In fact for that bulk of the match everything was finely poised, with the hosts even looking like conceding a goal, until Hatem Ben Arfa produced a moment of magic to tip the balance in favour of the home side.
We’ve now won five games on the spin at just the right time of the season. We now sit level on points with 4th placed Tottenham Hotspur and three points ahead of 6th placed Chelsea, who have a chance to knock us back down to 6th by virtue of goal difference this evening as long as they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage. Should that happen there will be three teams sitting on 59 points and aiming for a Champions League place.
I’d like to say that we won the match with style, but I’d be lying if I did. Instead the game was settled with two moments of real quality, which we’ve been conditioned to believe over the years is a sign of a good team.
Most of the action was reserved for the second half, with returning skipper Fabricio Coloccini proving to be the source of any attacking play of note during the first period – his ball which Demba Ba miscontrolled on the edge of the area was one highlight, with a shot from fully 30 yards being the other.
However the second half sprang to life after a flat and drab first 45 minutes, but it was Bolton who could, and probably should, have drew first blood in the contest of attrition. First there was Chris Eagles, who fired straight at Tim Krul from ten yards after working his way into the penalty area. Then there was Mark Davies, who completely missed his shot from six yards out allowing Tim Krul the time to readjust himself for Davies’ weak second attempt.
With 17 minutes of the game remaining the course of the game changed thanks to a moment of sheer inspiration, and another Goal of the Season contender from Hatem Ben Arfa. Receiving the ball in his own half, Ben Arfa flicked the ball round Mark Davies before spinning round the other way to collect his own flick on. He then charged into the Bolton half beating three defenders with ease before nonchalantly sliding the ball past the Bolton goalkeeper. It really was a magical moment that deserved to change any game.
However gloss was added to the victory ten minutes later when substitute Shola Ameobi – on for the disappointing and rather petulant Demba Ba sent an inch perfect cross which Papiss Cisse converted from six yards out. That’s ten goals in nine games for the new number nine.
From then on the game petered out. It was job done for Newcastle whilst Bolton will have been left feeling that they could have got something out of the game had they managed to convert some of their earlier chances.
Next up we have Stoke at home, but before that we have a 12 day rest. Judging by the flatness of the performance and general lethargy of some of our players today, it is a break that is needed and should ensure that our batteries are sufficiently charged for the final five games of the season.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye, James Perch, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba
Subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Tavernier, Ryan Taylor, Mehdi Abeid, Dan Gosling, Shola Ameobi
Bolton: Adam Bogdan, Gretar Steinsson, David Wheater, Tim Ream, Sam Ricketts, Chris Eagles, Mark Davies, Darren Pratley, Nigel Reo-Coker, Martin Petrov, Kevin Davies
Subs: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Mikel Alonso, Zat Knight, Ivan Klasnic, David Ngog, Marvin Sordell, Ryo Miyachi
Attendance: 52,264
NUFC Blog Man of the Match: Hatem Ben Arfa – Not just for his goal, but for his workrate and willingness to try and make something happen.
One more win to mathematically secure 6th place…
JJ(Quote)
MDS- That Radiohead sleeve you mentioned on last blog was it the Idioteque promo c.d and if so was it U.S or U.K promo .Both are rare and the U.S one is quite scarce and will be worth a few bob .
kimtoon(Quote)
What a great day! Couldn’t find the match on anywhere after all so had to sit and watch spuds lose instead (haha) along with live text and the blog, but have now watched Ben Arfa’s goal at least 50 times from every angle, and Clint Dempsey goes and tops it off!!!
Krul for golden glove!!! 😀
Susan(Quote)
I’ll enjoy watching these motd pundits drooling over us for a change (or at least HBA)
MDS good luck against the pens if i don’t see you before weds 😉
Dubtoon(Quote)
Fantastic result today! Great goals and players on form! Come on Stoke!
AndrewT(Quote)
Spurs really were terrible….they cant play this badly for the rest of the season..can they?
Newkie(Quote)
Watched Bennys goal again on motd and it really is something else. 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
MDS,
Yeah man, he really did. If anyone deserves what he has, Clint does. The guy is really a class act and a good striker. Doin’ us proud!! Especially today when his snarky right foot put us firmly into 5th place!! Can’t believe we’re level with Spurs and it looks like their form is slipping… could be good things heading our way…
YEEHAW!! Buckle up lads- the trip to Europe can get a bit bumpy haha!!
