Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland was once again the hero as he single-handedly kept out struggling Newcastle to earn a 0-0 draw at St James' Park on Saturday.

Newcastle remain in the Premier League's relegation zone, while Stoke opened up a six-point cushion over the bottom three.

The two teams came into the game on the back of very different weeks, with the hosts having lost to arch rivals Sunderland while Stoke advanced in the League Cup by beating Chelsea thanks to Butland's eye-catching performance.

The visitors nearly got off to the perfect start when former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam whipped in a dangerous cross that was missed completely by defender Chancel Mbemba but Jon Walters somehow failed to hit the target from close range.

The let-off spurred the home team, who came even closer on the half-hour mark.

French midfielder Moussa Sissoko delivered a pinpoint cross that was glanced past Butland, but the ball came back off the post and the keeper was somehow able to smother the ball in a packed six-yard box.

The Magpies had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Spanish attacker Ayoze Perez went down, but there was no whistle and the teams went into the break level.

Minutes into the second half, Butland had to be alert to tip away Georginio Wijnaldum's free-kick for the hosts, while his opposite number Rob Elliot saved at point blank to keep out Walters' header.

The 22-year-old Stoke stopper's growing reputation was further enhanced when he dashed from the line to deny Sissoko as the home team began to take control of the contest.

Mbemba headed wide from close range from the resultant corner, before Butland again came to the fore as he saved Perez's drive.

Stoke remained a threat on the break through Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri, who was first denied by superb defending from Fabricio Coloccini before setting up Walters, who fired over the crossbar.

But it was Butland who was to prove Stoke's point-winner, pulling off another two stunning saves to deny Sissoko and Jamaal Lascelles.