An incredible return to football at St James’ Park for Newcastle United, with us securing our biggest league win of the season against a high-flying Sheffield Utd side.
Not only was it our most convincing victory of Steve Bruce’s tenure, the first time we’ve scored 3 Premier League goals on Tyneside this season and a win that takes us ELVEN points clear of the drop zone, it was a game that saw Joelinton bag his first league goal at St James’ Park!
It’s ironic that all the above happens the one time we aren’t allowed inside the stadium, but that was an absolutely brilliant watch from our sofas after three months away.
Sheffield Utd dominated the ball in the opening exchanges and had us on the back foot immediately, winning a few free kicks in dangerous areas and forcing a couple of corners.
We soon got a foot-hold in the game, however, going close through a dangerous cut-back from Saint-Maximin that just evaded black and white shirts and a well hit shot from Ritchie which was palmed away well by Dean Henderson.
Our big chance of the first half then arrived 17 minutes in. It was a swift counter-attack and promising bit of link up play between our front three (watch below), but the finish that followed was one you’d expect from a £40 player – not a £40m one:
On the plus side it was a nice move, featuring a brilliant burst from deep from Saint-Maximin, a perfectly weighted pass from Almiron and a good run from Joelinton, but the Brazilian had to do better and never looked like scoring, sadly.
A horror moment for the under-fire forward, but he was working hard and getting into some better positions and we were playing quite well on the whole. Saint-Maximin looked sharp, Almiron’s pace was causing them problems from a more central role, Shelvey looked fit and keen to get forward and Hayden was reading the danger brilliantly in front of our four-man defence.
After starting a little slowly, we ended the half the better side and looked in decent shape as we went into the break at 0-0. We were all ruing Joelinton’s big miss – he more than anyone else – but there were plenty early positives to take.
The second half then started with a bang.
He may have fluffed his lines in the first 45 with a big miss, but some sheer power and brilliant pressing saw Joelinton force his way through on goal, only to be pulled down by an already booked Egan.
A second yellow was produced and Sheffield United were down to 10 men.
This was our chance to take advantage of a Blades side who were not only a man light, but looking a shadow of the team that had seen them lose just once on the road all season, and it wasn’t long until we capitalised.
Matt Ritchie broke clear down the left-hand side after latching onto a loose ball. His ball into the box was poor, yet somehow found it’s way to Saint-Maximin at the back post after a complete mishit from Enda Stevens – and he was alive to the loose ball and finished well!
We were in a dream position and on top, but complacency slipped in on the hour mark, with Billy Sharp missing a golden chance to draw Sheffield Utd level, heading wide from close range after Baldock was given too much time and space to cross.
Moments later, we were then presented with another huge opportunity of our own. Saint-Maximin skinned Robinson down out right and cut the ball back for Almiron. He had to score, but hit a tame shot straight at Henderson.
Sheffield United were looking leggy, slow and there for the taking – and it wasn’t long until we fully capitalised!
A well deserved second arrived and it was that man Matt Ritchie who was involved again, smashing home from the edge of the box to give us that all important two-goal cushion:
2-0 up and we were flying, but it soon got even better.
Andy Carroll was stripped and ready to come on, with commentators confirming it was Joelinton who was about to make way and extend his Premier League goalscoring drought, then this happened…
After a clever ball out wide for Almiron, the big man then burst into the box – something we’ve not seen him do enough – and got on the end of the Paraguayan’s resultant cross, prodding past Henderson to score his FIRST Premier League goal of the season at St James’ Park.
He was then replaced by Carroll, with Saint-Maximin also coming off for Nabil Bentaleb, but that was the perfect end to a brilliant performance from all involved and a well deserved reward for all the Brazilian’s effort.
Lazaro, Schar and Yedlin then came on for the final few minutes, replacing Almiron, Shelvey and Ritchie, as we coasted to a 3-0 win over the Blades – who’ve now conceded a staggering 18% of their Premier League goals to Newcastle this season!
I feared this could be a boring draw at best today, but how Steve Bruce and the boys have proved me wrong!
A brilliant effort from all involved, with us looking fit, sharp and up for the fight all over the pitch.
Howay the lads!
Great result.
Still problems with this site i see.
Villa 1.0 up 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
1-2 now 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Villa have had it
kimtoon(Quote)
Good report Olly.
I have been saying for weeks that the PL were looking for a smokescreen of football resuming to announce the takeover. I think probably Tuesday before we face Villa on Wed.
