and Papiss Cissé. 10 August 2012: The Europa League play-off draw is made, pairing Newcastle with Greek side Atromitos. 11 August 2012: Newcastle suffer a 4–1 defeat to Cardiff City. 16 August 2012: The club and Ajax announce that a price has been agreed for midfielder Vurnon Anita, subject agreeing personal terms and the player passing a medical. 18 August 2012: A goal from Demba Ba and a Hatem Ben Arfa penalty help Newcastle beat Tottenham 2–1 in their first Premier League game of the 2012–13 season, despite Pardew being sent to the stands after pushing the fourth official claiming the ball went out of play for a Magpies throw-in. 23 August 2012: Ryan Taylor's free-kick earns Newcastle a 1–1 draw against Atromitos in the first leg of their Europa League play-off in Athens. 25 August 2012: The Magpies suffer a 2–0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty and a Fernando Torres strike both in the first half, but Pardew's side are better in the second half. 27 August 2012: The club announce the death of former executive Freddie Fletcher, who worked at St James' Park in the 1990s. 30 August 2012: Haris Vučkić scores his first Newcastle goal in a 1–0 win over Atromitos in the Europa League. The win sees Newcastle qualify for the Europa League group stage. 31 August 2012: The draw for the Europa League group stage sees Pardew's team placed in Group D with Bordeaux, Club Brugge and Marítimo. 2 September 2012: Hatem Ben Arfa's curler gives Newcastle a disappointing draw at home to Aston Villa. 17 September 2012: Demba Ba's double (including Newcastle's 1,000th Premier League goal) gives Newcastle a 2–2 draw at Everton. 20 September 2012: Newcastle start their Europa League group stage campaign with a goalless draw with Portuguese outfit Marítimo on the island of Madeira, despite both sides having good chances throughout the game. 23 September 2012: Demba Ba nets his fourth league goal of the season in a 1–0 home win over Norwich City, despite Papiss Cissé's missed penalty. 26 September 2012: Despite a spirited performance, the Magpies go out the Football League Cup at the first hurdle at Old Trafford with substitutes Shane Ferguson and Cissé combining to net Newcastle's consolation goal in a 2–1 defeat, having both came on at the same time. 29 September 2012: Ba scores a volley and a