Andros Townsend and Karl Darlow inspired a hard fought, crucial victory for Newcastle as they clawed their way out of the bottom three for the first time since early February.
It was a truly determined display from Newcastle as Alan Pardew’s Palace tried to antagonise and frustrate Newcastle and their fans with cheap tactics in the first half. Pardew himself refuted claims that he set up his side to irritate the St James’s Park faithful but it was pretty obvious to all concerned that Pardew tried to turn the crowd against the home side and quash any momentum they could gain.
It did not work. The Newcastle fans did brilliantly to avoid berating their former boss and decided to instead, proudly and defiantly support their current manager and his team. It was the perfect way to deal with Pardew and his present bunch of mercenaries. Although Pardew did, in fairness, at the end of the game, congratulate Newcastle and the fans on a win, it was definitely through gritted teeth.
It was not Newcastle’s finest performance but it was one of sheer character and the three points gained could turn out to be absolutely vital. Townsend was terrific throughout. His work rate and determination was as exceptional as his free kick. Lauren Robert-like in execution, it was a magnificent strike but what was equally impressive, was when Townsend, with fifteen minutes to go, sprinted back and slid in to deny Palace a counter attack. It was the kind of endeavour that has been lacking in many Newcastle displays this season.
Karl Darlow was brilliant. He made several good stops in the first half and saved a Cabaye penalty to keep Newcastle in the lead. He seemed to grow many metaphorical inches throughout the game and was rightfully celebrated by his teammates when the final whistle blew.
With Arsenal reluctantly beating Norwich and Sunderland dropping points, it was a good afternoon for Newcastle. It could have been so much better if not for Defoe’s late, late equaliser at Stoke.
Norwich and Sunderland may have a game in hand but Newcastle have points on the board and momentum into the final games of the season. Today was a good day.
Newcastle Climb Out of Bottom Three
Icedog(Quote)
Are you going to talk about NUFC ever BrisV? I go off on tangents, I know, but you never really say anything about NUFC, ever. Same with your Aussie pal who just comes on to have a dig and then disappears. Is he scared of Troy?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Rafa hands out his first new contract,Dummy gets improved and longer contract,is Rafa staying then??
Icedog(Quote)
Let’s take it one game at a time. Beat Villa and see which way the chips fall.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Are you really claiming that I’ve never said anything about Newcastle United? 😳 Unbelievably stupid comment from the Donald Trump of the blog.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Bris thanks again for the fantasy footy league. Looking forward to doing a bit better next season!
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice – I’m chuffed to bits with that mate. I know he’s not our best player, but Dummett has become my new cult hero 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
I look forward to it, Sham. Thanks for your support by the way. It’s nice to know some people appreciate contributions to the blog.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Icedog(Quote)
SHARPY is it another clue Rafa might be staying talk is he’s bid for the Napoli defender,a player he signed when he was manager there
Icedog(Quote)
Eric – your views from afar on Cameron and the EU are not very accurate mate. Cameron’s not even a politician, he’s an Eton educated actor modelling himself on Hugh Grant/Colin Firth. He has very good scriptwriters. He travelled to all the different countries and found out what they would give him and then said that’s what we wanted. This was a totally different list to the one he’d promised us and his fellow tories. All pretty meaningless imo. It’s a bit like the euro referendum. He got spooked by the rise of Ukip two years ago and urged by euro sceptical tories declared the referendum. To this day it’s only those handful of tories and Ukip who are interested in leaving the EU!
Georgio(Quote)
Stuart – let me congratulate you. You insisted for months that we had good players but SM was a **** manager. I now believe you about staying up. We’ve just had 4 highly pressurised games and done very well. Nerve was held and I believe that will be the case for the next 2.
Georgio(Quote)
Ice – I certainly hope so mate. Confirmation on SSN just now that we have released Marv & Oba as well. That & dishing out new contracts isn’t the actions of a man who has left his coat on is it?!.
If we can survive, I really see us going on to being a team that can be up there with the likes of WH and Saints next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Very good. Slowly people are coming round.
Stuart79(Quote)
Southampton and West Spam suppose to be taking Townsend for £8m if we go down. Two points I’d like to make to the Telegraph’s Matt Law;
1) We ain’t going down so stick that in your pipe and smoke it!
2) Its a seriously poorly researched piece as for the life of me I can’t believe Ashly would allow a clause in a contract that would mean we would lose money on it as Law says. I heard if we went down we wouldn’t be paying the full £12m to Spurs so maybe he should research before printing *****.
Sad Villa fan who’s got nowt better to do!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart I don’t like relegation dog fights.
