Newcastle United moved out of the relegation zone and dropped Cardiff City into it as an unlikely double by Fabian Schar earned them a crucial 3-0 victory at St James' Park.

An afternoon that began with unpopular club owner Mike Ashley being booed by disgruntled home fans ended on a brighter note as Rafa Benitez's side took maximum points at home for only the third time this season.

After five games without a league win the visit of Cardiff had the feel of a key relegation battle and Schar's 24th-minute opener eased the tension around the ground.

Finding himself in an advanced position the centre back drove in from near the touchline and curled a superb shot past Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge.

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It was Schar's first goal for Newcastle since joining from Deportivo La Coruna and having got the taste for it he doubled his side's lead when bundling the ball into the net from a Matt Ritchie corner just past the hour mark.

Cardiff offered little in response apart from the odd flurry and Schar was not far away from claiming a hat-trick when he headed off target from another Ritchie corner.

Ayoze Perez added some late gloss, tapping in Newcastle's third in stoppage time from Salomon Rondon's cross.

Newcastle climbed to 17th with 21 points, one place above the drop zone while Cardiff are in 18th spot, with 19 points.