Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Britannia Stadium of Stoke City vs Newcastle United. Team news to follow shortly...

Anita heads on to Cisse who turns and gives it to Gouffran. He shoots but it is blocked upwards by Pieters and Begovic rushes out to stop it going for a corner.

Gouffran slips the ball to Gosling on the edge of the area. He flicks inside to Cisse and is felled looking for a free kick but the ref waves play on.

Ameobi this time clattered by Shawcross on the half way line. Newcastle go short before going long and Cameron clears.

Pieters skips past anita and drives forward. Arnautovic leaves Taylor for dead on the left wing and crosses well to Crouch who just gets under the ball and headed over. Great counter!

Newcastle with much more of the ball this half but not in dangerous areas as yet. Stoke working hard off the ball to keep them from finding space.

Ireland dispossess' Tiote but can't quite get it under control as he tries to lay it off to Arnautovic on the left and Newcastle get the ball back.

Williamson heads it from the far post towards the middle where Cisse has tried to volley it first time but he can't get over it enough and it flies over the cross bar. Decent effort.

Nzonzi gives away a cheap foul after grabbing Ameobi having misjudged the flight of the ball. Half way line. Ameobi is holding his face but there wasn't that much in it.

Newcastle have started with much of the ball but haven't hurt or dragged Stoke anywhere yet. A long ball from Taylor goes out for a throw.

And we're off again. Newcastle have it all to do to turn this one around!

And that is half time! Stoke take a fortuitous lead into the break! Looking bleak for Newcastle!

Dangerous cross from Ameobi on the right. He swings it in with his left foot low towards the far post but Gosling is just inches away from guiding it on target.

Whelan gives it away to Gouffran on the half way line. He drives all the way to the edge of the area before cutting it onto his left foot. He wildly lets fly but misthits it and it trickles to Wilson who can clear with ease.

Gouffran over the ball on the right. He crosses from a deep free kick but Crouch is up to clear. A long range effort from Tiote is easily saved low to Begovic's left.

PIETERS GOAL! He hits the top corner from a cross! He crosses from deep and mishits it. Krul is caught under it and it flies into the back of the net!

Poor ball from Cameron down the right and he loses control of it and goes out for a throw.

Anita again scampering down the right. His low cross is cleared by back-tracking Whelan for a corner. Gouffran takes but it is really poor and goes almost to the half way line.

Crouch gives away another foul on the half way line. Krul goes long but it finds Begovic only. He sets Nzonzi off on the left wing before it is switched to Cameron on the right. Poor ball from Whelan and it is a goal kick to Newcastle again.

Cisse takes too long on the ball and is dispossessed by Odemwingie. He gets Stoke the ball back and they carry on.

Lull in play as Newcastle go long for a goal kick. Stoke then take their time to get the balll back before again, going long.

Almost trouble as Ireland picks up on a loose clearance from Dummett and storms into the box. He tries to cut it back to Odemwingie but it is cut out by Taylor who clears.