All,
for those of you unable to attend games at Gallowgate for whatever reason here is the twelfth of my match accounts for this season, including personal thoughts as a Newcastle supporter as the day’s events unfolded both outside and inside St James Park.
Derby day is like no other when it comes to being a Mag as common sense and reason go completely out the window for about three or four hours. Somewhere in among those hours is ninety minutes of complete insanity that goes under the name of a football match. Whoever thought scheduling this fixture for a Sunday with a twelve noon kick off would take some of the edge off it they clearly have no idea just what it means to supporters of both Clubs. This is warfare make no mistake!
Pre-match training consisted of a quick pint just to meet up then off to the ground. No need to discuss predictions, team selections, tactics or anything else remotely connected with the game as only one thing mattered, winning or at least not losing to the Mackems.
The weather was miserable which probably didn’t help the mood towards our visitors as we made our way up to the ground. The reception for 5under1and is always hostile and perhaps a bit of an exaggeration or cliché to say it’s personal, however whenever these games are played it certainly feels that way. Whether it’s because people believe they are representing the Geordie nation when inside the ground could be a factor or then again perhaps not. Although it has to be said in all honesty, it’s not a pleasant side to our great region, which is often portrayed. One thing for sure I’m never as intense watching these games on TV as when inside St James’ on derby day.
The Team selection from APee was as that for the Wolves game so Raylor again started out wide right. The noise prior to kick off is something tangible and never lets up apart from the half time break that allows you to catch your breath, before it starts all over again for the second forty-five minutes. With The Toon attacking The Leazes End the game got underway. Barely forty seconds into the match and Clattermole was in the book following what looked to me to be for a late challenge on Tiote. Oh! Well, I thought, game on!
Newcastle appeared to have settled the better during the opening exchanges although the tackles were flying in thick and fast. No doubt about it in my mind O’Neils troops wanted to assert themselves physically on the Toons midfield very early to unsettle them. To a degree this was extremely successful and certainly the early booking for The Mackems skipper didn’t appear to be stopping him from doing his stuff. Whatever early composure Newcastle showed soon evaporated and attempting to play football almost became secondary for quite a few players compared to kicking lumps out of each other, the possible major exception being Sessegnon for the visitors. All of which suited The Mackems down to the ground as they took control of the game. Cabye and Tiote for The Mags appeared to me to be struggling to come to terms with the intense atmosphere and nature of the fixture.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise then when I say the first goal arrived from the penalty spot. Mike Williamson being the guilty party in conceding the spot kick. From where I was sitting the defender appearing to man handle Turner as he pressed up for a free kick into the area. Not that Mike Dean the referee was in any doubt about the justice of the award. Nicklas Bendtner beating Tim Krul from twelve yards to give the Mackems the lead one nil with twenty-five minutes gone.
During the next fifteen minute’s things didn’t get much better from a Toon standpoint. Ba and Cisse working hard but starved of any real service from their midfield colleagues. Raylor pulled in from wide right to try to support Cabaye and Tiote in the middle of the park. All of which meant The Toon had no real width as Jonas was also seeing little of the ball. Despite that Newcastle did rally in the final five minute’s of the half and almost equalised as Ba crashed a header against the crossbar. Even though The Toon were a goal down it was almost a relief for me when Mike Dean finally blew his whistle for half time.
The break was soon over and both sides returned to the fray with Newcastle having substituted Ben Arfa for Santon to allow Raylor to drop into the left back spot. This decision by Apee met my approval as Raylor, despite taking just about every dead ball kick going, had provided nothing of an attacking presence down the right hand side during the first half. The Toon now started to press their opponents back in midfield and used the full width of the St James’ Park pitch. Yet Mignolet the Mackems keeper had still to be fully tested and so far in my view looked completely untroubled.
As the half continued the noise was just as loud and intense as it had been throughout the game, but it was about to get a whole lot more hostile. All because of another piece of madness from a player, although surprisingly one I never expected in Sessegnon. Ironically it also came after Krul somehow managed to keep out two goal bound efforts that could have killed the game as far as The Mags were concerned. The game had been physical throughout with plenty of meaty challenges put in from both sets of players. There had even been a full on pushing and shoving competition during the first half when handbags between Simpson and McClean got out of hand. Anyway for whatever reason Sessegnon took a distinct dislike to the attentions of Tiote following the missed scoring opportunity. From where I was he appeared to strike out with his arm at the Ivorian right in front of the ref, down went Mr T and bedlam broke out from the stands. Referee Dean brandishing a red card to dismiss the offender much to the dismay of the visiting manager, Mackem supporters and obvious delight of everyone else in the ground.
With 5under1and down to ten men The Toon went looking for an equaliser. Ben Arfa and Jonas now getting plenty of the ball and causing problems for both opposing full backs. Hatem really giving the defence reasons to be concerned with some brilliant flashes of just what he can do when the mood takes him. However the Mackems stopper still appeared unconcerned as corners and crosses were wasted or defenders put their bodies on the line to prevent a goal. Clearly it was time for another change and not much of a surprise that Cisse made way for Derby Day specialist Stroller. He has an amazing record in these fixtures and no matter what he does that fact cannot be taken away from him. True to form he came up with the goods by winning a spot kick when completely wiped out by Campbell inside the box. Apee running up and down the touchline like a mad man.
Now there were plenty around me that thought the big man would take the kick, however it was Ba that lined up to take it only to be denied by a save from Mignolet. I was convinced Newcastle had blown it and that having given the opportunity to equalise the Football Gods had decide we were unworthy. Defeat was now a very real possibility for Mags to face yet those Football Gods are not without a sense of drama. Up came the clock with added time, all five minutes of it. Two minutes in and with the Mackems getting ready to celebrate the whole game turned on its head as Stroller latched on to a through ball and scored past a bemused Mignolet. One all and the noise was incredible as much from relief as joy. There was even time for a further goal mouth scramble involving Mike Williamson, however it was not to be and the game ended as a draw.
If you have a dodgy heart these are games you should avoid. Although in my opinion the passion, intensity, fervour, hatred and despite it being on occasions an ugly spectacle are all reasons to make attending worthwhile even if it is at the cost of the football played. For me it’s a game you need to be at inside the ground to possibly fully appreciate just what it is like. There are just so many aspects you don’t see or hear on TV, that make these derby fixtures special. Like I said at the beginning of this piece it’s a day when common sense and reason go out the window, but my God you wouldn’t want to miss it!
Positives…...we didn’t lose and the Mags Premier League run of results against our greatest rivals continues. At least Mike Dean kept his head when plenty of players were losing theirs. Glad it is out of the way and I can concentrate on remainder of season.
Negatives….some of our key players lost the plot and it showed. Williamson needs to improve and quickly. Post match training bit of anti climax after the game.
Next up is the Gooners away on Monday 12th March live on TV with a 8pm kick off.
CWL
