Full-time: Newcastle United 1 QPR 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED moved into the European positions as Moussa Sissoko’s second-half winner secured a sixth successive victory for Alan Pardew’s in-form side.

Sissoko’s precise 78th-minute finish settled a tight contest with QPR in which the hosts were always the side that looked marginally more likely to score.

Despite fielding a patched-up defence that was lacking both Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor, Newcastle kept a fourth successive clean sheet thanks largely to the superb defensive efforts of Paul Dummett and Mike Williamson at centre-half.

It is now 432 minutes since the Magpies conceded a goal, and Tim Krul had precious little to do as Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora found themselves well shackled.

The only negative for Newcastle was the first-half knee injury that saw Ryan Taylor hobble from the field, and raised fears that the popular 30-year-old might have suffered another serious problem to go with the two cruciate injuries that sidelined him for more than two years.

Pardew made two enforced changes with Williamson and Ryan Taylor replacing injured duo Coloccini and Mehdi Abeid.

Taylor was making his first Premier League start since March 2012 after recovering from two separate cruciate knee ligament injuries, but his afternoon was to end traumatically as his injury curse struck once again.

The 30-year-old was the best player on the pitch in the opening half hour of the game, controlling things from the base of midfield and firing in two decent efforts that forced saves out of Robert Green.

One of the strikes, which came at the end of a well-worked short corner routine, would have brought the house down had it been a yard or two either side of Green rather than straight at him.

However, without being on the wrong end of a foul or mistimed tackle, Taylor was forced onto the floor in the 33rd minute.

Newcastle’s medical staff spent a number of minutes examining his right knee, and while he was eventually able to clamber to his feet, he was close to tears as he hobbled off the pitch and headed towards the dug out.

Detailed scans will be needed to assess the extent of his latest problem, but the early fear has to be that he has suffered another ligament problem that could keep him on the sidelines for another lengthy spell.

Taylor’s departure understandably dampened the atmosphere at St James’ Park, and took much of the sting out of the home side’s bright start.

As well as Taylor’s two efforts, Sissoko also tested Green in the opening half hour before Newcastle had a decent penalty shout turned down as former Sunderland defender Nedum Onuoha appeared to bundle over Massadio Haidara in the area.

QPR were second best for the majority of the first half, although Harry Redknapp’s visitors improved as the interval approached and twice tested Tim Krul in the final five minutes of the opening period.

Krul made a routine save to gather a curled effort from Austin and tipped Richard Dunne’s header from a Joey Barton corner over the crossbar.

Barton wore the captain’s armband as he made his first return to St James’ Park since leaving Newcastle in 2011, and got a generally warm reception from the home fans.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with the Magpies dominating possession but struggling to break down a resolute QPR defence.

However, they did fashion a golden opportunity in the 57th minute, only for the in-form Ayoze Perez to fail to convert. Sissoko’s well-judged through ball released the Spanish striker through the middle, but his shot under pressure was saved by an onrushing Green.

With the game poised at 0-0, both sides spent most of the second half pressing without committing too many men forward.

Zamora headed Barton’s cross over the crossbar, while at the other end, Sammy Ameobi failed to find the target with a glanced header of his own. Papiss Cisse replaced Cabella as Pardew made an attacking substitution that saw Perez drop into the hole, and the Spaniard went close from his deeper position in the 74th minute.

Yoan Gouffran made a surging run to deliver a low cross from the right, Perez fired in a first-time shot on the run, and Green got down well to keep the ball out.

However, the QPR goalkeeper was powerless to make another save when Newcastle fashioned the best move of the game with 12 minutes left.

Sissoko laid off the ball from the left-hand side and continued his run into the penalty area to receive an excellent threaded pass from Ameobi. He controlled the ball with his first touch, before spinning around his marker to slot an excellent low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara; R Taylor (Gouffran 34), Colback; Cabella (Cisse 68), Sissoko, Ameobi; Perez (Armstrong 89).

Subs (not used): Elliot (gk), Streete, Anita, Ferreyra.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Onuoha, Caulker, Dunne, Yun; Barton, Henry (Hoilett 82), Sandro (Kranjcar 60), Fer; Zamora, Austin.

Subs (not used): McCarthy (gk), Traore, Isla, Phillips, Mutch.