Following a mid-table finish to their first season back in the top flight, Newcastle United began the 2011-12 campaign on the front foot.
With the help of several astute signings in both the summer and winter transfer windows, the Magpies were able to remain in the hunt for a place in the Champions League from the start of the campaign.
Sports Mole now takes a look back at what was a thrilling season at the Sports Direct Arena.
August
After a goalless draw at home to Arsenal on opening weekend, the Magpies picked up back-to-back victories at rivals Sunderland and against Fulham. Meanwhile, an extra-time win on the road at Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup allowed the club to maintain their unbeaten record with one month gone.
September
The club began the second month of the season with another goalless draw – this time at QPR – before taking another point on the road at Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest became the second lower-league side to take Newcastle to extra time in the Carling Cup and lose. Summer signing Demba Ba broke his duck with a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers to wrap up September.
October
The Senegal international scored again in a win at Molineux, before combining with Shola Ameobi to earn the Northern outfit a 2-2 draw against Tottenham. While he was unable to find the back of the net in a one-goal win over Wigan Athletic, Ba was on hand again with another hat-trick at the Britannia Stadium on Halloween. Meanwhile, the club suffered their first defeat of the season at Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup.
November
After beginning November with a win over Everton, Alan Pardew's men lost their first league game of the season at the Etihad Stadium. However, the club were able to avoid back-to-back defeats with a draw at Old Trafford a week later.
December
The Magpies returned to the Sports Direct Arena in December, but found themselves on the wrong end of a three-goal defeat to Chelsea. The club took no points from Carrow Road, before a draw at home to Swansea and another home defeat to West Bromwich Albion followed. Pardew later led his side to their first win in seven over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium, but tasted defeat at Anfield to close out 2011.
January
With three consecutive home games to start 2012, Newcastle were able to rebuild some momentum. Demba Ba opened the scoring in a 3-0 win over Manchester United, while goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez were enough to beat Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup. After losing 5-2 to Fulham at Craven Cottage, the Magpies were eliminated from the FA Cup at Brighton.
February
Wins at Ewood Park and at home to Aston Villa pushed Pardew's side above Liverpool and into the top six places in the Premier League, despite a five-goal defeat to Tottenham and a draw at home to Wolves.
March
Shola Ameobi grabbed a late goal at the Sports Direct Arena to earn a point against rivals Sunderland. Defeat at Arsenal followed, but winter signing Papiss Cisse provided a spark with three goals in back-to-back wins over Norwich and West Brom.
April
The Senegalese striker scored twice more in a 2-0 win over Liverpool, before bagging another brace at Swansea. He scored again in wins over Bolton and Stoke to move into the top four, before the club's six-game win streak was ended in a four-goal demolition at the DW Stadium.
May
The Magpies slipped into fifth place entering the final month of the season, but distanced themselves from Chelsea thanks to another two-goal performance from Cisse at Stamford Bridge. Defeat to Manchester City in the penultimate game of the season left them a point outside the top four going into the final game of the season at Goodison Park. Defeat to David Moyes's men, combined with wins for Arsenal and Spurs, consigned Newcastle to a fifth-placed finish, good enough for a spot in the Europa League next season.