Now we are safe. And we ARE safe. It will be good to watch the scramble at the bottom. I don;t care either way about Bournemouth but they look in trouble. The fun will be with the pet peeve teams of some on here. Mine is West Ham and Kimtoon’s is Villa. Watching the squeaky bums of their funs will give me guilty pleasure.
Of course, if we continue to play as we did today that will give me the most pleasure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We really didnt give Sheffield a look in today. They only really had that one Billy Sharp chance and only looked dangerous on set pieces when the Ref gave fouls for niggles. It is bloody annoying that we set up with the 9-0-1 for most of the season but let’s just get past that. Get new owners and spend 150 million to add to some decent players we already have. I have said on here I think we are very capable of immediately getting into Europe with the right additions.
Of course the pundits p00-p00 that idea because most are against NUFC and call our fans delusional.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: been watching Villa/Chelsea. Villa really are ****. We have a really good chance to get another 3 points in Wednesday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We were slow in the first half but I guess that was to be expected a bit, and Sheff Utd played the other night so were bound to be a little sharper.
Joelintons first half miss ???♂️ Heart sinking moment, but he stuck at it and played quite well overall – done really well for the build up to his goal and getting into the box to finish it.
I thought that was our strongest 11 really and they were very good in the second half. I think the difference between Bruce and Rafa is Rafa would have sat in at 1-0 even against 10 men.
I think that’s enough points for safety now – but that win puts us 5 behind Sheff Utd – and everyone has banged on about how good of a season they have had – let’s go finish about them now.
I think there is still 5 winnable games left in our fixtures – I don’t expect to win them all, but we could certainly pick points up from those games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think St Max is the most talented player we have had since Ben Arfa. He seems more consistent though and willing to track back. Remember when we signed him there were naysayers questioning his attitude. We haven’t seen any of that.
Also Miggy getting back to last season’s form. Thank God Brucie has taken off the shackles. We have a real chance against a woeful Villa team on Wednesday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also think Andy Carroll has been watching too many Wolverine movies during lockdown. Or maybe Elvis in Vegas?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – you’re from the NE – Do you remember little Billy Fane?, he was local poet and actor – in Byker Grove early on?. He sported facial hair like that ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
No idea Sharpy. I left Newcastle 35 years ago and only go back to visit me Mam and a few old schoolfriends. Don’t know what Byker Grove is. Like Geordie Shore?
I sort of maintain a connection with the NE via football but also when I get back I like to hire a car and drive around the area. Always tough on the first day driving on the left. Got my license over here where there are very few roundabouts so I am a bit of a menace until I get used to it 🙂 I have to keep saying to myself in my head “left, left, left”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Great result today ,Bruce seems too know how Wilder plays the game that’s two wins.
Talk that guy from Eric side of the water has bid 50 mil more for the toon not true I have it from a good sauce the Arab bid is 340 mil,so he’s bid 10 mil more not 500
.icedog(Quote)
50
.icedog(Quote)
Saudi’s making moves to prevent piracy so I think that might delay the takeover by another week as the lawyers will have to examine that to justify their fees. My gut is that it will go through now and they do have the resumption of football as a screen so I am still on that road.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: this takeover is so tedious now. At least the football was good for once 🙂
If we could just get Shearer in to show our forwards how to finish they would be scary.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That would be spot on,maybe the new owners might ask him
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: I think our forwards have the talent and ability to score. Some of it is nerves I think and some positioning, and mostly Bruce’s tactics until the last 2 PL games. You always see pundits saying you cannot coach goalscoring. That is not true. You look at Pep and what he has done with Sterling. Of course there are players like Aguero who just have that instinct and are always in the right place but some need some help.
Just reading on line I get the feeling that there is now a groundswell starting wishing Joelinton well. He is working for the team and is a handful if he is not left on an island with 3 defenders on him.
People easily forget how slowly Rondon started. Fans were booing Perez so much that his celebration became to put his fingers in his ears. Then suddenly, when they score a few goals they are irreplaceable!!!
Joe has been a total bust so far if you believe the price tag. But there is something there and I wish the lad well. Remember Perez was only on 8 goals last year until he scored a hattrick in the last game against a relegated Fulham.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We did it! Excellent win and 3 goals to the good. The team is looking composed. I hope we hammer Villa in the week and take care of Man City in the cup as well.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2: I watched the whole of the Orange-Man-Baby’s speech last night. It was an embarrassment, a scrambled mess of racist and self agrandising **** sandwich. He is losing it big time (in his language 🙂 ) I seriously think he is in mental decline, early dementia. Actually, he is 74 so this is not even early!! I have seen it many times in my life in family and at work so I know the signs. There are so many signs!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cheers Eric! Great result and a very good performance too.
