Newcastle United 2-1 Stoke City: Christian Atsu and Jamaal Lascelles goals see Rafa Benitez's side win

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It was exactly 20 years ago that Newcastle United enjoyed their most memorable European night and, at full-time here, they were back in the Champions League places.

Tino Asprilla's hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Barcelona marked the club's debut in the continent's premier competition in 1997.

Two decades on and are they dreaming of a return? Not likely, although they will enjoy their lofty standing while it lasts, especially after a summer of discontent as manager Rafa Benitez waged war on owner Mike Ashley and his reluctance to spend more on the playing squad.

Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles celebrates after making it 2-1 against Stoke City

Lascelles, who was on loan at Stevenage a few short years ago celebrates netting the winner for Newcastle

Newcastle's match-winning captain Lascelles celebrates with goalkeeper Rob Elliot after the hard-fought victory

Newcastle captain Lascelles (right) makes it 2-1 to the hosts on 68 minutes against Stoke with this header

Perhaps Ashley was right, this team did not need in excess of the £40million invested since last season's promotion to ensure survival this time around. A more plausible explanation for their surprise start is the influence of Benitez, the organiser and motivator in chief. Just think what he could have done with the players at the top of his wish list.

It is three wins on the spin now and, as one supporter informed his comrades as they shuffled out of St James' Park, 'We're four points off top'. It drew a laugh, but they deserve to be up amongst it after responding to two defeats at the onset of the campaign with nine points and just one conceded.

That came here when Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri equalised Christian Atsu's first-half opener before captain Jamaal Lascelles headed the winner for the second week running.

He was the hero at Swansea seven days ago as Benitez watched at home from his sick bed. The 23-year-old - the youngest skipper in the top flight - was again his side's best player. 

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot 6.5; Yedlin 6, Clark 7, Lascelles 7.5, Mbemba 7; Hayden 6.5 (Shelvey 69, 6), Merino 6.5; Ritchie 7, Perez 6 (Diame 85), Atsu 7; Joselu 5 (Gayle 78, 6)

Subs not used: Murphy, Manquillo, Lejeune, Woodman

Goals: Atsu 19, Lascelles 68

Bookings: Hayden, Clark, Merino

Stoke (3-4-2-1): Butland 6; Zouma 6, Martins-Indi 5, Wimmer 6; Diouf 6, Allen 6 (Crouch 84), Fletcher 6, Pieters 5.5; Shaqiri 7, Choupo-Moting 5; Jese 4.5 (Sobhi 62,5)

Subs not used: Johnson, Berahino, Tymon, Adam, Grant

Goal: Shaqiri 57

Bookings: Wimmer

MOM: Lascelles

Att: 51, 795

Ref: Stuart Atwell 6

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Bruno Martins of Stoke City tackles Newcastle's Joselu during their Premier League match 

Matt Ritchie celebrates with team-mate Christian Atsu after the former Chelsea youth scored the hosts' opening goal

Atsu battles with Mame Biram Diouf in the box before netting to put Newcastle 1-0 up

And Benitez said: 'The captain is leading by example.

'The main thing though is the togetherness, work-rate, the character and connection with the fans.

'It is really important that players want to stay, want to fight, want to defend their black and white shirt. They're doing that and I think the fans appreciate it.'

But when asked about their league position, Benitez said: 'I haven't seen the table and I don't want to see it, believe me'.

Stoke, meanwhile, are one point above the drop zone, although there is mitigation given a difficult run of fixtures and four points taken from Arsenal and Manchester United.

Xherdan Shaqiri (right) celebrates with team-mate Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting after his goal

The dimunitive Swiss star equalised for Stoke with a left-footed shot from outside the box to make it 1-1

Manager Mark Hughes, however, was not happy.

'We didn't play particularly well, not as good as we were in recent weeks,' he said.

'It was a different test, we came up against a team that allowed us a certain amount of possession and we needed a different mindset. But we played into Newcastle's hands in terms of our loose passing. We have to be better.'

Stoke's best period came in the opening quarter of an hour before Newcastle's breakthrough.

Benitez, perhaps wary of the swirling rain and lingering pain from surgery to an infected hernia wound, had chosen to remain inside the comfort of the dugout until venturing to the touchline on 18 minutes.

If his presence was intended as a boot up the backside after a disjointed start then it had the desired effect, for within 60 seconds his side were in front.

The Potters' Shaqiri in action early on against Newcastle as he plays a left-footed pass for the visitors

The Geordies' manager Rafa Benitez shakes Stoke boss Mark Hughes hand before the match started

Newcastle boss Benitez looked to the skies before his side played Stoke on Saturday  

Travelling fans from the Potteries made the long trip to the North East to cheer on their team  

Hughes' men go through their paces at St James' Park before their Premier League match 

Midfield pair Mikel Merino and Isaac Hayden shifted possession from left to right where Matt Ritchie received before dropping the most inviting of crosses to the far post for Atsu to steal in and finish.

Former Stoke striker Joselu - a £5m arrival last month - then had three chances to double the lead but spurned each of them.

First he swiped wide when unmarked on the penalty spot with just Jack Butland to beat. A chance to amend for that miss passed by when he prodded straight at Butland from six yards before he fired over when again one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

It it little surprise he wore a rueful look as he waited to restart play after Shaqiri's equaliser on 57 minutes, the Swiss winger having curled into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

A home counter-attack then saw Ayoze Perez send Atsu clear. The winger was poised to shoot when Kurt Zouma slid and appeared to take a combination of man and ball. Penalty? Referee Stuart Atwell thought not and left the home crowd incensed.

But they had forgotten about that perceived injustice when Lascelles rose to meet Ritchie's corner and headed the winner via the underside of the crossbar.

Four points off top? Benitez will tell you it's 31 from safety.

Stoke players warm up prior to kick-off on Saturday afternoon against Benitez's Newcastle

The statue of former Newcastle and England boss Sir Bobby Robson looks on outside St James'