Safe at last! QPR 1-2 Newcastle

Celebrations at last
Celebrations at last
Newcastle managed to secure a nervy away win at QPR yesterday – a win which assured us of Premier League football next term.

A penalty from Hatem Ben Arfa and a fortuitous strike from Yoan Gouffran cancelled out Loic Remy’s opener for QPR giving the Magpies just their second away win of the season.

It wasn’t a great performance as both sides struggled, but with the bulk of the pressure on United I’m extremely happy to say that we came out on top in the end which was ultimately all that mattered. People can be critical about the way we played or the football on show, but getting the three points and sorting out which league we’d be playing in next season mattered more than any of that yesterday, and on that score it was job done.

The reason we’re safe is because Aston Villa and Wigan play each other on the final day of the season next week, and both sides can’t overtake us. Mind you I have a feeling that it could all be over by then anyway as Wigan must first travel to Arsenal and win on Tuesday to ensure they enter that final game against Villa with at least a fighting chance. Still, at least we’re out of it…

Newcastle started off poorly and struggled to get into the game. Indeed it was an error on the part of Mathieu Debuchy who gifted QPR the chance to take the lead by conceding a penalty although replays have subsequently shown that Debuchy’s infringement was outside the penalty area and shouldn’t have resulted in the spot-kick that Newcastle target Loic Remy duly fired past Rob Elliot.

However just seven minutes later United were level after Jose Bosingwa decided he wanted to swap shirts early with Hatem Ben Arfa leavin referee Lee Probert little choice but to award a penalty to the away which Hatem Ben Arfa smashed home via the underside of the crossbar.

United could have grabbed the lead soon after had Papiss Cisse’s powerful header not been ruled out for a marginal offside call, but good news was on the horizon as Jose Bosingwa dropped another clanger by leaving his back pass to Rob Green short which allowed Jonas Gutierrez to close down the former England ‘keepers clearance with the rebound falling to the feet of Yoan Gouffran who volleyed home into an empty net from 25 yards out.

Gutierrez could have sealed the points in the second half but Shaun Derry had other ideas and cleared his header off the line leading to a nervy ending which saw Newcastle reduced to ten men ten minutes before full-time after Rob Elliot picked up his second booking after being adjudged to have handled outside the box.

As I said, it wasn’t pretty but I always knew it was never going to be a game for the archives. However we did get what we wanted from it which was three points and Premier League safety assured, and for that alone I’m over the moon!

One more game to go and the inquests and planning for next season can begin in earnest. I don’t know what the club have planned regarding the future of Alan Pardew, for transfers in or out or anything like that, but at least we know we can plan to be in the big league again.

Howay the lads!

QPR: Rob Green, Jose Bosingwa, Nedum Onuoha, Clint Hill, Armand Traore, Andros Townsend, Jermaine Jenas, Stephane Mbia, Junior Hoilett, Loic Remy, Bobby Zamora

Subs: Brian Murphy, Fabio, Shaun Derry, Park Ji-Sung, Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie, Esteban Granero

Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Mathieu Debuchy, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse

Subs: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell

Attendance: 17,278

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

510 thoughts on “Safe at last! QPR 1-2 Newcastle

  1. G2 as ive said before mate i read a report that pardews 8yr contract is a yr by yr rolling contract for that 8yrs and he coaching staff,the first yr is up in sept,which i tend to think is right as surely jabba isnt that daft

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  2. Cheer up ice. We can’t let this get us down mate. I’m still looking at this summer as a brilliant opportunity to prepare for a climb up the table. 😀

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  3. G2/DAVE,cannot cheer up much with those bloody three amigos taking 50odd thou toon fans for a ride 👿

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  4. Ice I try to not let it get to me as when I do it really drags me down, I just live in hope that it will change sometime but until it does theres nowt we can do.

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  5. We don’t have an owner ambition enough to take us anywhere worth going.

    I’ve given up on the thought of winning anything so if in fact Ashley does have a personality transplant and decides to own a football club with ambition I’ll be staggered and it will come as a nice surprise.

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  6. compare that to our Nasty Casino Shark, streaking ****** that we have 😳
    Priceless Big Dave
    Priceless. :mrgreen:

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  7. I believe anything less than competing strongly all season for a Europa spot next season will be failure.

    This season has been a disaster and I will gan ape **** if it happens again. I will be demanding Pards’ head if the same happens.

    Has Mark named a manager he wants yet?

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  8. Stuart79

    Why do you think people who have experienced the same things as we have regarding Ashley’s reign believe he will sack Pards and appoint a better manager?

