NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Hall (Kadar 82), Van Aanholt, Routledge, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez (Ryan Taylor 79), Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 60). Subs Not Used: Krul, Pancrate, Ameobi, Ranger.
CARDIFF: Marshall, Matthews (Kennedy 46), Gyepes, Gerrard, McNaughton, Blake, Whittingham, McPhail (Wildig 75), McCormack, Chopra, Bothroyd (Burke 30). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney.
44,028 turned up at St James' Park on a Friday night ... a date switched because the Mackems are at home on Saturday and the Football League computer (or the dick-head who programmes it) got it wrong ... to watch a classic annihilation!
Hughton brought in his new boys in the transfer window, and in all fairness to him, he was hardly given a King's ransom by Mike Ashley.
They were bargain-basement signings, and some (us included) wondered if they were any better than the players we already had.
But Hughton threw them to the wolves last night, and they faced a side who had racked up more goals on their travels in recent games than some clubs score in a season on away grounds (six at Bristol City and four at Peterborough).
But, rather than seeing too many newcomers disrupt a settled formation, they added a spark and determination that has been dwindling in recent weeks.
It may have been 'Old Boys' Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands that blasted the Toon six points clear at the top of the table ... but take nothing away from the contribution of the new faces.
Carroll plundered a double inside a devastating opening 15 minutes and in between, was instrumental in defender Gabor Gyepes putting through his own goal as the home side wrapped up the points barely before they had got their second wind.
Even Stephen McPhail, playing his first game since returning from treatment for cancer, was unable to stem the tide as Cardiff wilted in the face of a storm and substitute Lovenkrands claim a brace of his own as Chris Hughton's men extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games.
Former Magpies striker Michael Chopra had promised not to celebrate if he scored at St James' Park, but his restraint rarely looked like being tested on a black night for the Welshmen.
Hughton fielded all six of his January transfer acquisitions in his starting line-up, and that meant debuts for Leon Best and Fitz Hall and a first appearance at St James' for Patrick van Aanholt.
But it was one of the old guard who struck the first blow with just three minutes gone after Gyepes had conceded a third-minute corner as Wayne Routledge broke through.
Danny Guthrie's cross was headed back across goal by Hall and flicked on by Kevin Nolan for Carroll to stab home from close range and give his side the perfect start.
The 21-year-old striker should have collected his eighth goal of the season three minutes later when he smashed a left-foot shot against the foot of the post, but the unfortunate Gyepes could only help the rebound into his own net as the Magpies raced into a 2-0 lead.
Ross McCormack might have pulled one back for the visitors with a stinging eighth-minute volley which cannoned back off the bar, before Carroll claimed his second of the came when he met Simpson's inch-perfect cross with an unstoppable header.
Bluebirds full-back Adam Matthews drifted a 20th-minute cross on to the angle of bar and post with keeper Steve Harper once again beaten, but it was not Cardiff's night.
The second half was never likely to start as explosively as the first, although Harper had to be on his toes to turn over Chopra's 51st-minute shot after it looped up off Hall.
Dave Jones' men were enjoying plenty of possession, but were rarely able to trouble Hughton's rearguard, and they were made to pay with 21 minutes remaining when Routledge fed Lovenkrands and he finished with aplomb.
Carroll was denied a hat-trick by Gyepes' 80th-minute goal-line clearance, but Lovenkrands made it 5-0 with a fine finish two minutes later - with substitute Aaron Wildig's late strike scant consolation for the demoralised visitors.
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