OHurley(Quote)
(and lasses ;))
OHurley(Quote)
Have we actually fallen out of the top 10 once this whole season?
OHurley(Quote)
OHurley-don’t think so mate
Newkie(Quote)
*** Newcastle now you are starting to panic the champions league crowd and Spurs have already **** themselves. OOOOHHH I LOVE IT. 🙂 🙂 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Tell yeez what though, av seen a few Toon players in mi time though, but that Bing Arthur, whatever he’s called, he gat dem craaaaaaaaaazy feet jam bone, kraaayyyyyyyzee feet! 😯 shamone
Rodzilla(Quote)
…THAAATS waddam talkun bout 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodzilla This is ma pool cha’mon, for playin wiv a women, and a lil bit of swimmin. Ya no wat I’m talkin bout hehe. 😈
DJG(Quote)
Absolute top notchings on the literal headboard of numeric expectancy; I counted fawa, and have now instigated a tally chart.
Today Newcastle United, Tomorrow, the Worrrrlllld!!
(@sportsdirect.com – terms and conditions apply) 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
DJG, fo sheeeeeezy ma neezy. 😉
Rodzilla(Quote)
Jermaine Pennant’s dive ****** me off the day like.
…a had EVERTON, FULHAM (drahh), NEWCASTLE and VILLA.
…last fucking kick on MotD. Bastids. 5 pund at 21/1.
…least the results went pretty fkin fine.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!! 😯 😯
😐 😐 😯 😯 😐 😐
🙄 😛 😛 😛 🙄
😯 😯 ➡ ➡ 😎 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodz
What’s up, man! Long time no see!
OHurley(Quote)
DJG and Rod,
Yo yo, G… don’t y’all be tawkin no jive when in the presence of a yank who know wut up, ya see. ‘less u want me tawkin all Geordie like…
haha am ganna shut me gob now. Almost done graftin, and then gannin oot for a pint o’ broon wif me mates like. 😉
OHurley(Quote)
eyup Hurls arr kid,how’s thi diddling? 😎
Hope you’ve grown out of that ‘rock’ music, the devil’s work. 😈
Rodzilla(Quote)
Merchandise keeps us in line
Common sense says it’s by design
What could a businessman ever want more
than to have us sucking in his store
We owe you nothing
You have no control
You are not what you own
…said a 90’s post hardcore band, just off the cuff like. Nowt tedee wi futborl like.
Rodzilla(Quote)
😳 soz Toons, scared them off again; must be my superior football knowledge.
…guess someone’s got to be the King of Blogs 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
…ahl this “troy” **** the younguns were taakin boot early on.
I put it down to inexperience.
Porsnli.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Thats Fugazi
Toots(Quote)
yo toots, fo sho 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
Think I’m gonna have to put a tenner on Everton for the FA cup match with Liverpool, that way I’ll be happy either way….though I’d still rather Europe…
Now it’ll go to extra time 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
**** Stephen Gerrard, and overcompensate.
Rodzilla(Quote)
(I’m not gay)
Rodzilla(Quote)
….well, not as gay as Batty.
Rodzilla(Quote)
…happy, I meant, of course.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Shutup, ya batty crease
Newkie(Quote)
😛 😮
IIIIIII’MM GAAAAYYYY!!!! 😆 😆 😎
…HAPPY and GAAAAY!!!! 😛 😳 😀
………just like Dave.
…speaking of which, Dave, I’m a straight man, I’m not quite sure how much longer I can hide my love for you.
X
Rodzilla(Quote)
Newkie, I’ve said no to you 3 times already. If you don’t go away I’m phoning the police. Stop texting me, last night was a one off, OK?
Troy’s having a party with Mark anyway, just got there noo, kicking….. 😎
🙄
😯
😮
😉
😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
😆
You gotta come back to me bby
You knowz Newkie treat you right sugar!
Newkie(Quote)
Tropical fudge like another wild foot, **** straight in the middle gaad dairm I’m the bigger of the little bigger fella in the middle YO!
Rodzilla(Quote)
Eeeeh Pappa Slappas.
Go on Rodthilla, tear him a New Hartley 🙄
Than Franthithco(Quote)
…thanks for the advice Than, I’m working on a long term project at the moment, you wouldn’t understand.
