Holt (59)
Morison (63)
Holt (82)
Carrow Road
Barclays Premier League
(Attendance: 26,816)
Ba (71)
Norwich 4 Newcastle 2
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
At Carrow Road
Norwich City 4 (Hoolahan 39, Holt 60, 82, Morison 63)
Newcastle United 2 (Ba 45, 70)
A makeshift Newcastle United side suffered successive defeats for the first time since March as they lost at Norwich.
Already depleted by the absence of captain Fabricio Coloccini and key players like Steven Taylor, Danny Guthrie and Cheik Tiote, the Magpies then lost Dan Gosling to a straight red card.
They were already trailing 3-1 by that point, with United's patched up defence finding the aerial power of the Canaries too much to handle, and despite Demba Ba's well-taken brace the hosts claimed the points.
Ba's goal in first-half stoppage time had cancelled out Wes Hoolahan's opener, which came after a controversially-awarded corner kick for the home side, but Grant Holt and Steve Morison both scored with headers before Gosling saw red for a late challenge on Russell Martin.
And although Ba pulled one back, Holt's second wrapped up the win for Norwich.
With Coloccini failing to recover in time from the thigh injury which forced him off against Chelsea and Taylor ruled out for the season, Danny Simpson played alongside James Perch in the centre of defence as Ryan Taylor moved to right-back and Davide Santon started for the first time in the Barclays Premier League at left-back.
Gosling came in for his first league start of the campaign in midfield, partnering Yohan Cabaye, with Jonas Gutierrez returning on the left and captaining the side. Shola Ameobi slotted in alongside Ba up front.
But despite an early flurry from the hosts, Newcastle took the sting out of the game and fashioned the first real opening of the game.
On ten minutes, Gutierrez's ball was patted out by John Ruddy as far as Ba, who teed up Cabaye just inside the area, but the Frenchman's shot was dealt with comfortably by City's goalkeeper.
At the other end, Holt outmuscled Perch down the right to break into the box, but defensive partner Simpson was there to make a fantastic diving block from the Canaries captain's shot with 19 minutes played before, seconds later, David Fox sent a half-volley over the bar from 25 yards.
Then, after some tidy football at the other end Gosling - who scored twice against Norwich Reserves in September - spread the ball out to the overlapping Taylor before racing into the box to connect to the ensuing delivery, but as he swivelled the ball went just wide.
United then survived two penalty appeals, the first when Andrew Surman fell under the challenge of Obertan and Taylor in the box, then just over a minute later as Kyle Naughton's right-wing delivery hit the outstretched arm of Santon, but on each occasion Martin Atkinson waved them away.
Just after the half-hour mark, Taylor's cross found Ba who brought it down on his chest, only for Naughton to steal the ball off his toe just before the Senegal striker could get a shot away.
Then on 35 minutes, Cabaye's strike took a looping deflection off Fox and looked destined for the net, only for Ruddy to fly to his left and tip the ball behind.
However, the hosts took the lead when Surman's corner was headed goalwards by Andrew Crofts and despite a combination of Krul and Taylor hacking the ball off the line, Hoolahan was there to force home from close range.
But it was a debatable decision which led to the corner in the first place, as Marc Tierney's left-wing cross already seemed to have gone out before Krul was adjudged to have carried it behind.
However, in first-half stoppage time Ba finished superbly with his tenth goal of the season after bringing down Cabaye's lofted ball over the top to equalise.
Then less than two minutes into the second half, Ba almost had a second. A superb run past three players from Obertan saw him lay the ball of to Ameobi, who worked space for a dinked cross to the far post and Ba blazed narrowly over the frame of the goal.
Then on 50 minutes, after Gutierrez had won a free-kick in a dangerous area, Taylor whipped it in, Ruddy flapped and the ball swerved just the wrong side of the far post from a Magpies perspective.
A 25 yard strike from Ba then tested Ruddy once more before, from a swift Newcastle counter-attack from a corner, Obertan squandered a fantastic opportunity to play in Ba, who would have had acres of space to run into.
But against the run of play, City went ahead for a second time on the hour. Hoolahan's corner was met by Whitbread and then Holt, whose header was parried by Krul only for the ball to come straight back to the big striker, who this time dispatched his header right into the corner of the goal.
And three minutes later, Morison made it 3-1 with a fine header after Gosling's loose pass had allowed Crofts to send in an inch perfect cross from the right.
