All Dwight on night as Rafa boys march on
DWIGHT GAYLE moved top of the Championship scoring charts with two as Newcastle beat Brentford to climb to second in the table.
Jonjo Shelvey was the architect behind all three of the home side’s goals as they recorded a third straight league win.
Ciaran Clark headed in the opener for the hosts, while Scott Hogan’s second-half effort for the Bees was little more than a consolation.
Rafa Benitez had urged his side to make a good start in his programme notes and the Spaniard was not to be disappointed as the hosts went two up inside 16 minutes.
First, Shelvey’s deep cross found Clark unmarked and the Republic of Ireland centre-back headed home from six yards.
Then Shelvey was at the heart of the home side’s second goal, with the Brentford defence failing to deal with his searching ball over the top and Gayle finding space, before rifling in a low effort from 12 yards.
The hosts thought they had a third in the 23rd minute when Yoan Gouffran stung Daniel Bentley’s palms from 20 yards, before Ayoze Perez converted with his hand – the effort rightly chalked off by referee Simon Hooper.
Gayle’s ninth goal in 10 games for the Magpies looked to have put the game to bed four minutes after half-time.
The former Crystal Palace forward converted a tap-in from Shelvey’s low cross following a neat move down the left.
Brentford responded as Hogan netted his eighth of the season from close range after Newcastle failed to deal with a 51st-minute corner.
Benitez warned Newcastle’s promotion rivals that his side can still improve. He said: “I’m pleased because after the international break it’s not easy.
“I’m not watching the table because it’s too soon. I’m pleased but we can still improve.”
Bees boss Dean Smith said: “With the quality that they have they don’t really need a helping hand but unfortunately we gave them one with a two-goal lead.”
But David Moyes’ dismal Black Cats remain rock-bottom.
With both teams win-less pre-match and occupying 19th and 20th positions, this clash was a good bet for Match of the Day’s graveyard slot.
But Stoke’s slick passing and movement ensured an entertaining contest.
And Potters boss Mark Hughes was delighted with Allen.
He said: “We pushed him further forwards because his anticipation of where the ball is dropping and the way he gets on the end of things is clear.
“We are delighted with him but he’s a bit fragile at the moment.
“He’s had a big workload since the summer so we are going to have to manage him.”
The revitalised Allen was not wanted by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, where he managed four goals in 60 league games.
He has now scored as many for Stoke in his last three.
The Potters had not hit the net in the first half this season before this match and it was also their first clean sheet in 17 league matches – so there was much for manager Mark Hughes to cheer.
Stoke were good from the off and in the eighth minute an unmarked Allen exploited some sloppy defending to head in Marko Arnautovic’s cross.
The move began when Sunderland midfielder Didier N’Dong gave the ball away to Xherda n Shaqiri, who then fed winger Arnautovic.
Stoke’s fluent passing style was evident again in the 36th minute when a one-two between Arnautovic and Wilfried Bony almost ended with a cracking goal for the latter.
The movement of Bony and Allen especially – and link-up play between Stoke’s forward players – was too much for static Sunderland.
Stoke continued to pressure the Black Cats and on the stroke of half-time Allen notched a second after Shaqiri’s corner was cleared.
The ex-Swansea man missed Wales’ international with Georgia in midweek with a hamstring problem and had been a doubt for this match.
Sunderland were no brighter after the break and it was Stoke who piled forwards and threatened.
Bony, goalless so far since his seasonlong loan from Manchester City, was denied a breakthrough goal by keeper Jordan Pickford after he stabbed a shot goal wards from 16 yards.
The assistant referee correctly ruled out Arnautovic’s effort in the 67th minute after he deflected home Charlie Adam’s mis-hit shot.
Moyes said: “It was a nightmare start. I didn’t think we played as bad as 2-0 in the first half suggested.
“I thought we played better in the first half.
“They were two poor goals to concede.
“If we could have gone in at half-time at 1-0, I think we had enough in the game to have a chance.” STOKE: SUNDERLAND: