Newcastle drew a full 3 points clear of West Bromwich Albion with a good 4-1 win tonight against Coventry City, after coming from behind, and would you believe the Newcastle goal difference is now one better than that of WBA.
Newcastle gave a much improved performance tonight over Saturday’s dismal display, and a decent crowd of 39,334 turned up to see the game and cheer the lads on.
Coventry started the game well and attacked Newcastle, but the return of Gutierrez on the left wing, was where most of the initial Newcastle attacks were coming from – Jonas looked very sharp.
But surprisingly it was Coventry who took the lead after 35 minutes, when Michael Indoe put in a cross from the left, and the ball fell to Clinton Morrison, just eight yards from goal, and the striker beat Steve Harper, although he scuffed the shot, but Steve Harper agonizingly couldn’t reach the ball.
But Newcastle came straight back, as good teams try to do, and it was a stunning goal from new boy Wayne Routledge.
It was from a Danny Guthrie corner, and City couldn’t clear it and the ball came out to Wayne Routledge, 20 yards from goal, and Wayne hit a beautiful shot hard and true into the bottom corner.
What a goal for Wayne, and his first – hopefully the first of many, for the winger.
And even though Newcastle had been the better side in the first half – the break arrived with the scores level at 1-1.
Newcastle started the second half well, in what would be a vital 45 minutes for the Newcastle side, and they got their second goal on 53 minutes.
It was a Danny Guthrie pass that split the Coventry defense wide open, and captain Kevin Nolan ran onto the ball.
Kevin seemed to think about shooting, but then swept the ball into the penalty area and it was that man again, Andy Carroll, who headed home strongly for his 10th goal of the season, and his 6th in just 7 games – well done Andy!
As the second half progressed, Jonas Gutierrez on the left wing was starting to cause the Coventry defense all kinds of trouble, as he made run after run at the Sky Blues defense.
But it was the other winger, Routledge, who made Newcastle’ 3rd goal, as Newcastle went further ahead on 70 minutes
Wayne Routledge got the ball in the middle of the park, and burst through the center and into the penalty area, but was then dragged down by Leon Barnett – and it was a penalty.
Referee Steve Tanner pointed to the spot and then gave Leon a second yellow, and he was sent off.
And it was Peter Lovenkrands who took over spot-kick duty (who else?) and put the ball nicely into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. That was Peter’s 9th goal of the season.
So Routledge scored his first goal for his new club, and was brought down for the penalty – not a bad night’s work for the speedy winger.
And then to take our goal difference one better than West Brom’s, Newcastle scored in the last minute of added time.
Fabrice Pancrate had the ball down the right wing, and the French winger crossed nicely to fellow substitute Ryan Taylor, who simply side-footed the ball past goalkeeper Kieren Westwood, from just eight yards out.
That was Ryan’s 3rd goal of the season, and we don’t seem to have much trouble scoring at home these days, since that’s 9 goals scored in our last 2 home games – not bad at all..
A good win by the lads tonight, and well done.
However, we cannot take anything for granted, and we must get back to consistent performances, and the next step is to get all 3 points against Preston North End on Saturday – nothing less will be good enough.
But it was a good win tonight, and exactly what the fans wanted to see.
Newcastle have most points (63), most wins (18), and the best goal difference (+31) in the Championship.
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
stk85
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Comment #1good one lads! guthrie has to only be played in the middle from now on!
Warwick Hunt
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Comment #2Ed.
Have you been listening to the game with your mates Jack Daniels and Jim Beam tonight. There is so many typos in there I can hardly read it. Hic.
Ed Harrison
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Comment #3Warwick – yes sorry about that – I rushed it out – they are all corrected now.
Warwick Hunt
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Comment #4HAHAHA Just a joke Ed, love the site, missed it when you went offline.
budmon
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Comment #5good performance from what i could tell listening to the radio. Wayne routledge sounded deadly!!!! HOWAY
Warwick Hunt
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:51 PM
Comment #6Joint top on defence with Swansea as well, both teams conceding 22 goals.
Warwick Hunt
Feb 17, 2010 at 10:56 PM
Comment #718 points above 7th placed Sheff Utd with a game in hand so I think a play off place is pretty secure. 🙂
Happy days.
tdt
Feb 17, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Comment #8Well played tonight lads, same again saturday please! Does everyone think CH will stick or twist with his starting XI come saturday? you know what happened last time we stuck with the winning XI (Derby), but I guess we are at home again this time so it is a different situation.
Toon-Army
Feb 17, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Comment #9stick with winning side. maybe bring smith for nolan??
Toonmania
Feb 17, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Comment #10Yeah i would definatly drop nolan for the next game the guy looks knackered and could do with a rest although he had a better game tonight, other than that keep the same team
good win tonight 🙂
HTL
Robbanufc
Feb 18, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Comment #11It was an insane match! 😀 I was there for my second newcastle-game ever, and I loved it. It was simply magic!
Have to say that in this article it sounded like Jonas was MoM, but Routledge was sick. He created something from nothing all the time. Jonas had 2 misses on going forward which created chances for Coventry as Van Aanholt rushed together with him, risky call imo. But Routledge was immense! definately MoM, as he was rightly named at SJP.
One sick game, and one coming up on saturday! Life is great! Howay the lads! 😀
tdt
Feb 18, 2010 at 12:04 AM
Comment #12Good crack Robbanufc!
foggyhallben
Feb 18, 2010 at 2:38 AM
Comment #13How important have Shola’s injuries been this season, if its true that CH sees him as the club’s number 1? Lucky for us we’ve been able to give games to Carroll, Lovenkrands, Ranger etc, who have all done well. If he’d been fit would we have persevered with him? At his age with his experience he should deliver the goods, no excuses. Apart from a brief false dawn in August/September that has never been the case. I think we’ve been very fortunate that he’s not been available.
Blacky
Feb 18, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Comment #14I’ve been reading the blog for a long time but first post.
I thought Jonas was poor last night, his ability to beat men is unreal and amazing to watch but his end product is dire, we definately miss enrique. When he’s around jonas can charge up the wing and then lay it off for enrique to put a decent cross in, can’t wait for him to return!
dutchy
Feb 18, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Comment #15Wayne routledge really is turning out to be a very good signing. Him on the right n Jonas on the left = class. Thought Guthrie had a good game in the centre and Nolan looked good in Smith’s position. Think the midfield we put out last night should be the same for all home games and in the away ties we should put Smith back in for Nolan as he’s a little more defensive. Overall very happy with the performance n cant wait for saturday!