Newcastle boss Chris Hughton praised his players for ignoring the ongoing turmoil off the pitch to cement their place at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Fans angry at owner Mike Ashley's decision to re-name St James' Park voiced their fury before, during and after Saturday's 3-1 victory over Peterborough, although their protests were diluted by their happiness at a rousing display on the pitch and a comfortable win.

The Magpies once again put their off-the-field troubles to one side to bank three more points for their promotion fund and maintain their two-point lead over second-placed West Brom.

Hughton said: "We have got a totally focused group of players who, from minute one, saw an opportunity for us to stay on top of the division, and very much took that opportunity.

"We have got used to getting on with the job. There are things we can't affect, but I am very lucky that I have got a group of players who are focused on one thing, and that's on staying where we are at the right end of the table with the ultimate aim of getting promotion.

"We are focused enough and it certainly hasn't taken anything away from the victory."

Newcastle got off to the perfect start when Jonas Gutierrez produced a mazy 15th-minute run before firing home his first goal for the club with the help of a deflection off defender Craig Morgan.

His celebration was muted - there was no sign of the famous Spiderman mask - and he left the field six minutes later with a dead leg.

Hughton said: "He was certainly delighted with that. We were expecting the mask to come out, but he has probably put it away somewhere."

By the time the Argentina international departed, the Magpies had increased their lead when Andy Carroll glanced home Danny Guthrie's 18th-minute corner, and Guthrie later hit the post as the home side threatened to run riot.

They wrapped up the points seven minutes after the break when Danny Simpson curled home his first goal for the club, although Posh rallied and Steve Harper had to pull off three good saves, including a fine effort from Craig Mackail-Smith's point-blank shot.

Midfielder Dean Keats finally struck 10 minutes from time, but that was scant consolation for his side.

Hughton said: "It was just what we wanted. We could have made it a little bit more comfortable, but I don't think you can complain too much about a 3-1 victory at home."

Posh boss Darren Ferguson was left to take the positives out of an improved second-half display.

He said: "Credit to Newcastle, I think you have seen the team that will win the league. They are on a roll at the moment.

"Chris has done a good job and stabilised the whole club, so it was always going to be difficult for us."