Things got even worse for Newcastle and Gosling when the former Everton man was shown a straight red card in the 65th minute. Having over-ran the ball, he went in late on Martin; an honest attempt to play the ball it may have been, but it was deemed dangerous by referee Atkinson who had no hesitation in sending him off.
The ten men refused to lie down, however, and after Ameobi had robbed Tierney just inside the Norwich half and played a wonderful pass for Ba, United's top scorer showed remarkable composure to advance towards goal and slot home his second of the afternoon.
Then Cabaye's strike took a nick off Fox but Ruddy was able to gather with relative comfort before Obertan tricked his way past Tierney but couldn't guide his cross away from the Canaries keeper.
However, another set-piece ended any hopes of an improbable point for Newcastle as substitute Bradley Johnson's free-kick was headed past Krul by Holt, and Norwich comfortably saw out the final few minutes.
Norwich City (4-4-2): John Ruddy; Kyle Naughton, Zak Whitbread (Leon Barnett 83), Russell Martin, Marc Tierney; David Fox, Andrew Crofts, Andrew Surman (Bradley Johnson 77), Wes Hoolahan (Simoen Jackson 85); Steven Morison, Grant Holt (c)
Subs not used: Declan Rudd, Anthony Pilkington, Elliott Bennett, Aaron Wilbraham
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Ryan Taylor, James Perch, Danny Simpson, Davide Santon (Shane Ferguson 90+2); Gabriel Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 81), Dan Gosling, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez (c); Shola Ameobi (Alan Smith 90), Demba Ba
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Hatem Ben Arfa, Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Attendance: 26,816
Foul by James Perch(Newcastle) on Steve Morison(Norwich). Newcastle substitution: Davide Santon replaced by Shane Ferguson (tactical). Free kick taken left-footed by David Fox(Norwich) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Alan Smith(Newcastle).
Foul by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle) on Andrew Crofts(Norwich). Newcastle substitution: Shola Ameobi replaced by Alan Smith (tactical). Free kick taken right-footed by Kyle Naughton(Norwich) from right channel, passed.
Shot by Sammy Ameobi(Newcastle) left-footed from right channel (30 yards), blocked by Bradley Johnson(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle). Cross by Sammy Ameobi(Newcastle), clearance by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), clearance by Russell Martin(Norwich).
Cross by Sammy Ameobi(Newcastle), clearance by Leon Barnett(Norwich).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle).
Foul by Grant Holt(Norwich) on Ryan Taylor(Newcastle). Free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Norwich substitution: Wesley Hoolahan replaced by Simeon Jackson (tactical).
Defending throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Foul by James Perch(Newcastle) on Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich). Free kick taken left-footed by Bradley Johnson(Norwich) from left channel, headed goal by Grant Holt(Norwich) (top-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 4-2 Newcastle. Assist (cross) by Bradley Johnson(Norwich) from left channel.Norwich substitution: Zak Whitbread replaced by Leon Barnett (tactical).
Foul by Grant Holt(Norwich) on James Perch(Newcastle). Free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Newcastle substitution: Gabriel Obertan replaced by Sammy Ameobi (tactical).
Shot by Bradley Johnson(Norwich) left-footed from left channel (18 yards), clearance by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle).
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by David Fox(Norwich) to far post, clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Shot by David Fox(Norwich) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), clearance by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Cross by Bradley Johnson(Norwich), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Norwich substitution: Andrew Surman replaced by Bradley Johnson (tactical). Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Cross by Gabriel Obertan(Newcastle), save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Shot by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) right-footed from left channel (35+ yards), save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Foul by Grant Holt(Norwich) on Davide Santon(Newcastle). Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) from left channel, clearance by Andrew Surman(Norwich).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), clearance by Russell Martin(Norwich).
Goal by Demba Ba(Newcastle) left-footed (bottom-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (18 yards).Norwich 3-2 Newcastle. Assist (pass) by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) from right channel.
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Foul by Dan Gosling(Newcastle) on Russell Martin(Norwich). Dan Gosling(Newcastle) dismissed for serious foul play. Free kick taken right-footed by Kyle Naughton(Norwich) from own half, resulting in open play.
Cross by Andrew Crofts(Norwich), headed goal by Steve Morison(Norwich) (bottom-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 3-1 Newcastle. Assist (cross) by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) from right channel.
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Foul by Demba Ba(Newcastle) on Russell Martin(Norwich). Free kick taken right-footed by John Ruddy(Norwich) from own half, passed.
Shot by Dan Gosling(Newcastle) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Steve Morison(Norwich).
