Well it wasn’t pretty, and the first half was a tough watch at times, but a goalkeeping masterclass, staunch defending, a much improved second 45 and one of the most ridiculous VAR incidents we’ve seen has given Bruce and the boys a fantastic 3 points!
The spirit of this group of lads really is something to be admired. It wasn’t pretty at times (well, for most of it in fact), but our effort levels, organisation, grit and determination was superb.
There can’t be a single Newcastle fan who enjoyed the first half. I don’t think I’ve ever been so annoyed watching us when we’ve been winning!
We couldn’t string two passes together, forcing Martin Dubravka to put in a goalkeeping performance we haven’t seen since Tim Krul at Spurs. Going into the break at 0-0 would’ve been a huge result on another day, yet we found ourselves 1-0 up at half time thanks to a great header from Allan Saint Maximin – a goal which game from a fantastic cross from the hugely underrated (yes you read that right) Javier Manquillo.
The only other significant moment for us that didn’t involve Dubravka was when Andy Carroll won a header from a set piece and went berserk at his team mates for no one taking a gamble on his flick on. Little did he know a player gambling would be key to our victory, but more on Jonjo Shelvey in a second.
I remember being at Bramall Lane when a deflected Ryan Taylor goal gave us a backs to the wall win during the 2008/09 promotion season after a pretty poor performance. I thought if we were to get anything from this game it would be a similar story and we’d need a moment of brilliance or a slice of luck, but no one could have predicted that! Absolute nonsense!
Another Carroll flick on came with 20 minuts left, but this time there was a player gambling – Jonjo Shelvey. Watch the goal below:
Shelvey deserves huge credit for playing to the whistle.
Sheffield United have every reason to be annoyed with the linesman, but Chris Wilder should be furious with his players for stopping – and Steve Bruce must be absolutely delighted with Jonjo for doing the exact opposite.
From that point on the game was dead. The Blades were struggling to find a way through our 11-man defence at 0-1, so the wind was well and truly taken out of their sales after Shelvey made it two.
Up to 11th, closer to Europe than relegation and chugging along quite nicely.
4 points from the last two games is absolutely fantastic and Southampton is a great chance to push on and look up.
HTL!
A Rafa masterclass and boosting the goal difference by 2 a well.
Yes, I am being cynical.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Klopp is manager of the season so far but Wilder must be second. Despite today’s result. I had never heard of any of their players before the last year!!! And they could have easily beaten us. They had the chances.
We have a lot of internationals in our squad despite Rafa moaning it would be a miracle to stay up.
The miracle is happening in Sheffield you Fat Spanish Waiter!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not really giving Rafa that hard of a time, more so the fans who never questioned anything he did at NUFC. He won the Champions League at Liverpool not at NUFC. And some still act like he was God at NUFC.
He had time, and the squad, to save us when McClaren was sacked.
We should have walked The Championship with the squad we had.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Oh ****, what is happening and Middlesboro? Maybe they should poach Brucie?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
How many goals would Cisse have scored if VAR had been available when he played for us? He had a lot of goals ruled out for offside that videos later showed him to have been onside.
Groucho(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
Shelvey, doing what you are always taught, play to the whistle .
kimtoon(Quote)
Despite Rafa getting stick lately the players we have, have had Rafa’s way drilled into them pretty deep. They know what to do so although Bruce deserves some credit it was another Rafa performance.
Dubravka and Fernandez MOM for me.
georgio(Quote)
georgio: not sure you are right about that. Bruce is playing with about 6 new players and Rafa hardly started Clark, Manquillo or Fernandez. He was about to sell Shelvey as well.
Maybe Rafa’s training drills helped but most of our current defense didn’t start under Rafa.
I think Rafa did a decent job for NUFC but the undying lurrve fest for him of some fans is a bit misplaced.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But georgio mate, I don’t want to get into an argument about Rafa. He did a slightly above average job at NUFC. Bruce is doing about the same at the moment. I might even give him a B minus at this point, especially if we beat Southampton on my Birthday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC have a good birthday mate,,stay young
icedog(Quote)
It is actually a pretty interesting season as we have no idea what is going on at Man U, Spurs, Arsenal and Everton. Typically teams we have struggled against in the past 10 years or so.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
For example. We play Man U on Boxing Day. Are you really scared about that? Normally it would be a guaranteed loss but, I don’t know? Unless Rashford decides to play another blinder. But that was more about sticking it to Jose wasn’t it 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Last year, I think we lost 11 and won 1 against the top 6. And that was Man City FFS who then won all of the rest of their games to be crowned Champions. This season, the presumed top 6 is no longer the top 6.
So, as I said, it makes it a bit more interesting and unpredictable.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Firstly what a great win. Boring performance but a great win. Well done Jonjo for playing to the whistle but even more so for actually getting beyond the striker. We’ve been needing someone to do that all season. Hopefully he can continue to do it.
Fancy our chances on Sunday. If we win that one I reckon we’re as good as safe. 22 points before middle of December would mean we only need to win another 5 games out of 22.
Stuart79(Quote)
Brucie seems pretty happy still. If he plays his cards right on Sunday we should be OK.
I am not sure if I ever watched that show.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric it’s no Rafa love in for me but last night was very reminiscent of Rafa’s days.
georgio(Quote)
Sheff Utd are playing far better than I ever thought they would. I don’t care if it was a Rafa or Bruce performance – it was entirely the right approach to show them the respect they’ve earned so far this season. That was arguably the trickiest fixture of the season so far and we came away with 3 points – largely thanks to Dubravka.
Gotta go again on Sunday though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This might just be the thick as fook Mackems and smoggies I work with, but is anyone else having it suggested to them that there was an unsportsmanlike aspect to Shelveys goal?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Unsportsmanlike ? No way.
I hope that Shelvey would have got an ear bashing off Bruce if he had not gone on and put the ball in the net, especially now we have VAR and it can be ruled whether the goal stands or not.
sidekick(Quote)
Nothing unsportsman like about it. Was right and clever to do it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Your man Bowen scores again Sharpy.
kimtoon(Quote)
Twice… again… seems the real deal. Hope we do get him…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
And the Mackems lost again to Gillingham… ooops! ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Do you think they will take Joelinton for Bowen in a straight swap , or will they want some cash as well ?
By the way, there is a new thread up.
sidekick(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2019/12/07/southampton-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-predicted-line-ups-2/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)