Having battled relegation last season, Newcastle United have turned it around, sitting just outside the European places halfway through the 2013-14 Premier League season.

The Magpies have been formidable at home this season, losing just two of the matches at St James' Park at this point in the campaign.

Alan Pardew's side have shown vast improvement in front of goal, scoring 29 goals so far this season, just 16 fewer than they managed in the entirety of 2012-13.

Sports Mole looks back at the first 19 matches of the campaign for Newcastle.

August

Newcastle faced a tough start to the season, visiting the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City. Steven Taylor was sent off as the home side cruised to a 4-0 win.

The opening home game saw the Magpies gain their first point, playing out a goalless draw with West Ham United.

Hatem Ben Arfa scored the club's first goal of the campaign in the final game in August, as the Frenchman struck late with an effort from the edge of the box against Fulham, also sealing the first victory for Newcastle.

September

Ben Arfa was on the scoresheet again in their next game, but it was Yoan Gouffran who netted the winner in a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.

A Loic Remy brace was not enough to stop Newcastle slipping to their second loss of the season, as Hull City came from behind to clinch a 3-2 win at St James' Park.

It was another 3-2 defeat for Newcastle next time out, despite Yohan Cabaye and Remy pulling the Magpies back from a 3-0 deficit at half time.

October

Remy was among the goals again at the start of October, hitting a brace to help Newcastle to a 2-1 win over Premier League newcomers Cardiff City.

Next up, high-flying Liverpool visited St James' Park, and faced just 10 men for more than half of the match after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off just before half time, but the two sides played to a 2-2 draw.

Newcastle finished the month with a trip to the Stadium of Light to face local rivals Sunderland, but were beaten by a late strike from Fabio Borini.

November

Alan Pardew's men started November with their first back-to-back wins of the season, beating Chelsea 2-0 at home, before an early Remy strike sunk Tottenham Hotspur the following week.

Remy's impressive form continued when Newcastle welcomed Norwich City to their home ground, as the on-loan striker opened the scoring after just two minutes in the 2-1 victory.

Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko made sure that the team finished the month unbeaten, leading the side to a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

December

It was a first defeat in five matches at the start of December as Swansea City thrashed Newcastle 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

However, they recovered well three days later, as Cabaye sealed all three points on their trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Next up was the club's first draw since October when Jay Rodriguez scored a second-half equaliser for Southampton at St James' Park.

Christmas Day was book-ended by comfortable wins, as a visit to Selhurst Park on December 21 resulted in a 3-1 win, before Stoke City were thrashed 5-1 after being reduced to nine men on Boxing Day.

Despite their strong form throughout November and December, Newcastle finish the year with a defeat, after Olivier Giroud headed in from a Theo Walcott free kick to inflict just the second home defeat of the season on the Magpies.