Sheff U were miles off the pace, but we capitalised, looked fit and up for the fight too which is great to see when so many feared we’d be distracted by a takeover / take our foot of the gas being 8 points clear before today.
So happy for Joelinton too! Just what we needed 😀
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Just listened to a BBC podcast and it reinforced everything I think about ex-player pundits. Most of them are full of shyte. They had an ex-Liverpool player on – David Thompson – who said we had the worst squad in the PL. Worse than Norwich he said. Is he insane? Any of our 5 centre backs would walk into the teams in the bottom 6. Miggy, Shelvey and St Max are probably 3 of the best players in the lower half. And Dubravka. I could go on – Willems, Rose, etc. We have had the tools it is just that Bruce left them in the toolbox for a lot of games.
Of course it was all in the context of praising Bruce. But I despair!!! We have all watched our team and knew there was much more potential there than we were seeing. The tactics were stifling our players. Bruce got lucky, but if we open up then let him have to the end of the season to show that he is worthy of a chance AT ANOTHER PL TEAM. Not NUFC. When Stavely takes over we cannot have a Mark Hughes at Man City situation.
If we have the chance to get Poch, Allegri or Rafa it is a no brainer.
Who the F is this David Thompson anyway? He should be banned from all media for this comment alone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This Thompson fool cites that all of the pundits saying we would be relegated to back up his claim we have the worst squad in the PL. No f@ckwit, that is because we were in turmoil with Rafa leaving 4 weeks before the season started and us appointing a journeyman as the new Manager. I always thought our squad was probably 13th or 14th material. Believe me, I have watched a lot of NUFC football over the years and have seen so many worse players for us in the top division than what we have now.
Would you really swap our squad for Norwich, or Burnley, or Villa, or Palace? I wouldnt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know the phrase that the whole is better than the sum of its parts? We were the complete opposite due to the 9-0-1 system. Our parts were better than the way we were playing. You could see there was more there. These pundits make me ill 🙂 It is their agenda of praising Bruce after a couple of decent performances and a lot of luck and a brilliant goalkeeper.
I will give Brucie some praise if we continue as we have for the past few games but let’s all be serious that before that it was unwatchable and it was due to him.
Seriously David Thompson? NUFC have a worse squad than Brighton? You are a moron.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I just don’t get these pundits and journos saying Brucie DESERVES a chance if we indeed get mega-riyal new owners. No he doesn’t. Is he the man to take us to the next level with a 150 million pound budget in a down transfer market? He has a CV of 20 years and nothing in there shows us that he can.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t mean to go on a rant, but what sort of morons look at a situation of NUFC entering a brave new world of moneyed ambition and think we should keep a journeyman coach who was 3rd choice at best? The Saudi PIF has supposedly 300 billion in funds, more than 10 times Mansour.
They have also seen the blueprint that the sportswashing actually brings rewards. The money spent on Man City has increased the value of the club more than the amount put in. Same with Chelsea.
I have been trying to think of an analogy. Here goes:
If you buy a second hand car dealership and then get the franchise for new Ferraris and Bentleys do you keep on the Manager of the second hand dealership? Or do you appoint someone with experience of running a high end dealership?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lets get taken over first, then we can worry about managers.
kimtoon(Quote)
Soon Kimtoon 🙂 If you have read anything from me in the past few weeks you know I thought the PL were wanting the smokescreen of the restart and the Merseyside derby. Now the Saudis have made piracy concessions so it will delay it by a week. Plus the Merseyside derby was **** so there is nothing to talk about there, so no distraction 🙂
This is happening, so we can speculate.
Better than watching Man City with 95% possession against Burnley! Even though Man City have brilliant players I still find them boring to watch!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Great win yesterday. Good all round performance apart from Rose… he was sh.ite! Almost every ball went the opposition. Maybe he thought he was still at Sunderland! I don’t want to see him in our shirt next season.
This site is really giving me problems over the last few days… posts disappear, my details won’t stay .. and the fuc.king pop up ads and videos … ????
Toon Toon(Quote)
I agree with that about Rose. Never crosses the half way line. We need way better and probably better than Manquillo too.
