All,
for those of you unable to attend games at Gallowgate for whatever reason here is the ninth of my match accounts for this season, including personal thoughts as a Newcastle supporter as the evening’s events unfolded both outside and inside St James Park.
Be under no illusion about how big this game is or what any fixture against Manure means to Toon supporters everywhere. There’s only one thing on their minds, winning! It’s never enough to have played well yet lose against a Club that when it comes to titles and success is in a very different dimension to The Toon. It was with that thought firmly in my mind I made my way into Newcastle for pre match training. Not that I was feeling confident mind you as Manure were coming to St James on the back of a worrying defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford which had Fergies blood boiling. Plenty of fellow Mags I had spoken to or been in touch with via the web over several days since the Liverpool game didn’t give us the lickings of a dog’s chance in beating them. At best before the game kicked off, a draw has to be considered a brilliant result yet my mind wouldn’t let go the possibility of pulling off a win. It clearly pays to be slightly mad when supporting The Toon as it helps soften the blow when things inevitably go against you.
Walking through the City to the usual watering hole, I couldn’t help but notice how quiet it was. The place appeared deserted and certainly nothing like a normal match day. Perhaps it was the weather, which I have to say was miserable, typical northern stuff, cold, wet, windy and bleak, just right for causing an upset. The mood picked up considerably once training started and with the first couple of rounds out the way, views on the game dominated the conversation. Having already stated I was not confident it surprised me that some of the others round the table were brimming with the stuff. Now quite what basis it had football wise I have no idea although obviously certain training supplements (Very nice Big Jug Bitter at 5.2%) may have had something to do with it. You have to acknowledge the incredible self-belief among some Mags that no matter how bad it actually gets there’s always this idea the team will eventually turn the corner and deliver. To help that along out come the first hand witness accounts of games gone by: Albert’s supreme chip, Shearer’s brace and the toe to toe with Keane, then the Robert free kick, all of which now have a firm place in Toon folk-law.
Because of the sold out signs for this encounter an early departure for the cathedral on the hill that is St James Park was agreed. Slightly damp but not overly dispirited by the weather as buoyed by pre match training I finally entered the ground. There’s just something in the air when it comes to certain games, which is difficult to get across in words no matter how you try. A feeling that you can almost taste yet somehow remains elusive. The moment when you are no longer an individual, but part of something much bigger and more primeval. On finally taking my seat in the East Stand that, experience and sense of anticipation again came across as it has on other similar occasions. With some quick handshakes and happy New Year’s out of the way, the serious stuff started as The Toon attacked the Leazes End.
In the opening minutes it became obvious it wasn’t just myself or the Toon Army fired up for this one, but the team as well. The Newcastle midfield duo of Tiote and Cabaye getting straight into the Red Devils to let them know it was game on. The Lads gave me the impression they were not going to let The Champions have it all their own way, as had been the case across on Merseyside against Liverpool. In a bright spell for the home side, a combination move involving Ryan Taylor who was playing wide right and full back Simpson almost allowed Ba to open the scoring. From Danny’s cross the striker unexpectedly fluffing his shot on goal when allowed to roam free inside the Manure box. Shortly after that opportunity, another chance went begging this time from Cabaye, following more good work from both Shola and Ba. The game was building up momentum. Not that it was all the home side by any means as Nani had a good chance to open his account for the visitors aided by two bouts of advantage play courtesy of Howard Webb the referee. Toon keeper Krul eventually making the initial save and then preventing Rooney from taking advantage of any follow up. During this period, a rendition of ‘with a U. N. I. TED’ was heard coming from the away section. Quickly followed by incredible noise from all sides of the ground in support of the men in Black & White. Newcastle then had another escape as a Berbatov header came off Davide Santon before hitting the outside of a post. Somehow rather than a corner a goal kick was awarded by the officials. Amazingly enough the man in the middle was actually causing the Toon Army a great deal of frustration, as he appeared to be favouring the away side with the majority of his decisions. None more so than with a potential penalty call after a collision between Ba and Ferdinand. I have seen penalties awarded for a lot less and could only believe the officials thought it a fifty-fifty situation as both the referee and his assistant dismissed any appeal out of hand. Newcastle would not to be denied however and just past the half hour mark, the breakthrough arrived. I would like to have said it was a breathtaking flowing move but it wasn’t. Instead it was classic route one with Shola heading on for Ba to finish with a terrific shot past a stranded Lindegaard to give Newcastle the lead one nil.