Cross by David Fox(Norwich), header by Grant Holt(Norwich) from centre of penalty area (6 yards), save (parried) by Tim Krul(Newcastle). Headed goal by Grant Holt(Norwich) (top-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 2-1 Newcastle.
Cross by David Fox(Norwich), header by Grant Holt(Norwich) from centre of penalty area (6 yards), save (parried) by Tim Krul(Newcastle). Headed goal by Grant Holt(Norwich) (top-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 2-1 Newcastle. Assist (cross) by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) from right wing.
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), clearance by Dan Gosling(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Andrew Surman(Norwich) to near post, clearance by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Foul by Dan Gosling(Newcastle) on Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich). Dan Gosling(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Fox(Norwich) from right channel, clearance by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Cross by Steve Morison(Norwich), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) left-footed from left channel (25 yards), save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle), clearance by Grant Holt(Norwich).
Foul by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) on Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle). Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) from left channel, clearance by Zak Whitbread(Norwich).
Shot by Gabriel Obertan(Newcastle) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), blocked by Andrew Crofts(Norwich).
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), clearance by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle).
Shot by Kyle Naughton(Norwich) volleyed right-footed from right channel (35 yards), blocked by Dan Gosling(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Andrew Surman(Norwich), resulting in ball out of play.
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Foul by Kyle Naughton(Norwich) on Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle). Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) from left channel, resulting in ball out of play.
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), clearance by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle), shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) volleyed right-footed from right side of penalty area (6 yards), over the bar.
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Goal by Demba Ba(Newcastle) right-footed (bottom-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 1-1 Newcastle. Assist (pass) by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from right channel.
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) to centre, clearance by Steve Morison(Norwich).
Cross by Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Foul by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) on Marc Tierney(Norwich). Free kick taken right-footed by John Ruddy(Norwich) from own half, passed.
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour.
Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Andrew Surman(Norwich) to centre, weak header by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle). Goal by Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich) right-footed (low centre of goal) from centre of penalty area (6 yards).Norwich 1-0 Newcastle. Assist (header) by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) from centre of penalty area.
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), resulting in ball out of play.
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by David Fox(Norwich) to centre, clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Cross by Andrew Surman(Norwich), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Cross by Grant Holt(Norwich), clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) to near post, clearance by Andrew Surman(Norwich).
Shot by Dan Gosling(Newcastle) right-footed from left channel (20 yards), save (parried) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Foul by David Fox(Norwich) on Dan Gosling(Newcastle). David Fox(Norwich) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle) from right channel, clearance by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Defending throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Cross by Grant Holt(Norwich), resulting in open play.
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by Dan Gosling(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Cross by Steve Morison(Norwich), clearance by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), resulting in ball out of play.
Cross by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle), clearance by Zak Whitbread(Norwich).
Foul by Russell Martin(Norwich) on Demba Ba(Newcastle). Free kick crossed right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from own half, save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Steve Morison(Norwich), clearance by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), clearance by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Cross by Steve Morison(Norwich), clearance by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), shot by Dan Gosling(Newcastle) volleyed right-footed from centre of penalty area (18 yards), missed left.
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Andrew Crofts(Norwich), clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), shot by David Fox(Norwich) volleyed right-footed from left channel (25 yards), missed right.
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by Gabriel Obertan(Newcastle).
Shot by Grant Holt(Norwich) curled right-footed from right side of penalty area (6 yards), blocked by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), header by Steve Morison(Norwich) from left side of penalty area (6 yards), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Andrew Surman(Norwich) to centre, foul by Andrew Crofts(Norwich) on Shola Ameobi(Newcastle). Andrew Crofts(Norwich) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Cross by Kyle Naughton(Norwich), foul by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) on Grant Holt(Norwich). Free kick curled right-footed by David Fox(Norwich) from left channel (20 yards), clearance by Demba Ba(Newcastle).
Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Andrew Surman(Norwich) to far post, clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Cross by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle), clearance by Russell Martin(Norwich).
Foul by Grant Holt(Norwich) on Ryan Taylor(Newcastle). Free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Shot by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) curled right-footed from right channel (20 yards), comfortable save (caught) by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Cross by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle), clearance by John Ruddy(Norwich).
Defending throw-in by Kyle Naughton(Norwich).
Cross by Davide Santon(Newcastle), clearance by Andrew Crofts(Norwich).
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by Danny Simpson(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).
Defending throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Grant Holt(Norwich) caught offside. Free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Marc Tierney(Norwich), clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Wesley Hoolahan(Norwich).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Marc Tierney(Norwich).