Rodzilla(Quote)
BAN BANBISCO!
Rodzilla(Quote)
Give it up man, it’ll never fly – unless you can **** helium…
Than Franthithco(Quote)
Checking out some other fans forums. Bolton fans seem to think this is the best their team has played in quite a while-even including their recent wins. Maybe we weren’t that woeful? Still….least we won.
Spurs fans turning on Arry is fucking hilarious as well like
Newkie(Quote)
Hey Ban, I nad onll **** helium,
….well a rip oxygene like a fucking Mr Sheen from the **** on ye carpet frowm nanteen sivni 3reeeee
Rodzilla(Quote)
“What worries me now is that the FA WON’T approach ‘Arry.
No ****. I don’t want this rat after his ambitions sank the ship. He can’t leave fast enough for me. I don’t care if we get squat for him. He acts like he couldn’t be bothered with Tottenham and that attitude has seaped into the entire squad.”
And we’re delusional 😆
**** me, but Harry got them where they were.
They sound a bit like some of our fans, back in the day 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
Harry Redknapp should’ve known not to play with fire.
Matches matches
Rodzilla(Quote)
Fack Arry fackin Noocarsoo cant yoo wot aiyy
I
Than Franthithco(Quote)
…YOOOOOOOOOOO-WOT-YOO-WOT-YOO-WOT!!! 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Savern cantz, Arr fakeen Item.
Than Franthithco(Quote)
Nuke **** ooh, are fakin shitem.
Rodzilla(Quote)
HEEEY THAAAN FWAANTHITHCO, ITH THENNA!!!! 😯
HEYY THENNA!
(where’s mi ****** Big Track, ye ****) 😈
Rodzilla(Quote)
….6 whole weeks I worked on that Santa list, felt-tips, glitter, you fucking name it.
….ITH THENNAHH!
(BOOYAKA)
😛 😐
Rodzilla(Quote)
A nevva haddit man.
I think I’ve got that blue waffle disease 😯
Than Franthithco(Quote)
Blue waffle’s the milk chocolate wafer biscuit I always please 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
…when ma women treats me right, she gives me Birds Eye Blue Waffle Fry’s Crisp and Dry.
….ahhh gat those, can’t gerrinuff of those, …..
…oh, thengyu 😎
(Biscuits form the foundations of civilisation)
Rodzilla(Quote)
No – it’s not.
Trust iz, you wouldn’t want to eat it. 😳
Than Franthithco(Quote)
FACT!!!! 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Soz
(Yee bliddy googled the bastad tho)
Than Franthithco(Quote)
Hey Than Franthithco, now that we’re best mates and all that, do you mind if I kip at yours tomorrow, al be nee botha like. Mi norse sez am about ready, whatever that means.
Rodzilla(Quote)
I still think you better leave it for a bit, ya deeing weel like.
Ask ya mam first.
Than Franthithco(Quote)
A did Than, she said you knew the ins an oots.
…yee hiding sumik?
Rodzilla(Quote)
Wey ner man. A just divvn’t think ya ready. These things sometimes take a bit longer to… yi knaa…
Than Franthithco(Quote)
…wait a minute, are you grooming me 😛 😯 “Than Franthithco” 😛 😯
…POLLISS!!
Rodzilla(Quote)
BUMBLEBEE STARING AT MEEEEEE 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
…got the fucking Feds on you now Franthithco, you’re ******. 😉
Rodzilla(Quote)
(apologies for the expletives)
Rodzilla(Quote)
**** you all, just in case, fucking dickheads.
Rodzilla(Quote)
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
😎
🙄 🙄
Lighters yi blightaz!
Than Franthithco(Quote)
ITH THENNA!!!! 😯 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Sonny fish lemon jelly am in the mood to whip my booty with a tire iron.
Rodzilla(Quote)
😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
….THENNAAAAAAHH!!!!
🙁
Rodzilla(Quote)
..don’t swim in the water, don’t fly in the
daytime, just do as you wanna, and it’ll be okay.
Rodzilla(Quote)
know hell head mounds wasp ship
Rodzilla(Quote)
Mammal brisket
Rodzilla(Quote)
(mammal brisket for you, and you and you…)
Rodzilla(Quote)
…down at 73 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)