    I’ve tried to work it out but I’m stumped. 😯

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  9. Been at graft all day and had to work my way thru 375 + comments. 🙄 😛
    My head is fried 😡
    All good stuff and topped off with the usual good humour.
    Most mackems have been very quiet today, apart from the usual gobby ones who are deluding themselves that they will beat spuds on sunday.
    😛 😳
    Happy days 😆

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  10. well we will just have to be conned yr in yr out,after all even wor al and kk fell for there *****

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  11. Well as for Pardoh ❗ He defied the odds and proved me wrong.
    JUST
    By the skin of his teeth.
    Fair do’s I guess, as I was convinced he was taking us down.
    I am happy to admit I was wrong.
    However, he is living on borrowed time imo.
    By the very fact we survived the drop, he has earned the right to have another crack at it. Begrudgingly.
    I agree with others, that it is a pointless exercise to change the manager just for the sake of it, especially if the new man is no better than the clueless one we already have. Better the devil you know n all that.
    The only exception to this would be if the board were to make a positive move for a top manger with a record of winning things.
    We all know this is extremely unlikely, despite the new money flooding in to the Premier league next season. Ho Hum.
    But Pardoh better get his **** together and make a better fist of things next season. Even if that means making waves in the boardroom.
    Better to grow some plums and be sacked, than go out with a whimper.
    He really needs to cut the BS aswell. We are no mugs.
    Onwards and upwards then.
    HTL

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  12. Yes Ice mate.
    I would love it, just love it, if they went down.
    I don’t agree with Pardum, that we want them in the EPL next season.
    Horrible team, cretinous fans, facist manager.
    **** ’em all.

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  13. “I do not believe players get tired. It’s a mental issue, and you need to manage the situation so that players get in the right mindset for each different type of competition”

    Michael Laudrup’s MOTD comments about playing extra games with a smaller squad. Decent cup runs are something he has managed previously as a manager so I’m inclined to believe he has insight.
    Contrast and compare his comments with the sort of drivel that falls out of the mouth of our excuse-making surrender monkey.

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  14. Did I tell yous, I’m a big Latics fan in my spare time. 😯
    Was actually well impressed by them on sat v manc shitpile.
    Its a massive massive game for them tomorrow.
    Its a tough ask, but I don’t think they will be afraid of Arsenal.
    Good luck to them. 😎

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  15. Pootle – I agree with Laudrup to an extent, but everything changes when you are in a relegation scrap/struggle.
    I don’t care what anyone says, it DOES affect the mindset of the players.
    Nerves take over, and mistakes are magnified.
    But this is when a good manager comes to the fore and guides his players and instills self confidence and belief. Like Martinez is doing.
    Not endless excuse making and BS in the press. 👿

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  16. BB @ 389 “Better the devil you know n all that.” thats exactly the way I see it, and for me Pards isn’t as bad a devil as Jabba’s other mate JFK.
    Oh and just wonderinng what you would think if after just avoiding relegation we beat Arsenal and finish in 11th

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  17. Roma fined £42,000 for racist chants 😯
    This has got to be the biggest joke ever.
    Outrageous. 👿
    Like that’s gonna work then 😳 😳

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  18. BB i’m not having a go at you just some of your points cover things that I have thought about, @ 394
    I don’t care what anyone says, it DOES affect the mindset of the players.
    Nerves take over, and mistakes are magnified. I agree completely and when you add injuries to that it can make it worse.

    But this is when a good manager comes to the fore and guides his players and instills self confidence and belief. Like Martinez is doing.
    Again I have said before that until you have experience of that you don’t know what to do to fix things, and as Pards has never had the experience of getting a team out of a dog fight he doesn’t really know what to do because he was sacked in the past before he had the chance of getting out of a dog fight.
    But because Whelan has stuck by Martinez even when nearly going down every year he now knows what is needed to get his team outta the **** but maybe his experience won’t help save them this season

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  19. Big Dave – now that the heavy burden of relegation has been lifted, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Lads put on a great performance on sunday.
    I hope so as it could well be my last home game with a season tkt for a while. 😥 due to financial difficulties. 👿

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  20. We shouldn’t really be congratulating anyone at the club for avoiding relegation. It’s totally embarrassing that we are even in this position.

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  21. I agree BD. Pardoh has shown us all, that he ran out of ideas how to turn things around when the **** hit the fan.
    Like you say, he will benefit from this experience and HOPEFULLY learn some good lessons for the future.
    It has been a horrible season, from start to finish, and I am just so happy its almost over now.
    If we are stuck with Pardum for the start of next season, then we need to get behind him and the Lads and give them all our support.
    Wipe the slate clean with a fresh start.
    UNITED we stand.

