David: The only winners at the Newcastle v Stoke game are the clever fans who stayed away. It's a shocking display.

Tom: Newcastle v Stoke had ZERO time added after 45 minutes. When did that last happen?  

Image source, Reuters

It looked like we might have been in for a good game at St James' Park to start with but, apart from that Aleksandar Mitrovic header coming back off the Stoke post, it's faded into a bit of a low-key affair. 

Both these teams are just lacking a bit of quality to make the most of any promising situations at the moment. Bojan Krkic and Xherdan Shaquiri struggling to make an impact for Stoke.

Image source, Reuters

Ayoze Perez goes down in the Stoke area after showing some nimble footwork but any hopes of him thinking he might get a penalty are wiped away by referee Roger East. The Newcastle forward also gets an earful from Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who was unhappy at Perez's antics.

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam tries an ambitious 35-yarder and it goes well over. The Potters are being well marshalled at the moment.

Here's how the game is shaping up possession wise...

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Aleksandar Mitrovic is a bit of a powerhouse and he gets on the end of a cross from the left only to see his flicked header came back off the post. Georginio Wijnaldum tries to pounce on the rebound but Stoke keeper Jack Butland and his defence scramble the ball clear.

Stoke attack with Charlie Adam and he finds Jon Walters but his pass out wide wrong-foots Xherdan Shaqiri, who shows a bit of frustration.

Stoke City may have made the long trip to the north east this afternoon, but it's a home game for injured defender Marc Muniesa.  

Stoke have a couple of corners cleared before Adam whips in a low cross from the left flank and, even though Magpies defender Chancel Mbemba misses it, Stoke striker Jon Walters can't capitalise as he fails to make contact at the far post as well. 

Ayoze Perez tries to slide a pass through to Moussa Sissoko but Stoke centre-back Philipp Wollscheid does well to intercept it and clear the ball away for a corner.

• Newcastle have won three of their last four matches against Stoke at St James' Park, drawing the other.
• Stoke, along with Arsenal, have received the least amount of yellow cards in the top flight this season (14).
• Stoke are aiming to win three successive away games for the first time in the Premier League. The last time they won three consecutive top-flight away matches was in 1975.

Lively. Very lively. This game has already got a bit of a frenetic feel about it. Aleksandar Mitrovic appears up for it today - when doesn't he - and he has a shot deflected over for a corner.

Image source, PA

Aleksandar Mitrovic cuts inside from the left and has a pop at goal but his low shot is saved by keeper Jack Butland. At the other end, Paul Dummett looks like he clips Bojan Krkic right on the edge of the area but referee Roger east waves play on.

We've had an open start to the game. A Newcastle attack broke down and Stoke counter-attacked with Bjoan Krkic and Xherdan Shaqiri as they were also thwarted. 

Let's hope it's a sign of things to come.

Image source, AP

We're under way at St James' Park as Newcastle, who are 19th, host 14th-placed Stoke..

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton defender on Football Focus

"Stoke's results have been similar to they were under Tony Pulis. Overall they'll have to spend significantly if they are going to move up to the next level. They don't have the funds to get to that next level. They're a good side to watch and they've got players in that side who are exciting, but it comes back to the tried and tested players like Jon Walters."

Image source, Reuters

Newcastle can be a bit of a soap opera at times but Stoke manager Mark Hughes has backed his counterpart Steve McClaren to succeed at St James' Park.

"There are huge demands and it seems to be a club that sways from one issue to another," said Hughes.

"It seems there is a little bit of noise that surrounds the club and that that has been the case for any number of years.

"Whoever is the manager has to deal with that and it is sometimes the issues off the field rather than on the field that seem to take up their time.

"But Steve is a very experienced manager who has been through these kinds of periods before. Steve will be looking to turn things around very quickly - and I'm sure he will."