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Joey Barton marked his return to the Newcastle starting line-up with the first goal in a 2-1 Premier League win over West Brom at St James' Park.

The controversial midfielder netted from the penalty spot after nine minutes before Obafemi Martins doubled the hosts' advantage just before the half-time whistle.

West Brom substitute Ishmael Miller swooped on 65 minutes to give the Baggies hope, but despite some nervy final moments, Newcastle held on to hand Joe Kinnear his first win since taking over as interim manager - and the Magpies their first victory in over two months.

The result saw Newcastle climb a provisional 15th place as the remaining 18 Premier League teams are not in action until Wednesday.

With Barton making his first start since serving a prison sentence - and considering his controversial badge-kissing antics while warming up at Sunderland at the weekend - all eyes were on the midfielder from the moment he emerged from the tunnel.

But it was Shola Ameobi who caught the eye most in the opening exchanges, the striker first latching onto a clever Damien Duff pass in just the second minute, only to see his attempted dink over Scott Carson fail to reach its intended target.

Ameobi was again involved moments later, flicking on to Martins whose slightly deflected shot forced Carson into a smart save.

But Barton refuses to be out of the spotlight for long and he was soon back on headline-making duty, thankfully this time for the right reasons.

Ameobi was tripped in the box by Ryan Donk and referee Mike Dean had no choice but to point to the spot, handing Barton the chance to make his return to the starting line-up a scoring one.

He kept his cool, sending Carson the wrong way to register his first goal of the season and put his side one up.

But following the weekend's furore, this time Barton opted not to kiss his badge, preferring instead to beat his chest in celebration. Needless to say, St James' erupted, although not quite in the same manner as the Stadium of Light had three days earlier.

Barton then fired wide from outside the box before Habib Beye blazed over the bar from Ameobi's cut-back. In between those chances, James Morrison was denied an equaliser by a fine Shay Given save having been put through on goal by Borja Valero.

Morrison was left to rue that miss as Martins doubled the Magpies' advantage on 42 minutes. The Nigerian took advantage of some slack West Brom marking to plant a firm standing header from Beye's cross past Carson.

Two further chances fell Morrison's way soon after the restart - one shot was blocked, the other flew over the bar - as West Brom pushed forward with more purpose than during the opening period.

And Tony Mowbray's side were rewarded on 65 minutes when Miller - on as a 54th minute substitute for Chris Brunt as the Baggies switched to a more attacking 4-4-2 - ran onto a clever Robert Koren through pass to round Given and slot into an empty net.

The goal gave the promoted side new hope and it took a dogged defensive display by Newcastle - and most notably a decent close range stop from Given to deny Miller on 73 minutes - to keep them at bay.

As the full time whistle approached, that defending became ever more dogged, but once Damien Duff had tracked back to mop up some late danger, time had ran out for the Baggies, leaving the Toon Army to breathe an audible sigh of relief and, more importantly, to celebrate a rare victory.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport