Stoke City 1-0 Newcastle United

Crouch has now scored twice in the Premier League this season

• Stoke win adds to pressure on Newcastle boss Pardew

• Newcastle winless after six league games

• Magpies have won five of 25 league games in 2014

• Stoke record first home win of season

Peter Crouch's early header secured Stoke a first home Premier League win of the season and increased the pressure on Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.

Crouch rose to meet a Victor Moses cross from the left in the 15th minute.

Newcastle were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Moses was bundled over in the area by Yoan Gouffran.

Marko Arnautovic was denied by a post before Newcastle's Jack Colback thumped against the bar late on to leave the visitors second bottom of the table.

While Stoke move up to 11th, defeat leaves Newcastle, who have only five league wins since the turn of the year, on three points from their six matches this season and supporters once again took their frustration out on manager Pardew.

Papiss Cisse, who scored twice as Newcastle came from behind to draw 2-2 with Hull in their last Premier League match, was only fit enough for the bench and the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts in the first half.

Newcastle have only won five league games in 2014

Cisse was brought on at the interval but, other than Colback's late opportunity, there was little response from Newcastle as Pardew's side slipped to a third league defeat of the season.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's lawyers have said he was joking when he claimed that Pardew would be sacked if his team were defeated at the Britannia Stadium.

But the manner of this defeat, with Stoke always looking more incisive and Newcastle managing just one shot on target, will do little to reduce the negativity he will face ahead of Saturday's trip to Swansea.

The Potters took the lead with the first clear chance of the evening, when Moses made space on the left and crossed for Crouch, who climbed higher than Fabricio Coloccini to turn a header into the corner.

Shortly afterwards, Stoke should have been given a spot-kick when Moses went down under Gouffran's tackle in the area.

Newcastle had seen Coloccini volley over, before Moussa Sissoko just missed the top corner with a powerful drive from a wide position.

A minute before the interval, Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was finally worked when he turned away a drive from Darryl Janmaat.

Soon after the break, the hosts almost doubled their lead when Muniesa's dangerous cross was headed away by Newcastle defender Mike Williamson and Potters substitute Arnautovic thumped a shot against the inside of the post.

Stoke's Charlie Adam also tested goalkeeper Tim Krul with a bending free-kick as the home side continued to enjoy the better of the match.

Krul pulled off a fine save to deny Moses after Janmaat hit his attempted clearance straight at Williamson.

Paul Dummett missed from 30 yards for the visitors, but Colback should have equalised when he collected a Gabriel Obertan cross and managed to hit the woodwork from four yards out.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes:

"I wish Alan Pardew well. It's not easy, I've been in that situation. All you can do is work hard and he will be working with his staff to turn things around. They played well for him tonight and that will encourage him.

"We deserved the win on the balance of play. In terms of chances created we always looked a threat when we broke quickly with pace."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew:

"There's a lot of pressure on me and that's reflected in the team a little bit but I've got to be strong and resilient.

"It [my future] is out of my hands. I'm a professional manager with a contract and I'll continue to lead the team to the best of my ability."

Read more reaction from Pardew

Yoan Gouffran bundled Victor Moses over in the area shortly after Peter Crouch's goal

Newcastle have lost the last 25 Premier League games in which they have been trailing at half-time.

Newcastle have scored 19 goals in 25 Premier League games in 2014

Owner Mike Ashley's lawyers claimed he was joking when he said Pardew would be sacked if Newcastle lost