Andy Carroll also found the net in what turned out to be a comfortable 3-1 win over Peterborough United for Chris Hughton's side in front of a 43,067 crowd at St James's Park.

The victory ensured they went into the international break leading the Championship.

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However, the win came at a cost, with Gutierrez limping off injured shortly after opening the scoring in the 15th minute. Carroll struck three minutes later, and Simpson added a third early in the second half.

Dean Keates struck a late consolation for the visitors, who were playing in front of their biggest ever league crowd.

There were protests before the game beneath the Milburn Stand against the decision to sell naming rights for St James's Park, and further impassioned chants during the match aimed at owner Mike Ashley, who was at the match.

Before kick off, the club's physiotherapist Derek Wright was honoured for his 25 years service at St James's Park, and there was also an immaculately observed minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Hughton had welcomed back Steven Taylor from injury after a four-game absence, while Marlon Harewood and Danny Guthrie also returned to his starting XI after missing out at Sheffield United.

Newcastle made a bright start, and their first chance came in the seventh minute, when Gutierrez skipped into the visiting box, but his shot was deflected for a corner by Ryan Bennett.

Top scorer Kevin Nolan tried his luck from a 20-yard free kick a couple of minutes later with dead-ball specialists Ryan Taylor on the bench, but his effort floated over Joe Lewis's goal, and there was no let up for Ferguson's men in the ensuing minutes.

In the 14th minute Newcastle's fans made their feelings plan on the renaming of the club's stadium, when they sang 'Stand up for St James's Park' for the benefit of Ashley.

GUTIERREZ got Newcastle's breakthrough a minute later when he dribbled half the length of the pitch before cutting inside and striking a right-footed effort past Lewis to send Hughton's side into a deserved lead.

The 26-year-old, not surprisingly, was mobbed by his team-mates after ending his long run without a goal, though he didn't whip out a Spider-man mask and repeat his famous Real Mallorca celebration.

Within three minutes the advantage had been doubled from a Danny Guthrie corner, with CARROLL powering a header past Lewis for his fourth goal of the season.

Gutierrez, however, was soon substituted with an injury. He was replaced by Ryan Taylor, whose deflected shot had given Newcastle a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night.

A clutch of supporters then unfurled an 'Ashley out' banner, and as stewards intervened to have it put away, a chant went up around the stadium echoing the sentiment.

Guthrie struck the post in the 28th minute as Newcastle – totally dominating the game – pressed for a third goal, and Ferguson and his assistant were on their feet for the rest of the half, clearly unhappy at their team's performance.

Ferguson fielded substitutes Aaron McLearn and Paul Coutts for the second half, while Hughton sent out an unchanged side, though Nile Ranger was quickly sent out to warm up after Harewood went down needing treatment after the restart.

Harewood, however, was able to continue, and a third for Newcastle wasn't long in coming, with SIMPSON scoring a superb goal with his weaker left foot, the defender cutting inside from the right before curling a shot over Lewis and into the far corner.

McLean had an effort easily gathered by goalkeeper Steve Harper in the 58th minute, and Harewood forced a fine save from Lewis at the other end with a header from a Guthrie corner.

Jose Enrique had a shot palmed away as Newcastle looked for a fourth goal, and Nile Ranger and Peter Lovenkrands came on for the last 12 minutes, in place Harewood and Carroll, to huge applause.

KEATES struck a consolation for Peterborough in the 79th miunte, and the game ended 3-1.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (R Taylor, 21); Carroll (Lovenkrands, 78), Harewood (Ranger, 78). Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Butt, Geremi.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Lewis; Lee, Bennett, Morgan, Rowe; Whelpdale (Batt, 75), Diagouraga (Coutts, 46), Keates, Rose (McLean, 46), Mackail-Smith, Boyd. Subs not used: Amos, Martin, Zakuani, Frecklington.
Goals: Gutierrez 15, Guthrie 18, Simpson 52, Keates 79
Bookings: Bennett 89
Sent off: None
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Attendance: 43,067

For reaction to this afternoon's game, see Monday's Gazette.