Newcastle United's Demba Ba celebrates after scoring his third goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England, Oct 31, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Demba Ba scored a hat-trick as Newcastle United continued their impressive start to the season with a deserved 3-1 win at Stoke City in the Premier League on Monday.

Newcastle, among the pre-season favourites for relegation, climbed to third place in the table and remain unbeaten after 10 matches.

French-born Senegalese striker Ba headed home Gabriel Obertan's teasing cross from close range after 12 minutes and he doubled the away side's lead with another neat finish five minutes before halftime.

Ba gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul on Peter Crouch and Jon Walters converted the spot-kick to give Stoke hope with 15 minutes remaining.

Ba, however, quickly made amends when he coolly dispatched a penalty, his eighth goal of the season, after Robert Huth was adjudged to have shoved Leon Best in the area.

Newcastle climbed above Chelsea into third place, one point behind Manchester United and six adrift of leaders Manchester City. Stoke remained 11th in the standings.