Terry(Quote)
Stuart I hope your right about us staying up mate. I’m starting to believe again and It’s all thanks to Rafeal Benitez getting the best out of the players. Lascalles has done very well for the team and a big improvement on Colocini. Toite doing well for the team. Townsend doing a very good job a player we have desperately lacked over the years. Mbemba also been a good. Cisse and Mitrovic are doing well. It just goes to show that McClaren was totally hopeless. Not forgetting Darlows incredible save. Villa should be an easy 3 pts for us. Lets hope Sunderland lose to Chelsea and Everton and the jobs done.
Terry(Quote)
We’re going down.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Final here we come! I told you Shteve was Shcitty…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Transfer rumours about our club are so dull at the moment…lazy journalism. As if there would be any discussions about active first team players leaving while we need all hands to the pumps to stay up! And as if we can look at signing any players (other than kids, perhaps) when we don’t even know what division we’ll be in!
One piece of news I read though is that Obertan and Marv have been released early. No shock there…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Welcome back, Funky.
Come on Terry, slowly but surely I will have every member believing!
Stuart79(Quote)
Marv and Obertan were released because if we stay up, Rafa doesn’t see a place for them in a PL squad and if we go down, there’s no way we’d pay their wages in the Championship.
No way are we seriously in for the Napoli defender yet. And I don’t believe for a minute that Rafa is spending any time at all looking for new players to sign. Every waking minute, he’ll be working on our existing squad or analysing the opposition.
Media garbage. As if the relegation battle isn’t exciting enough!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Newkie – me n you in the semi final then mate. May the best man win 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, maybe see you in the final then!
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – I’m as certain of that as Stu is of us staying up mate 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric, I only popped on for a quick read earlier, wasn’t ignoring you. Re- Lewis, yeah he is a bit better and not puked for two days 🙂 just got to get his appetite back up to normal and wait and see. Thanks for asking though.
Stu, I just think Scum have the knack of pulling off a couple of vital results this end of the season to survive in the past like. Plus they have Defoe, if he was out I would be at 60-70%. Look how jammy they were last week, Pen in the 94th ffs. You would hope Chelsea turn up on Saturday but it’s a home match for Scum and I just feel it will be a tough game for Chelsea . Villa are ****, BUT they are still scoring and most importantly playing with zero pressure.
kimtoon(Quote)
For me Marv & Oba should be the start of many.
I think we have a core quality to our squad, but there is a lot of deadwood there too – and I count some of our more senior players in that list as well.
Where we are and what we have been competing for over the last few seasons, I don’t expect us to have the quality in depth to our squad as a top 4 side. But the likes of Oba & Marv are players who lack quality & desire for me – and it’s the lack of the latter that is the biggest problem.
I hope to see more of the deadwood moved on in the summer – including our former ‘captain’.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy
We always need squad players who are solid but not spectacular. Look at the number of players who were written off last summer and have proven so many wrong! Elliot, Lascelles, Darlow, even Dummett playing well now! Colo does alright when players do the running around him and stick to their roles.
IF we stay up, we have to trust Rafa when he works out if he can get more out of the likes of Tiote, Sissoko, SDJ and several others.
I’ll be shocked if Goofy and Riviere are still NUFC players in the PL next season though.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I would like to see SDJ given a chance, I realise Rafa is going with who he feels has the ability to scrap it out right now. If we stay up and Rafa can remould the squad hopefully he can find a role for SDJ. For me Colo has to go and Saylor and Rivi and send Dumdums back from where ever he came, that has to be the strangest loan signing ever.
kimtoon(Quote)
SDJ has looked a classy player. I’m actually a little surprised he hasn’t played more under Rafa, but I’m not going to argue with him based on results!
Saylor could be a good squad player if his body could be managed better and if he could gain a few brain cells on the pitch. Seen nothing from Riviere at all though…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Thing about Rafa is he seems to be going with grafters. SDJ might be a good player if we weren’t in this position. Certainly think Rafa is thinking like this.
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS: Darlow and Lascelles were not written off last summer, they hadn’t even played a game. Darlow had an appalling debut game against West Brom where his nerves really showed. Lescelles gave away 2 penalties in his first few matches (one pre-season) but has looked good recently. You can only judge them on what you see.
As for Elliot, I didn’t see that many screaming on here when he was demoted to 3rd choice, but hindsight is a wonderful thing !
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Saylor would be good if he had the fitness to last a few games and the intelligence to not be a liability when he did play? So, those small things aside, what exactly does he bring to the table?!
