Cardiff City 0-2 Newcastle: Rate the players as Magpies create history on the road

Christian Atsu and Isaac Hayden score as Newcastle United beat Cardiff City 2-0 in the Championship

Rafa Benitez sent out a much-changed Newcastle United side as he sought a club record and watched as his players duly delivered with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Benitez knew that a win would not only break the club record for the number of away victories but also keep the title race alive.

A Christian Atsu free-kick and an Isaac Hayden thunderbolt secured the 14th victory, a record that had stood since 1992/93 under Kevin Keegan. It also put the pressure on Brighton, who face Bristol City tomorrow.

Chris Hughton’s men are now just a point ahead of United but can win the title with a victory tomorrow at the Amex - anything less would take the race for the title into the last day of the season.

The second half performance by United was different to that of the first, which was 45 minutes of nothing to write home about with few chances created.

Benitez sent his side out in the second half with a point to prove but Cardiff very nearly spoiled the party with Craig Noone shooting over when he really should have scored.

But Atsu, who had impressed throughout, finally broke the deadlock. He was fouled on the edge of the box and took the resulting free-kick - firing home.

15 minutes later Isaac Hayden rocketed a home from all of 25-yards, to put the game to bed. United couldn’t add to their tally despite the introduction of Aleksandar Mitrovic but for the fans it did not matter.