My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Wolves (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Saved well from Doyle early on and rushed out to stop Jarvis late in the first half. Could do nothing to prevent either goal in the second half.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - Almost scored with a fine shot in the first half but it was his defending that allowed Jarvis time to get his shot away which gave Wolves a lifeline.

Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - Had a fairly comfortable first half and even went forward well but was left to do a lot of work in the second half once Wolves started controlling the game.

Mike Williamson (5) - I thought Williamson was poor in this game. Gave the ball away several times in the first half and was lucky to go unpunished. However we struggled in the second half and he could take some blame for the way we conceded the second goal.

Davide Santon (7.5) -Our best player on the day in my opinion. I thought he hardly put a foot wrong and went forward with real purpose. Lacks a good cross but his work rate was good. No surprises that Wolves threat was down the other flank and not his.

Ryan Taylor (6) - Had a decent game without hitting any serious heights either. Perhaps should have offered Simpson more support in blocking the effort from Jarvis which got Wolves back into the game.

Yohan Cabaye (6) - Won the ball and crossed superbly which led to our opener but did not control the game the way we know he can. Having said that he did miss the last 3 games and should be sharper next week hopefully.

Cheick Tiote (6.5) - Showed why he was missed as he put himself about but seemed to get tired and that allowed Wolves to get more and more into the game. Was taken off in the last quarter.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) - Scored with a stunning strike and linked up well with Santon. They seem to be blossoming as a combination.

Demba Ba (6) - Not his best game but then again he may have asked for more service, especially the way he flicked the ball goal wards in the build up to our opener. Did combine well with Cisse particularly in the first half.

Papiss Cisse (7) - Had an outstanding first half and scored the opener but seemed to become less of a factor in the second half and was taken off halfway through that half.

Substitutes
Hatem Ben Arfa (6.5) - Did have an impact although despite having two good shots at goal, he also did one or two poor things such as over run the ball or give it away.

Danny Guthrie (6) - Had very little impact and seemed to take some time to get into the game.

Shola Ameobi (5) - Don't recall him doing much after coming on.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Davide Santon

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8) - Composed in goal and made some good saves when needed.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - Don't think he was too comfortable dealing with N'Zogbia but worked hard and did some good things defensively as well.

Mike Williamson (7) - Was guilty of playing some Villa attackers on side when getting the off side trap wrong but defended well overall. Gave Bent very little chance of winning anything in the air.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Yet again superb at the back. May have been guilty of following the ball in the build up to their goal but I thought he was quality for the most part.

Davide Santon (7.5) - Never afraid to bomb forward and linked up nicely with Jonas. Did what was required of him defensively. A small fault in his game at the moment is his final ball but as a left back that is not is primary role.

Ryan Taylor (7) - Did particularly well in the build up to our opener, albeit he had to then go off injured with what looked like a nasty injury.

James Perch (8)- Making his first real start in this position, I thought he excelled. Made one or two crunching tackles and went about his work quietly otherwise. Deserves credit for his role in today's win.

Danny Guthrie (8.5) - Another splendid performance from our central midfielder. Was an integral part in our game, going forward and looks to be at the top of his game at the moment. Played a lovely cross into the box which led to our goal in the first half and deserved the same when he put in another superb cross in the second half.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) - Worked really hard and did many good things in today's game. Firstly it was his early cross which resulted in our winner, secondly he linked up well with Santon and lastly he kept hold of the ball really well particularly in the second half. Also heard he has ran the most out of all the players in the league so far this season which emphasizes his great work rate.

Leon Best (6) - Went off injured early on.

Demba Ba (8) - Took his goal really well and formed a good partnership with Cisse. Just glad to have him back for the team seems to be better going forward when he is there.

Substitutes
Papiss Demba Cisse (9) - An impressive debut and probably allows him to edge the man of the match award from our two central midfielders. Scored a wonderful goal but it was his work rate and all round game which also caught the eye, especially as it was his first game in this league. Long may it continue.

Gabriel Obertan (7.5) - Caused Villa some problems once he was introduced and seems to have benefited from the time out of the team as well as from scoring in midweek. Deserves a start next week.

Shola Ameobi (6.5) - Kept the ball in the corner towards the end which helped a bit to see us home.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Papiss Demba Cisse

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Blackburn (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (9) - Did everything asked of him and saved the penalty, which probably won us the game.

Danny Simpson (8) - Made a great goal line clearance and defended well for the most part. I thought the penalty was harsh but justice prevailed when Krul saved it.

Mike Williamson (7.5) - Won quite a bit in the air and did his job well. Four clean sheets in our last six says something about his partnership with Coloccini.

Fabricio Coloccini (8.5) - Cool and calm at the back, organised the defence and apart from a slip and one or two errors which he soon rectified, he continued his good form for this season.

Davide Santon (8) - A solid performance, winning a few headers, bursting forward and winning some challenges, he too can be pleased with his performance.

Hatem Ben Arfa (5) - Disappointing half from the Frenchman. Did one or two good things but then followed it up by giving it away or over running the ball. He may lose his place in the team for the next match, especially as he was taken off at half time despite us being in the lead.

Danny Guthrie (7) - Did fairly well overall but there were moments in the match where our central midfield seemed to be over run. We survived it and with his ball skills he won us a few free kicks towards the end which helped keep us on top.

Ryan Taylor (6.5) - Took the shot which helped us get the opening goal but apart from that, he struggled in the first half. It was no surprise to see him perform better in the second half, after he was shifted to the right.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - Was not that influential in the game but still did a job for us, both defensively and attacking wise, albeit not that much for the latter.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Worked hard but gave several free kicks away and should really be replaced in the next game.

Leon Best (6) - Helped out defensively, despite almost scoring an own goal but it is in the final third where he will feel he did not do enough.

Substitutes
James Perch (8) - I thought he did very well coming on at half time and playing as a defensive midfielder. Won tackles, put his body on the line towards the end and hardly gave the ball away.

Peter Lovenkrands (7) - Played a lovely through ball for our second goal minutes after coming on.

Gabriel Obertan (8) - The open game suited him and when clean through he finished calmly. Should be used more even if not from the start.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Tim Krul