Shamrock(Quote)
BrisV: if you disagree with anything I say you know you are allowed to comment right?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shamrock: Taylor is good at pointing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe Taylor could refine that backstep move he does into a moonwalk and become the next Michael Jackson?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And fist pumps 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric
There were plenty of comments last summer, and throughout the season, that those 3 player in particular weren’t good enough. There were many calls for us to sign another goalkeeper when Krul was injured, and it turns out that we have 3 very good goalkeepers! Some folks are just too quick to judge. Especially when players are new to the PL.
Other players like Anita and Tiote have been written off my fans this season too.
Assuming we stay up, I’d have thought Goofy and Riviere would go for sure though. Lots of question marks on players like Cisse and others.
More relevant to consider which of our squad we’d almost certainly want to keep actually! Darlow, Elliot, Lascalles, Mbemba, Gini, Dummet, Perez, Townsend, Mitrovic…I reckon everyone else has question marks above their heads.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Staylor has impersokated a toon player long eniugh now. This should be his last season. We have enough sicknotes in the squad. him and shola should get a joint testimonial for there loyalty to the toon..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sham
He’s strong, good in the air, committed, knows the club very well. Actually very important to have players like him in the squad. Depends on what his fitness issues are, but better management could sort those out. It’s been done for other players before. As for brains…if Rafa can drill in simple tasks into his head, then he’d be an asset. No point in trying to be Rio Ferdinand.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I got nothing against Taylor tbh, he always tries his best but the lad just cannot stay fit and he either seems to have a good game or a complete brain fart episode. You need steady reliable guys back there who do the small and big things equally well. You need the right chemistry too, some very average players on their own excel in the right combo, big believer in getting the chemistry right me .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
I agree with you on chemistry. Just look at what Leicester have done with some bang average players. I don’t see much difference between Taylor and Morgan to be honest. Someone just needed to give Taylor a simple, limited role, get on top of his injuries, and I reckon he would be a real asset.
A lot of his issues seem to stem from his injuries. Either he’s injured or he’s trying too hard to make the most of not being injured.
I wouldn’t write him off just yet.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS you probably think Tufty was a good manager too …
Munich Mag(Quote)
Hang on there TDS. It wasn’t just fans who had written Tiote off. He spent 6 months in the middle east “injured” and trying to find a new club. He then travelled to China to find a new club. He had his bags packed and had found 3 apartments in China for his 2 wives and a mistress before Schteve wouldn’t allow him to go.
As for Taylor. He is never fit, so what is the point?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
im sure in years gone by we would have had 20,000 fans following us to villa park at the weekend, filling the empty seats and the villa coffers…
Still 3000 will do to cheer the lads on to victory…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Somehow Rafa has got Tiote motivated again but don’t get used to him as he is after his last payday in China.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Munich
Never even heard a manager of ours called Tufty before! Googled it and looks like you’re talking about McClaren? If you want to know what I thought of that appointment, take a look at my fantasy football team name…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Eric, don’t go getting tied up in trivialities there mate.
Tiote would have been right out of here given half a chance, Cisse too. Now they are both giving it large and kissing the badge. The resurrection of a downtrodden Tiote could prove to be a master stroke, getting us the points to stay up, and him a lucrative move after all.
All down to the brilliant man manager Benitez.
What the hell have we been doing farting around with McCLaren and Carver..Chumpley should be shot at dawn the crouton.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Eric
I’m not blaming fans whatsoever. All I’m pointing out is that players who have been written off by various parties have come good before. I don’t blame Tiote for looking for a move at his age if he wasn’t going to get a chance with us. I’d do the same for my career, wouldn’t you?
