NEWCASTLE fans endured a nerve-wracking final ten minutes after keeper Rob Elliott was sent off.

But Alan Pardew's team managed to hang on to a 2-1 lead  in their crucial relegation battle with QPR thanks to goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran.

The results means the Magpies are mathematically safe from relegation.

Newcastle fell behind when Mathieu Debuchy was harshly adjudged to have fouled Junior Hoilett in the 11th minuite.

Loic Remy, who turned Newcastle down in order to join QPR, converted from the penalty spot.

However, referee Lee Probert quickly gave Newcastle an opportunity to level things when he awarded a penalty at the other end seven minutes later.

Jose Bosingwa tugged Ben Arfa's shirt, and the French winger picked himself up to hammer his spot-kick into the roof of the net.

Newcastle then claimed the lead in the 35th minute thanks to a goal that owed much to a dreadful back-pass from Bosingwa.

The defender's pass sold Robert Green short, Jonas Gutierrez charged down the goalkeeper's kick, and Gouffran volleyed the ball into an empty net.