Five-star Toon go six clear

Carroll: Early double

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Newcastle opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Championship after thumping Cardiff 5-1 at St James' Park.

The Magpies charged into a 3-0 lead inside 15 minutes, with Andy Carroll scoring twice - either side of a Gabor Gyepes own goal.

Second-half substitute Peter Lovenkrands then bagged a well-taken brace to make the winning margin even more emphatic.

Cardiff claimed a late consolation through sub Aaron Wildig's first senior goal but that could not deflect from a memorable night for a delighted crowd of 44,028, who saw Chris Hughton's men extend their unbeaten league run to 15 games in style.

Cardiff midfielder Stephen McPhail returned for his first game since returning from treatment for cancer while Michael Chopra returned to his hometown club.

The former Magpies striker had promised not to celebrate if he scored at St James' Park but his restraint rarely looked like being tested on a black night for the Bluebirds.

New-look Newcastle

Hughton named all six of his January signings in his starting line-up, and that meant debuts for Leon Best and Fitz Hall, along with a first home appearance for Patrick van Aanholt.

And it took just three minutes to make the breakthrough after Gyepes conceded a corner as Wayne Routledge broke through.

Danny Guthrie's deep delivery was headed back across goal by Hall and flicked on by Kevin Nolan for Carroll to stab home from close range.

The 21-year-old striker should have scored his second three minutes later when he smashed a left-footed shot against the far post and the rebound struck a hapless Gyepes to go into his own net.

Ross McCormack might have pulled one back for the visitors with a stinging eighth-minute volley which cannoned against the top of the cross bar.

But Carroll claimed his eight goal of the season when he met Danny Simpson's inch-perfect right-wing cross with an unstoppable header.

A 20th-minute cross by Cardiff full-back Adam Matthews drifted on to the angle of bar and post with home goalkeeper Steve Harper once again beaten, but it was not Cardiff's night.

The second half was never likely to start as explosively as the first, although Harper had to be on his toes to turn over a 20-yard shot by Chopra in the 51st minute which had looped up off Hall.

Cardiff possession

Dave Jones' men were enjoying plenty of possession but were rarely able to trouble Hughton's new-look rearguard, which was well marshalled by Mike Williamson.

And the hosts caught Cardiff square with 21 minutes remaining when Routledge fed Lovenkrands and he finished with aplomb.

Carroll was denied a hat-trick by Gyepes' 80th-minute goalline clearance, but Lovenkrands made it 5-0 with a fine finish two minutes later, cutting inside Anthony Gerrard to curl a left-footed effort in off the far post.

Wildig's late strike was scant consolation for the demoralised visitors, who remain fourth, seven points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.