Peterborough United put in a spirited second half display against league leaders Newcastle United at St. James Park but two first half goals from Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez set the hosts on their way to a 3-1 victory.

Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson was forced into a selection headache in attack with strikers Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean both struggling with injury. Mackail-Smith was given the nod from the start with Mclean on the substitutes bench as Posh lined up in a 5-4-1 formation with Dean Keates re-instated and with the captain's armband.  Gabriel Zakuani drops down to the substsitutes bench with Ryan Bennett handed his first start.

The hosts were keen not to let Posh settle in their surroundings, pinning Darren Ferguson's men back , but Danny Simpson's shot didn't trouble goalkeeper Joe Lewis. Argentina international Jonas Gutierrez waltzed through three challenges before his shot took a deflection via Ryan Bennett for a corner kick on seven minutes as Newcastle continued to dominate.

Experienced midfielder Kevin Nolan floated a free-kick over the crossbar moments later after Keates was penalised for a foul 25-yards from goal. At the other end, a spirited run from Mackail-Smith ended with a hooked shot which flew over the crossbar.

The lively Gutierrez then fired over from 20-yards after good hold up play from the in-form Andy Carroll. Newcastle did get the breakthrough on the quarter hour mark and although fortunate with the finish, it was a mazy dribble from GUTIERRIEZ who weaved past three defenders before finding the back of the net.

It didn't take long for the hosts to double their lead, two minutes in fact as an in-swinging corner kick from Danny Guthrie was powerfully headed past Joe Lewis by CARROLL, who rose above the defence.

Nolan then squandered a good chance to make it 3-0 on 20 minutes after a low cut-back from Guthrie as Posh were all at sea defensively. Thankfully for Posh, goal-scorer Gutierrez was forced out of the action with injury on 21 minutes with Ryan Taylor his replacement.

A deflected effort from Ryan Taylor drifted inches past the post but it did present Newcastle with another set-piece opportunity, but this time it came to nothing as the referee spotted an infringement on Lewis.

Guthrie struck the outside of the post with a fierce left-foot shot from 20-yards on the half hour mark as Newcastle continued to threaten.

After a sustained spell of Posh pressure, the visitors won their first corner kick of the afternoon as Steven Taylor cleared a dangerous Rowe centre over his own crossbar under pressure from Boyd.

Half time: Newcastle United 2-0 Posh

Darren Ferguson made two changes at the interval with Danny Rose and Toumani Diagouraga replaced by Paul Coutts and Aaron Mclean for the second period as Posh pushed more men forward.

Ryan Taylor looped the first shot of the second half over the crossbar after a neat lay-off from the impressive Carroll on 48 minutes as Newcastle tried to start the second half at the same pace as they did the first.

The changes in personnel also saw the formation revert back to 4-4-2 with Boyd and Whelpdale in the wide positions. It didn't seem to matter though as on 52 minutes, Newcastle made it 3-0 as as full-back Danny SIMPSON cut inside from the right and curled a wonderful left-foot shot past Lewis and into the back of the net.

Chris Whelpdale did test Harper with a skidding effort on 56 minutes, but it was a comfortable save for the experienced shot-stopper who had been enjoying an easy afternoon thus far. In fact moments later, he was in the action again as a smart turn from Mclean and low effort was well gathered by Harper.

Moments later, Lewis was back in the action as he tipped a Nolan lob around the post before a superb clearance from Keates denied Harewood a fourth after the front man made a good run across the near post following a Guthire corner kick.

Harper was beginning to earn his wages with a fine save to deny Mackail-Smith from close-range as Posh at least showed some endevear going forward. He then denied Whelpdale's low shot as Posh pressed for a consolation. Mackail-Smith then saw his volley deflect over the crossbar before Charlie Lee's header went wide.

Lee fired wide from 30-yards on 65 minutes after another good build-up from Ferguson's men. Lewis pushed a fierce Enrique drive around the post on 67 minutes after the left-back again advanced unopposed from his own half.

Tommy Rowe found the side-netting on 72 minutes after a good pass from Keates picked him out on the edge of the area as the majority of the 43,000+ crowd rose to their feet in support of keeping their stadium name St. James Park rather than the sportsdirect.com at St.James Park Stadium.

The tremendous following of Posh supporters were given something to cheer on 79 minutes as the ball rebounded kindly to Dean KEATES inside the six-yards who fired low into the bottom corner.

Bennett was cautioned on 87 minutes for a trip on Ranger as the game began to peter out with score at 3-1 to the hosts.

Final Score: Newcastle United 3-1 Posh

Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan, Guthrie, Harewood (sub Ranger 77min), Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (sub R.Taylor 20min), Carroll (sub Lovenkrands 77min), S. Taylor. unused subs:  Geremi, Butt, Krul, Kadar.

Posh: Lewis, Lee, Rowe, Morgan, Bennett, Whelpdale (sub Batt 74min), Keates, Diagouraga (sub Coutts 46min), Rose (sub Mclean 46min), Boyd, Mackail-Smith. Unused subs: Amos, Martin, Zakuani, Frecklington.

Attendance: 43,067
Referee: Andy D'Urso.