I trust Rafa a hell of a lot more than previous managers. If he looks into Taylor’s injury problems and he’ll barely play, then he could still stick around as a reserve player as we absolutely need players like him who get the identity of the club 100% But I also have confidence that a good fitness regime for him would sort out his issues and mean he could play more.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: My opinion is that Charnley was manipulated by Carr to put in Ugly John as a stop gap until he could hire Carr’s first choice McClaren.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You are absolutely wrong about Taylor TDS. He is made of glass and cannot be relied upon. For every last ditch tackle there is him being out of position or at the edge of the 6 yard box showing the oppositions forward the inside path. He is slow as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
Why do you think he was Carr’s choice? Whoever made the call, I think they signed McClaren on a pre-contract basis when he was flying at Derby. So yeah, I think Carver was always a stopgap too. But they stupidly didn’t have a get out clause for McClaren after he failed miserably in the end…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
100% correct there,should get the boot over it,shows how easily he can be talked round through his lack of knowledge of the game
Icedog(Quote)
Eric
That’s why I’ve said that someone would need to get on top of his injury problems and give him a simple role to stick to. If those things were done, he could be an asset. Not much in saying I’m wrong, we’re actually agreeing! The only difference is that I’m saying Rafa might be able to fix him. If not, then he’s clearly not worth much as a player.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: I have no inside information it is just that Carr signed and wanted to sign a few Twente players and was an admirer of what McClaren did there. Charnley is an accountant and it is not too far of a stretch that he would defer to the de facto Director of Football, which is what Carr was. When Ashley walked away from all things football related he let his accountant, corporate greeter (Moncur) and failed Northampton Manager take over. Are we surprised at the results? The only surprise is that Charnley was smart enough to answer the phone from Rafa’s people.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: we are not agreeing at all on Taylor. He is a sicknote and that will not change. He is also caught out of position all of the time which is why he has to throw himself around a lot. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The sooner we are rid of him the better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
We’ll have to agree to disagree on Taylor. I’m not as quick to write off players as you are obviously. I also think it’s important to have Geordies in the squad who understand the club 100%
I’ll trust Rafa to make the call. Hoping we stay up so he gets to make it…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Eric
Definitely McClaren was a bad call. I didn’t like it from day one. Hoping the Directors are learning now. No point in just sacking someone when they make a bad call. Need to first see if they can learn from their mistake. If they can’t, then they’re useless.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: quick to write off players 🙂 🙂 🙂 Taylor has been at the club for 13 years and has played on average 13 games a season for his latest 5 year contract. I think I have seen enough of him in that time to know what he brings, or doesn’t bring to the table!!!! Treatment table for the most part.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: Carr is a dead man walking. Charnley will be demoted back to accountant if he can push all of the blame onto Carr. Moncur was only there to make up the numbers anyway and was a glorified corporate greeter. We didn’t have a board, we had 3 men out of their depth.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: we will not have to “agree to disagree” on Taylor. I am right and you are wrong.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
WTF Taylors a hopeless case
Terry(Quote)
Taylor is gash! Never reliable because of injuries and like Colo age and injuries are catching up with him. Lunacy not bringing in another centre on two occasions.
I think the only players I ever wrote off where either **** or always injured – oh and I wrote Tufty or the Grin Reaper off before he started!
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS You want to keep Taylor on because you’re worried the medical staff won’t get enough practice. He maybe a geordie and get the identity of the club but so is John Carver should we bring him back as well ? Bobby Moncur does what exactly ? I’m lost why anyone would want Taylor to stay. As I was with Shola Ameobi being here for so long when he was well past it.
Terry(Quote)
TDS’s resurrected players:
Taylor – lucky to be on the bench, contract will not be renewed.
Cisse – I am not sure why Rafa is playing him. 2 goals this season.
Tiote – even went to China to try to force a deal. Somehow Rafa has got him interested again.
Darlow – not as bad as his first game but I wouldn’t judge him on one good game (Palace). Seems to get out of position a bit but has good relexes, my fingers are crossed that he will be OK. We need him.
Lascelles – reckless but talented. If Rafa can tame him we have a good player.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS – I never once wrote Elliott or Lascelles off – infact I remember arguing with people on here about Lascelles in particular.
Obertan & Marv were highly paid deadwood mate – as is Colo & Saylor and they’d be the next to go for me. There would be others as well, but those 4 would be a canny start.
Sharpy17(Quote)
TDS you got my attention wanting Taylor to stay because his been at the club for 13 years. I’m sure the medical staff would be lost without him. We need more players on the injury bench. You crack me up mate.
Terry(Quote)
I don’t think anybody wrote off Lascelles either. What was said was that it was stupid to extend Coloccini’s contract, and rely on Willow and Taylor. MBemba is 21 and Lascelles 22 and that left us with little experience except for slow, past it, never weres and sick notes.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we have let in like 63 goals this season so if we had Paolo Maldini and Franz fckn Beckenbaere back there I might have noticed. Who knows if Rafa even trusts Lascelles and MBemba because they are the only 2 men left standing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC if one of those gets injured were Donald ducked with two games left
Icedog(Quote)
And comparing Wes Morgan to Taylor is a joke. Wes Morgan actually plays football and is not stuck on the physios table for most of the season.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What!!!!!!!!! It is obvious that McClarenb was Carr’s choice.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ermm… do you ever read back what you write?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And since I am setting the world straight. The Aussies come on here, have a little dig, and then leave. Never mentioning football (fantasy football doesn’t count, by definition). Never engaging in a NUFC conversation, not even saying their % on the Stuart-O-Meter. Just making snide remarks and then they’re off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Perhaps I will get banned? But what I say is the truth:
– TDS is defending the indefensible when he talks about Taylor.
– There is a press conspiracy to favour West Ham and Spurs.
– The Aussies only come on here to make snide remarks and then disappear.
– Troy loves Alan Pardew.
Eric Sykes(Quote)