A delighted Newcastle manager, Chris Hughton, talked to Sky Sports after the 2-0 win at Plymouth tonight and could hardly contain his obvious pride.
Chris Hughton – mental strength is what got the job done
Since securing promotion back to the Premier League on April 5th, Newcastle have played four games and won four, and niw have a 7 game winning streak going.
First half goals from Andy Carroll and Wayne Routledge were enough to blunt the threat of Plymouth, who were relegated form the Championship tonight.
After the game Chris told Sky Sports:
“I think we got to the stage where we couldn’t shout from the rooftops, but we were comfortable we were going up,”
“For a little while it’s been about winning the title and I couldn’t be any prouder than what I am now of this group.”
“From day one we’ve probably had one blip during the season and we came back very strong after that and went on a very good run. We have been the team to beat all season.”
“We’ve had magnificent support and they’ve made every stadium we’ve gone to a big occasion, so I couldn’t be more proud of this group of lads than I am now.”
The big things that were missing last season was the heart, spirit and mental strength in the Newcastle side, but the lads have shown that in spades this season, and Chris thinks it’s the mental strength, above all, that has seen Newcastle at the top of the league almost all season.
Chris continued:
“I think the mental strength, there are a lot of men in that changing room to go to difficult places and grind out results.”
“I heard a couple of commentators say today that we haven’t been the prettiest of teams, but we did what was needed in this division to get the results we’ve needed.”
“It’s not about any achievements from me, as I’ve continually said. This group of lads set their stall out from day one.”
“We had a very good draw at West Brom where everybody was looking to judge them and see what the reaction was like to play in this division.”
“They proved right the way through this season that they wanted to.”
The lads could not have done much better this season and there will now be a packed house at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon – to see the lads presented with the Coca Cola Championship trophy.
And the lads also have another job to do on Saturday – beat Ipswich Town – so we have out first unbeaten home season since back in 1907.
What an unbelievable season this has been for the Newcastle United club. 😀
Howay The Lads!!
14 comments so far
Bucks mag
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Comment #1It’s gonna be absolutely manic on the town on Saturday not to mention SJP, that buzz will be incredible.
Really wanna hear 50,000 singing the Keano chant, ha ha
Toon-Army
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Comment #2ANY HELP MUCH LOED!! REALLY NEED A TOON TICKET FOR IPSWICH MATCH!! ANY SUGGESTIONS??
TinoAsprilla
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Comment #3I’ve been thinking that, winning the trophy in front of that ‘james blunt’: Roy Keane!
donjuan
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Comment #4To be fair Chris, we couldn’t be any prouder of you fella. Absolute top job this man has done, massively underestimated. Well played to all the coaching staff, Chris, Colin Calderwood, Alan Thompson, Paul Barron, Joe Joyce etc. incredible job the lot of them. Respect.
stuart no9
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:56 PM
Comment #5on saturday against ipswich , will be the first time in 45 years, i can watch us play without panicking, what a luxury that will be.win . loose draw, who cares the party starts now, and it will be the first trophy i have ever seen them lift , cant f…..g wait
G
Apr 19, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Comment #6stuart no9@ post 5. Didn’t you see them get presented with that glass ashtray for the intertoto a few years back mate?
Geordie-Gerrard7
Apr 19, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Comment #7Just got in, had the best day/night ever as a toon fan, I have videos on my iPhone as proof, from seeing the lads get off the coach and getting pancake wack his head on the wing mirror (wich I will send to soccer am) to being in a huddle with joey Barton and smudge, thenbeing cuddled by big mike, then getting lovenkrands to take a picture of me and my missus while we took a pic of him doing it. Lovenkrands and Barton are two of the nicest players I have ever met, leon bestwas a cont though, big mike and One size were nice fellas, and Nolan was hilarious, smith was abit moody, I was one of the first on the pitch after getting mauled down by the stewards, conts!!! Grazed my face and made me do a klinsman on the bank leading to the pitch next to the goal, grass stains everywere. Lost my voice. Lost my wallet. But still the best away game I have ever experienced, even better than feyenord in the champs league, got my shirt signed by most. Plymouth fans showed a nice touch as did the Plymouth staff. Just to add I will be distraught if I didn’t feature on sky tonight..
stuart no9
Apr 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Comment #8g na on holiday even missed that
AngerOfTheNorth
Apr 20, 2010 at 12:29 AM
Comment #9GG – make sure you do send that clip into Soccer AM!
Geordie-Gerrard7
Apr 20, 2010 at 12:31 AM
Comment #10I defo will mate
cupiddstunt
Apr 20, 2010 at 12:56 AM
Comment #11I have been reading some of the slaggings that Best has been getting on here, first time I have had the chance to watch him and in the short while he was on the park I can see where he can be quite a goal getter.
He is not bad at getting into scoring positions and is not slow at pulling the trigger, I think once he gets a couple under his belt he will do all right.
I think the bull has to change his name to the wall as try as they might not a lot got around him and certainly nothing went through him, up there with a big shout as our player of the season.
Charlietoon
Apr 20, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Comment #12Milner going to Man C for about 25 mill so say the rumours. I hope we put a sell on clause in that deal as we could score a few mill
Sgt. Heagerty
Apr 20, 2010 at 2:40 AM
Comment #13Best almost hit a beautiful curler tonight in the ten minutes he got on the pitch. The woodwork was unkind to say the least. The keeper was dead to rights and best created the yard to shoot on his own and hit it with a pretty quick trigger. He has hit the woodwork so much in the last ten games i think we should call him the lumberjack…lol For real though he gets alot of crap on here and other websites but all he needs is one goal and he will be fine. Think we gotta keep him and see if he develops. I think he will be a good striker. And im not a best fan or a best just being honest. Great season boys…’
HWTL
TAGeordie
Apr 20, 2010 at 7:30 AM
Comment #14Howaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay the Laaaaaaaaaaaaads