Enjoyed the game yesterday and after 5 mins totally forgot there were no fans there. Good broadcast.
georgio(Quote)
ERIC your pal Trump isnt going very well at his rallys i see
icedog(Quote)
Ice: i wrote to Geordie Two above that I watched the speech and it was just a rambling racist rant. I think he is done but you can never underestimate the stupidity of the American public, plus he wants to fix the voting. I have hated him from day one.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From what I read the PL supposedly had details of the WTO report a couple of weeks before it was released. You have to believe that they were then in contact with Stavely’s consortium to get answers and now the Saudi’s have announced strict new rules for piracy. I would imagine Stavely had told the PL about this before a formal announcement to try and break this deadlock. The lawyers should have had ample time now to pore over all of the details, but they are lawyers and never do anything quickly (I have worked with many).
I firmly believe we are at the endgame now and that it will be approved very soon. Just reading between the lines and a gut feeling.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyone know if our match on Wednesday is on free to watch tv? If so which channel? Thanks…
Toon Toon (formerly of Dubai)(Quote)
What the journos and pundits fail to realize is that this takeover means a paradigm shift. From an ignorant and largely absent owner to people with ambition, whatever their motives. It is a paradigm shift from a club content only to stay in the PL to protect Ashley’s investment to people who want to win something, even if it is for sportswashing and visibility. It is a paradigm shift to the richest people by far to own any sports team in the world who will be willing to spend money.
Our club is about to change, as I said it will be a paradigm shift like it was at Chelsea and at City. Do we want a journeyman manager to oversee this. A manager who got the role by default and was picked by Lee Fckn Charnley and the Fatman? I dont know where their heads are. Bruce could win every game until the end of the season and I would still replace him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I will go further. Our new owners are not buying NUFC to finish 10th. They are buying us to challenge the elite of all football. Pep will leave City soon. Liverpool have overachieved. Chelsea are still in transition and Man U have OGS. Arsenal seem in terminal decline.
There are opportunities and it may not be Champions League in the first year but certainly 2nd or 3rd year. The Financial Fair play restrictions will be relaxed so the Saudis can put money in to buy players in a down market. We have the opportunity to make a giant leap in a short space of time in the way Chelsea did. What will hold us back is keeping Steve Bruce. Seems like a likable guy, but so long and good luck!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dubai – the Villa game is on BT Sport and I don’t think they are doing their games for free.
I have BT, but will be out Spearfishing – so will have to record the game and watch it when I get home. I still can’t stand Villa after their bed sheet shenanigans so hoping they get a good pasting on their way to another relegation ?
Ideally Wet Spam would go down too and Bournemouth would stay up – but the Cherries look lost at the minute.
Shamrock(Quote)
With you all the way on that Sham.
Hopefully i can watch the game properly, the virgin tech guy is here weds afternoon to fix my internet and Tivo box issues. It was mainly losing internet connection and netflix through virgin but now the tivo box keeps going off too 👿 It restarted itself 6 times last night from 7pm to 12 at which point i gave up and went to bed.
Also getting really fed up of filling in my details every time i wanna post here .
kimtoon(Quote)
I think we go with the same team for Villa. I have seen suggestions of saving players for the FA Cup, but nah we need to beat Villa. Let Brucie change his tactics for Man City instead.
We should play our own game against Villa but the main tactic against them this season is hack-a-Grealish and they have nowt else. Set Hayden on him until he picks up a yellow 🙂
Watched Steve Wraith’s show and Supermac predicted 3-0.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Shamrock! Looks like it’s going to be radio then as I’m stuck at my parents place and they won’t have BT sports! Oh well!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I watched the Man City game last night and they are unreal. It’s a p!ss poor defence that has let them down this season – and with the money they have, it’s criminal that Liverpool have won the league by so many points imo. The front players for City are just different class – and Foden has the potential to be world class!!. That kid is something special – forget Sancho or Grealish or whoever else they bang on about as the next English star – that kid is in his own league.
Sharpy17(Quote)
i dont know who but toon have signed a good player i have heard but will not be disclosed until takeover goes through but everything is done as long as it goes through
bloody sick of having to keep putting your details in
icedog(Quote)
NEW THREAD 🙂
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/06/23/aston-villa-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-predicted-line-ups/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
One glimmer of hope for us is that Aguero is out. He usually kills us. Burnley only had 11 fit outfield players. The bench was kids and keepers.
Burnley are a strange team. I have no idea how they are where they are. Everytime I have watched them they have been a bit ****. Like us until recently.
Eric Sykes(Quote)