First off, I would like to apologise for my lack of posts over the period. I got way-layed with work and christmas and then subsequently ate my weight in chocolate over the christmas break. However, this does not mean I wasn’t paying attention to Newcastle United’s involvement in the congested Christmas calender, that I was.
So first up was our only derby fixture of the season as we took on Middlesbrough at St James Park. Boro’ have been underachieiving some-what this season after coming down with us last season. Southgate’s reign as boss has ended and we have now seen the arrival of that pesky little scotsman Gordon Strachan at the helm. This appointment hasn’t really helped problems as they went down 2-0 to a Newcastle United side who played with verve and purpose. Much of the game was played at a pace of Newcastles choosing, which was sometimes pedestrian, but it needed to be no harder as auto-pilot mode seemed to work effectively enough, as Middlesbrough barely threatened. There was mild controversy over a supposed push from Shola Ameobi which lead to the first from Marlon Harewood, but in truth, it was minimal and didn’t really effect the goal. The Middlesbrough game was a job well done. Professionalism and quality were the order of the day.
So moving on to Hillsborough, where a managerless and “club in turmoil” Sheffield Wednesday held us to a 2-2 draw, which to say the least was annoying. It was annoying on two fronts; firstly, because we went in at half-time 2-1 up, meaning we only really had to push for one more and have the game sewn up, but we conceded and allowed Wednesday back into the game. Secondly, it was annoying because throughout the game,we looked far too complacent. Granted, Wednesday played with spirit and clearly had their tails up. However we gave a lacklustre account of ourselves. Maybe the Christmas period was catching up on us. The game didnt pass without contention and incident however, as Luke Varney fouled Steve Harper in order for the ball to crash off the cross bar and into the path of James O’Connor who had the brass cheek to smash the ball into the net for the equaliser. However, with all the bluster and protestations, I couldn’t help but think after the Middlesbrough game, what comes around, goes around. After that game though, we sat relatively pretty with a seven point lead at the top.
Next up, we played a hard-nosed and determined Derby County side. In which, in a game which passed off without much of anything to report, finished in a 0-0 draw. We made some changes, Ameobi was dropped to the bench as was Guthrie, but it was largely the same team which appeared in the Sheffield Wednesday game. Heavy legs they may have had, but this was a game which baffled fans as to how it stayed 0-0. Newcastle United, to pardon the cliche, were all over Derby, hitting the bar, hitting the post, fluffing one-on-ones and watching as Stephen Bywater turned into Lev Yashin for the evening.We showed endeavour and an advernturous attacking spirit, it simply wasn’t to be our night. The worrying aspect of this draw, wasn’t the fact that it was a game we should of won, it was the fact that our unassialable 10- point lead had been eroded to just 6 points. Still, it is a nice margin to have.
So we headed into the new year with the customary F. A Cup third round weekend and a trip to Plymouth, to take on Paul Mariner’s Plymouth side. Mariner is another new appointment, after the sacking of Paul Sturrock a few weeks before. Chris Hughton made a few changes, most of them neccesary as a majority of first teamers were probably knackered. Krul, Kadar, Pancrates and Ranger all started. Although the F.A Cup is a wonderful competition and should be taken very seriously, this season, we have to be realistic as to our cup aspirations and what our ultimate goal is, to gain promotion. So we went there and played out a 0-0 draw with largely nothing to report. Even ITV thought so aswell, dedicating 7.4 seconds to the “action” excluding Matt Smith’s introduction. It’s back to ours for the replay in which both teams will probably do there very best to try and not win the game.
So that’s where we stand. 6 points clear at the top, still in the F.A Cup and still unbeaten at home and in 11 games. It’s a nice way to go into the new year and the transfer window……
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