Superior Quality won the day.
Newcastle 2 Cardiff City 1
By Phil Smith
It was a losing battle from the start
It was the superior quality of Newcastle United that won the day against Cardiff City as Rafa Benitez's side made it seven successive league victories.
The Bluebirds were dangerous at times but were stung by first half goals courtesy of Christian Atsu and Yohan Gouffran.
The Magpies could have extended their lead with a succession of missed chances but Peter Whittingham's strike gave the visitors hope.
Neil Warnock would certainly have been happy with his team's second half display, but it wasn't enough against an excellent team.
Cardiff actually started this game with real intent, their midfielders getting higher up the field and pressing higher than was probably expected.
The gameplan went out the window just minutes later however when Sol Bamba was caught out position. Newcastle's fluid attacking line spotted the gaps and ruthlessly picked the Bluebirds off.
Such a poor decision was the last thing Cardiff needed early on in front of a 52,000 crowd, and though they actually responded quite well to that set-back, Newcastle always looked confident and control. Bamba was caught wandering again as the fatal blow was delivered just before half-time.
Some very good sides will get turned over at this ground this season but Cardiff made a tall order even tougher for themselves here.
That said, credit is very much due for the way the Bluebirds rallied.
Second best early in the second half, they had three good chances before Whittingham got them back into it.
That bodes well for the long season ahead.
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