This was no more than what the team and the two players themselves deserved. Ba and Shola giving Jones and Ferdinand a torrid time by pulling both of the Manure central pairing all over the place. Ba was inspired and at one point looked as if he was prepared to take on the whole defence himself to score again. Following one such run only, a Giggs late challenge stopping the striker from bearing down on goal. Despite protests of innocence, I thought Giggs was lucky not to be booked. There was even time for what appeared to me to be an amusing exchange between Raylor and Cabaye over who would take the free kick. Ryan eventually getting his way and although not a bad effort his shot sailed over both wall and bar. With the first half drawing towards a close Ba still had time left to test the Manure keeper from distance.
The halftime banter was all about could The Lads keep it going and record an unexpected win? On the first half display most agreed it could happen yet I had this nagging doubt, we had not seen the best of The Champions by a long way and they would come out strong for the second period. One added halftime treat was watching three out of four kids hit the cross bar and earn themselves signed copies of FIFA 12 along with cup tickets for the Blackburn game.
Whatever was said in the Manure dressing room at half time must have been quick and to the point as they trudged out early. With no sign of The Mags, it even crossed my mind would Webb let Manure kick off early and gift them an equaliser. A few minutes later The Toon players arrived to a much better reception.
Barely a minute had gone before Ba picked up where he had left off in the first half by running directly at the oppositions defence with only a desperate tackle from Jones stopping Ba in his tracks, although it did also earn the young defender a yellow card. I’m not sure if Ryan and Johan had, a gentlemen’s agreement over who would take free kicks where and when during the game, but it was the Frenchman who got the nod for this one. The midfielder striking as sweet a shot as you could wish for and despite Lindegaard getting a hand across close to the ball, it still struck the underside of the bar and went beyond the goal line. No need for technology to tell anyone this was a goal as the roar from the crowd could have been heard all the way to the Stadium of Plight! Now we would see what Fergies team are made of I thought with The Toon two goals up after forty-seven minutes played.
The game took on an almost surreal feel to it as the visitors began to press forward and dominated periods of possession. That said Newcastle still carved out chances to increase their lead with Ba absolutely, terrifying Ferdinand to death. I also reckon there’s no doubt at all The Toon Army has fully embraced its latest centre forward to their hearts. His shirt just happens to have a number one added to it rather than a single number nine! St James is an incredible place to be on occasions and this game is about as good as it gets. Words just don’t convey the passion, noise, humour and all the rest of it. Where else would you have the home fans chanting, “We support our Local Team” with the players defending for their lives. Birthday boy Danny Simpson receiving a massive explosion of noise in support of his efforts after clearing the ball off the goal line. It just didn’t matter what Manure did on the night it was never going to be enough. Fergie made the changes, Rooney trooping off to jeers rather than cheers, Welbeck getting the bird just for being a short term Mackem and some of the others clearly dreading the hair dryer treatment when back in the dressing room after the game.
When APee made his changes, it only made what had been witnessed before even better. Shola leaving to warm applause as Best came on to annoy the away defence with his do or die approach. Cabaye getting his moment of adulation from the Toon Army when substituted for Perch and then in the closing stages Ba taking his well deserved roar from the faithful with Obertan’s arrival. As the fourth official sorted out the board for added time, the Football Gods even provided a small amount of icing on the cake. Jones making a complete hash of a cross into the box to wrong foot his keeper and the ball almost painfully crossing the line to make it three nil. The strange mixture of cheers and laughter that followed this own goal summing up a bad night in Toon for the Red Devils.
Positives…...any win over Manure, unbelievable atmosphere generated by the 52,299 crowd and a Newcastle United team effort where they all played their part to the full.
Negatives……….I’m sure I could think of some if I tried, however much better leaving them for another day.
Next up is an FA Cup game against Blackburn Rovers this weekend at St James Park. Quite looking forward to that one………………
CWL
;D 
I've seen Newcastle United win silverware!