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  22. POOTLE @391 aye saw that he also said he had been there and played 58games with a much smaller squad than he has now,hope pardew was watching and learning

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  23. BB I normally dread the end of the season having to face the fact of having no Footie for a while, but like you I can’t wait to get the season over and done with after we get some points of the ****

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  24. Stuart – it is embarrassing mate, but thankfully it wasn’t terminal.
    We live to fight another day.
    The EPL is becoming more and more competitive. We MUST improve in every department if we are to compete with the big boys once again.
    No more resting on our laurels just because we had one freakishly good season.
    The Board must invest in the playing staff and back their manager properly in the summer.
    No more wishy washy excuses. We are now on a sound financial footing.
    So get your wallet out Ashley.

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  25. How long is it since Arsenil failed to make it to the CL ❓
    I can hear a ‘Taxi 4 Wenger’ cry from the **** fans already 😆

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  26. Pootle @349 , Yes I noticed that too ,I posted about it @49 ,he’s an impressive guy for sure and it will be interesting to see how his career progresses.

    G2 @374 I find it very hard to believe anything the Daily Malicious write tbh mate ,horrid rag.

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  27. Pardew the bulls knacker needs to build his team around a 100% fit HBA.

    If and when the lad fully regains fitness in the close season, then just watch the lad go. He has a slot in the French squad for the World Cup 2014 to play for after all.

    Pardew HAS to play him at the front of the diamond, give him a free rign, letting him run with the ball, making killer passes and exploiting his fantastic shooting ability. If Pardew gets on his case for not tracking back, working hard enough defensively I’ll freaking freak out. 👿 👿

    By the way, stop picking on Icedog…. he’s a canny lad … 😉

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  28. Munich

    That is the problem with Pardew he keeps sticking somebody out on the right wing. This season we have had Cisse, Ben Arfa, Shola and Mo all playing right wing even the alien got a game or two. The point is not one of those players is a right winger. The whole world can see that Benny is at his most dangerous when running through the middle. Sorry the whole world except our glorious manager

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  29. TLR@409 …. The Alien …. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 He is the only right winger we do have but unfortunately there is the small problem that he is totally gash. I wonder if Obertan would come good having the tatooed one playing behind him…or along side him…or probably in front of him … ?

    I agree 100%, Benny should be given free reign to do what he wants in the attacking third, with our midfield plugging the gaps to support him. Pardew should fine him if he strays further than 30 yards from the opponents goal.

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  30. @TLR
    I agree in that I also think that’s his best position. But why have most his managers haven’t played him there 😕

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  31. Tbh I have no issue playing HBA on the right of a 3, I don’t like him playing there in 4-4-2 as there is just too much tracking back involved. But does he really have the Nolan-esq timing of runs into the box? It’s also a lot more difficult to dribble through the centre. If we play the right system I’m not overly concerned about if HBA plays behind the striker.

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  32. looks like the much praised Gus Poyet has come up short against the worzel.

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  33. One thing is for sure, Pardew is going to need to have skin as thick as a rhino to carry this lot off.
    Last year he walked the walk, and talked the talk. Well done to the lad, though to be honest I thought at the time that we carried a lot of luck and few injuries.

    This season we haven’t just been occassionally poor, we have been abysmall ALL season, so it stands to reason that Pardew will get some stick. I would say that the back to back home batterings to Sunderland and Liverpool were without doubt my worst experience following the toon in decades. What positives can Pardew really hold up against those results as a makeweight this season ? Nothing imo.

    He will be given the chance to put this horrendously poor and embarassing season behind him, time will show whether he can carry it off. At the moment the majority of supporters seem to be against him, if things don’t work out over the next 6 months regarding reinforcing the team, and keeping hold of his supposed purples, and we are languishing near the bottom of the table, I cannot honestly see him hanging onto his job.

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  34. Hollaway is fucking class at getting team spirit going. Commentators got it spot on, he just creates this us v the world siege mentality in the dressing room

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  35. According to Heinz tomato sauce no decision has been made on Pardews future as yet, Ashley has been advised to get rid and the board are split … wtf – I thought the board consisted of Lamearse and Ashley
    Anyway thats the twatter news

    Daily Mail story is gash, there are def clauses in Pards contract … 100%

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  36. I think Watford will beat palace in the final 😕
    But I do like Holloway. He’s a proper character too

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  37. @BB – Agree Watford will win final, Holloways a character but his level is Championship – sadly exposed as Prem manager, bit like Warnock

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  38. I hope for another Watford classic in the final how about 3 goals in extra time with 2 penalty save in between 😀

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  39. Well, Watford, Hull and Cardiff in the EPL next season. I’m sure we’ll finish above those three, our season has been saved already 🙂

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  40. Munich, sounds like you’re already planning for the 2014/2015 season. Chicken and eggs springs to mind…especially after this season.

