Cardiff City were relegated from the Premier League after just one season in the top flight following a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday.

The Magpies' victory, coupled with Sunderland's win at Manchester United, sent the south Wales club into the Championship on an afternoon when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side spurned too many clear cut chances to keep their survival hopes alive.

Cardiff found themselves bottom of the Premier League table for the first time since January following a 4-0 defeat at Sunderland the previous weekend.

And goals from Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy and Steven Taylor at St James' Park sealed their fate with just one fixture remaining.

Newcastle's first league win in seven attempts was played out against a backdrop of fan unrest, but it slightly eased the pressure on under-fire manager Alan Pardew and guaranteed a top 10 finish for the Tyneside outfit.

Pardew made only one change to Newcastle's starting line-up with Nigeria striker Ameobi replacing midfielder Dan Gosling.

Solskjaer made five changes with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Wilfred Zaha restored to an attack-minded starting line-up.

And Cardiff almost enjoyed the perfect start following an indecisive punch clear by Newcastle's Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Krul failed to deal with a sixth-minute Fabio Da Silva cross but former Sunderland forward Frazier Campbell drove a right-footed shot wide.

Two saves inside a minute from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall preserved parity, but the Bluebirds were guilty of dreadful defending as Newcastle took the lead in the 18th minute.

French midfielder Moussa Sissoko surged beyond Cardiff full back Declan John before floating an inviting cross to the far post, where Ameobi was unmarked to head home his second league goal of the season.

Moments later the increasingly influential Sissoko tried his luck from 25 yards only to see a fierce right-footed shot deflect off Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and cannon off the far post.

Zaha wasted two opportunities to equalise inside two minutes as his pace unsettled the Magpies' defence.

Krul's trailing right leg denied the former Crystal Palace winger in the 29th minute before a last-gasp tackle by the France defender Mathieu Debuchy prevented a second clear shot on goal.

Former Newcastle forward Craig Bellamy replaced the South Korean midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung at half-time as Solskjaer shuffled his offensive pack.

However, it was Campbell who flashed a cross-shot wide of the far post in the 54th minute as the home fans began to vent their frustration at Pardew and United owner Mike Ashley.

A minority of Magpies' supporters left their seats after 69 minutes - the time designated by members of the Newcastle United Supporters' Trust to walk out in protest at the St James' Park hierarchy - but many thousands more stayed on until the final whistle.

Kenwyne Jones replaced Campbell in the 73rd minute and the former Sunderland player forced Krul into a fine save with his first touch.

As Cardiff fought desperately to preserve their Premier League status Remy almost punished the visitors on the break but his weak shot was blocked by Cardiff captain Steven Caulker.

French striker Remy, on loan from QPR, finally doubled Newcastle's lead three minutes from time following good work from Sissoko and Cheick Tiote.

He found himself free in the six-yard area to score a 14th league goal of the season before substitute Taylor sealed victory in stoppage-time.