Newcastle United fans made their feelings about Mike Ashley known by staging protests against the club's owner before the team's match against Liverpool at St James' Park on Saturday.

Supporters gathered in Newcastle city centre and outside before the match to vent their frustration at Ashley, which came to a head when popular manager Chris Hughton was replaced by Alan Pardew earlier in the week.

Northumbria Police officers and club stewards kept a watchful eye over proceedings, but the demonstrations passed without any major incidents.

Supporters brought signs demanding that Ashley sell the club and sever his ties on Tyneside, and wore t-shirts in support of Hughton.

There were chants of "There's only one Chris Hughton" and "We hate Ashley" as dissatisfied fans took to the streets, while inside the ground there were choruses of "get out of our club"aimed at the controversial owner, who was in attendance.

Pardew said in the build-up to the match when asked about the planned prtoest: "If there is a protest for Chris in terms of a nice protest and fans want to show him their support, then I don't have a problem with that. That is their right.

"But I hope that anything like that is over with quickly and they start supporting their team. It is not about me, after all, it is about the club. And we are going to need a lot of help to get past Liverpool, who have just hit a bit of form."

Newcastle went on to win the match 3-1, and moved above Liverpool and up to eighth in the Premier League table.

Eurosport