the club. It's goalless at the break.

HALF TIME

The first half comes to a close.

SANTON SHOT!

Davide Santon hasn't scored for Newcastle yet, but he came very close moments ago! He hits the ball sweetly but a crucial deflection sees it wide. The resulting corner affords Cheik Tiote half a chance, but he only succeeds in scoring a home run.

MORE SHOTS ON GOAL

Papiss Cisse's shot brings Robert Green into action for the first time, but it's very simple for the experienced keeper. James Perch also has a shot, but it's difficult to control and he can't find the target.

ANOTHER TERRIBLE EFFORT

After that woeful effort from Ba, Vurnon Anita steps up to take a second free kick. However, instructions from the bench mean that Ba will get a chance to make amends. He doesn't. This one is possibly worse than the first, as the fans in Row Z are in more danger than Robert Green's goal.

GOOD CHANCE WASTED

Newcastle United get a free kick in a promising position, but after a long build-up, Demba Ba chips the ball way over the bar. That's about as bad as you'll see at this level.

FABIO SAVES THE DAY

Well, he hasn't had the greatest of afternoons so far, but this time Fabio keeps the score level. Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse play a neat one-two, but just as Ba is about to pull the trigger, Fabio dives across to block Ba's clear sight at goal.

CONTINUED THREAT

Newcastle continue to play the game in their opponent's half, with the main threat coming from the flanks. Crosses from each side are plentiful, but Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are playing too deep and there's nobody in the area to convert.

ANITA BACK ON

Vurnon Anita is back on following his ankle injury - or attempt to arouse sympathy from the ref. Meanwhile, Jonas Gutierrez almost worms his way into the area, nutmegging Anton Ferdinand, before running straight into the defender. The home fans appeal for obstruction but the ref waves play on.

SIMILAR SITUATION

The same situation from a minute ago has been repeated, but the other way round, with Fabio fouling Anita. The Newcastle midfielder stays down, apparently with a knock to the ankle, but Mr. Friend still refuses to reach into his pocket.

ANITA FOUL

Fabio's attacking persistence appears to pay off, as he turns Vurnon Anita with ease. The Dutch players brings Fabio to ground, halting a potentially dangerous counter-attack. Still no cards shown by Kevin Friend.

GREAT BALL IN

Adel Taarabt conjures up a chance from nowhere with a fizzing cross in from the right. Tim Krul freezes, unsure whether to try and collect or not, but Djibril Cisse makes no effort to get on the end of the delivery. Chance wasted.

PAIR OF BAD CHALLENGES

Mike Williamson dives in to a challenge, but advantage is played. That is, until James Perch commits a similar foul. The Newcastle players are lucky to only get a talking to, especially the latter, who completely mistimed his lunge.

MISTAKE BY MACKIE

Jamie Mackie initially controls the ball very well, but upon seeing a clear path to goal open up in front of him, the QPR midfielder panics and overruns the ball.

GREAT TURN BY CISSE

Fabio commits himself to challenging Cisse, but the Newcastle forward anticipates the Brazilian's naivity and skins him completely. Demba Ba is the only man in the box and Cisse fails to find him with a weak cross. Cisse has certainly got the upper hand on Fabio early on but he's struggling to find the final ball.

NEWCASTLE STILL IN CONTROL

After a few early incisive attacks were defended well, Newcastle are now trying a slower build-up approach. Nevertheless, they're still controlling the game.

NEWCASTLE CORNER

QPR have 10 men back for the corner, which still manages to find its way to Mike Williamson. The Newcastle defender can't test the keeper, and the second attempt from Danny Simpson is no better. The mass of defending players manage to clear the ball eventually.

POOR CROSS

Newcastle United are already beginning to dictate the play, with all the attacks coming from the home side. Jonas Gutierrez gets in a decent position but his tame cross from the left forces Cheik Tiote to foul Fabio while trying to get a header in.

REDKNAPP NOT HAPPY

Harry Redknapp is already on his feet bawling instructions at his players. He's particularly displeased with Fabio, who has been a little overzealous in getting forward early on.

GOOD WORK FROM CISSE

Papiss Cisse works hard, travelling the width of the pitch to steal the ball off Fabio, but after some interplay with Cheik Tiote, the Brazillian wins it back from Cisse at the byline.

KICK OFF

We're underway at St. James' Park.

QPR LINE-UP

Robert Green starts in between the sticks for the visitors, with Julio Cesar sidelined. With Jose Bosingwa also unavailable, Fabio - on loan from Manchester United - deputises at right-back. Djibril Cisse spearheads the QPR attack, with Junior Hoilett in reserve, should Harry Redknapp feel the need for a little extra firepower.

NEWCASTLE LINE-UP

James Perch overcomes a slight neck strain to make the starting XI, while Gabriel Obertan, fresh back from injury, is among the substitutes.

LIVE COMMENTARY

Kick off is at 15.00 BST. Join us around half an hour beforehand for confirmed team news, followed by live text commentary.

QPR TEAM NEWS

The visitors aren't without their injury concerns either – Julio Cesar and Jose Bosingwa join Kieran Dyer, Park Ji-sung, Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora on the injury list.

NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS

Newcastle's injury woes continue, with James Perch the latest amongst the casualty list; he is suffering from a minor neck injury. Steven Taylor, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa are still sidelined, but Gabriel Obertan is now available after having toe surgery.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Newcastle edge the head-to-head record in league action, notching up 17 wins in 40 previous meetings. The Rangers have won 16, and seven have ended in stalemate, but recent form between these two sides swings very much in favour of the Northerners, who have won four of the last six encounters, limiting QPR to only two points in those fixtures. It was Newcastle who emerged victorious in this fixture last season, thanks to a first-half strike from Leon Best. The most notable game between these two took place in 1984 at Loftus Road, however, when Newcastle's 4-0 lead at half time was overturned by a valiant QPR. It was Gary Micklewhite who proved the hero for the Rangers, with two last gasp strikes bringing the score to 5-5.

THE VISITORS

Today's visitors, QPR, were winless in their first 16 games of the Premier League season, but are without a loss under the reign of Harry Redknapp, who seems to have brought a new lease of life to his players in White City. They have a new-found belief after igniting their revival hopes with a surprise win against Fulham last week, and will want to build some momentum with another good result this afternoon.

THE HOSTS

Yes, surprisingly enough, Alan Pardew's men find themselves dangling above the relegation, with only two points separating them and the basement-dwellers. Sure, it's still early days, but with upcoming games against Manchester United and Arsenal rounding off their mixed year, the Toon Army will want to secure a bit of breathing space by taking the points today.

TODAY'S GAME

Today's slice of action on Tyneside sees Newcastle United entertain QPR at St. James' Park in a game that could be considered a ‘bottom of the table clash'.