Newcastle fans and players alike got exactly what they wanted for Christmas on Saturday - three vital points against Queens Park Rangers.

Substitute Shola Ameobi played the role of Santa Clause, drilling home with nine minutes left to play at St. James' Park as United moved up to 14th in the Barclays Premier League table.

And it was the Magpies' defence who acted as Scrooge, refusing to let the R's forward line get a sniff of goal on a miserable December afternoon on Tyneside.

After freezing for 90 minutes by the side of the pitch, Ian Horrocks and Serena Taylor resembled a pair of snowmen - but the win warmed them up as they brought nufc.co.uk this gallery.