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  41. BB@417 ,Holloway is a fab manager and a lot smarter than he’s given credit for.

    Solano@419 Spot on , I actually think with a set of quality players he’d do very well .

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  42. utter madness from the citeh board.
    best manager they ever had.
    won them their 1st trophy for 41 yrs then the league.
    Fools.

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  43. I wonder if he fancies coming to the Toon on the cheap.
    After all he will be getting a huge pay-off 😛

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  44. Holloway is an absolute bellend, i think he talks even more ***** than Pardew. Was funny for about a month before I wanted to cut my wrists or his tongue every time he spoke. Decent manager though.

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  45. B+B-it’s alright pal, they can get Mark Hughes back now! Did anyone see that bizarre tony fernandes interview where he basically said he always wanted Hughes and would bring him back in the future possibly. WTF is that about? At least Ashley isn’t that mental, although it would be nice if he threw anywhere near the same amount of dosh about.

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  46. Ben Arfa has started a few games through the middle just behind the striker and each time he’s looked quite ineffective. I’m sure Ben Arfa said that right sided position was his best position a while ago too.

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  47. Just had a brief scan of the posts – seems like the armchair managers were out in force again, picking teams to play against fresh air, and under no pressure, no scrutiny, no real time situations that ebb and flow with the tide of fortune. I’ll bet they’d be champions. 🙄 🙄

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  48. if the team is equilibrate and the formation around…ben arfa is 1000x moste creativ and impressious n0 10 behind striker. 😉 .it is his origin postion since 17 y.old…when win europe .nations cup with nasri and benzema….
    he is a unstopable d all is fit and the team specialy defnce support well… 😈 😎 ➡
    we dont see yet what this guy can doing along of season regular if injury keep him fit all season…i think next season hba be baxk mush mush stronger… ❗

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  49. Solano
    “Tbh I have no issue playing HBA on the right of a 3, I don’t like him playing there in 4-4-2”

    Agree with that…

    Brisvegas
    I see you are up to your usual bashing of bloggers comments or posts with the usual f@#$ all to say yourself. Why do you bother coming on here? Try form an opinion and share it or try make a suggestion. Maybe try play armchair manager. That is afterall the purpose of a football blog. To spark debate and conversation.
    🙄 🙄

    At the moment, your are just an absolute bore.

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  50. Jebsy

    I’m forever beyond beleefs with y0u….;-)

    n0 1o is the perfict poison for the mirricule wizardry machine… 😯 justin alongside and behinD the man streaker ❗ ❗

    I feel we’s – NEWCASTLE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB – will be great in the futures somedaze soons with hba showing his merciful skil set 😐

    Mush 😛 mush 😛

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  51. I think Djebs is actually Richietoon… Djebs is his alter ego when he doesn’t have spell check on hand to proof read his posts :mrgreen: 😆 😆

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  52. @JJ

    Ive got to say I can’t be bothered to read people’s opinions about formations or who someone would play in certain positions BUT its obviously an interest to those talking about it and that shouldn’t be criticised IMO. 😉

    Bris I know you can bring something else to the brekkie table instead of sniping. What’s your opinion on the manager situation?

    Pards out?
    Who would you like to see appointed?
    Stick with Pards?

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  53. Ah ha. Its my good compadre Aussie 😛

    Bonjour possum. 😉

    You decided who you want as manager yet? 😯 😉

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  54. I guess he’s still undecided whether he wants him sacked or given a longer contract. 😛

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  55. Davide Moyes joined Everton in March 2002, and in his first full season in charge Everton were 7th top in 2003, but then in the next season (2004) they finished 4th bottom, on 37 points and only survived relegation because they had a better goal difference that Leicester City – 12 to -17, and stayed up.

    But Moyes survived and was not fired, and the next season in 2004, he had Everton 4th top with 61 points, and they got into the Champions League and were one place above Liverpool in the league.

    Champions League with Pards next season. Brace yourselves! 😯

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  56. Troy
    I just enjoy that most bloggers bring something different to the discussion. 😉
    Some people like to play manager. Some like to be controversial and spark debate, others like to be neutral and see both sides.

    While one or two others… well… I’m not quite sure what they do… 😉

    Nobody has to agree with my views, but at least present an opinion. Just want some banter and craig. 😛 😛

    Ps. I love Djebs! Most entertaining blogger on here. And he actually makes some excellent points.

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  57. Just off line for a bit there Troyster…

    Look as far as managers go, Benitez is probably the best manager we probably could get… and there is way too many probably’s in the statement for my liking..
    So who knows mate.. 😕

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