The absence of influential players, such as Demba Ba and Cheik Tioté for Newcastle and Alejandro Faurlín and Joey Barton for Queens Park Rangers, led to adjustments for both managers.

Mark Hughes bravely decided to play two orthodox front men, which gave his midfield more responsibility away from home. With Newcastle United also naming Leon Best and Shola Ameobi as a striking duo there was always the prospect of this being an open game.

Alan Pardew's team, however, started listlessly. Luke Young got forward well from right‑back, instigating Rangers' early attacks and forcing Jonás Gutiérrez to defend. Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jay Bothroyd both came close to scoring.

But the injury to Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle's schemer, gave Pardew the opportunity to introduce Hatem Ben Arfa and the diminutive left-footer did not disappoint. He is a confident creator and, with his presence in midfield, the game swung Newcastle's way.

To accommodate his lack of defensive qualities, Pardew shrewdly switched Gutiérrez and pushed Best into a wide left position, with Ameobi central – in effect splitting his front three.

Hatem Ben Arfa’s introduction and the interchanging of the players supporting Shola Ameobi stretched Rangers’ defence and allowed Newcastle to dominate.

Earlier Newcastle had aimed long in an attempt to utilise the aerial presence of their big front men. But now Ben Arfa spread the play (see diagram), held the ball and cleverly switched the point of attack.

Newcastle mixed and matched their players and rotated positions. Up front only Ameobi, shielding the ball well, held his position. Ben Arfa spent time both centrally and wide right later on, when his intricate footwork baffled the more powerful Clint Hill.

Gutiérrez drifted from the right flank to the left flank – and even popped up in the centre – with his insatiable running power. Best gave Newcastle width on the left, an area where he is less comfortable, but vitally Newcastle kept their width and stretched Rangers, giving Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie and Ben Arfa more room to work.

Ameobi stayed central, furthest forward, doing much good work with his back to goal and proving a dependable outlet. When Best was replaced by Dan Gosling, Ben Arfa spent more time on the right. His control teased Rangers' defenders and illustrated the value of a player who is capable of keeping the ball, buying time and occasionally making the clever pass rather than taking the easy option.

Pardew bolted the door early with James Perch replacing Taylor and Tim Krul had a quiet second period.

Mark Hughes will be satisfied with the application of his side but without the drive of Barton and the wiles of Adel Taarabt, his team is bereft of top quality. Young, Jamie Mackie and his centre-backs did well to compete with the hardworking and physical Ameobi's shielding skills. Hughes was honest enough, however, to understand that although Bothroyd could have scored twice in the second half, it would have given a false impression of 90 minutes in which Pardew's manoeuvring came out on top.