Demba Ba scored a hat trick as Newcastle United continued its impressive start to the season with a deserved 3-1 win at Stoke City in the Premier League Monday. Newcastle, among the pre-season favorites for relegation, climbed to third place in the table and remain unbeaten after 10 matches. French-born Senegalese striker Ba headed home Gabriel Obertan's teasing cross from close range after 12 minutes and he doubled the away side's lead with another neat finish five minutes before halftime. Ba gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul on Peter Crouch and Jon Walters converted the spot-kick to give Stoke hope with 15 minutes remaining. Ba, however, quickly made amends when he coolly dispatched a penalty, his eighth goal of the season, after Robert Huth was adjudged to have shoved Leon Best in the area. “I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't play the way we should have in the second half but we defended well and you don't get to 22 points without showing different sides to your game,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told Sky Sports. “All the big sides have been here and not won so that just shows how good Stoke are. They are a top team and will finish top 10.” Newcastle climbed above Chelsea into third place, one point behind Manchester United. Stoke remained 11th in the standings. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew later insisted Demba Ba wasn't on a revenge mission. Ba was on the verge of joining Stoke in January but City boss Tony Pulis decided to call off the deal when a medical showed up issues with a knee problem. He signed for West Ham instead and then moved to Newcastle in the close-season after the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League. Sevilla suffers first loss Sevilla surrendered its unbeaten record and missed the chance to close to within a point of fourth-placed Valencia when it squandered the lead and lost 2-1 at home to promoted Granada in La Liga Monday. Manu del Moral struck in the second minute at the Sanchez Pizjuan but Granada's battling for an equalizer was rewarded 10 minutes from time when Swiss forward Alex Geijo nodded home the rebound after Nigerian Ighalo had smashed a shot against the crossbar. Sevilla had chances for a winner before Granada midfielder Mikel Rico pounced in the 90th minute to secure the three points and inflict a first defeat of the campaign on their Andalusian rival. Sevilla stayed in fifth with 17 points from 10 matches, while Granada has eight and climbed off the bottom of the table, a point ahead of Getafe. Real Madrid leads on 25 points, champion Barca, which is now the only side not to have been beaten this term, is second on 24 and surprise packages Levante third on 23. It's city rival Valencia has 21 points in fourth.
