In one of Newcastle’s best wins in many a season, Newcastle’s manager Chris Hughton was just delighted with his team after last night’s surprising 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge by the Newcastle second string.
Shane Ferguson – great game last night at left back
Hughton was particularly delighted that the win shows just how strong the Newcastle squad seems to be this season:
“It’s showed what we have re competition for places,”
“You’ve got a team that played today and apart from HarisVuckick, Shane Ferguson and possibly Nile Ranger these are all players that have been first-team regulars.”
“Shane Ferguson will be more pleased than anybody with the game he’s had.”
The baby-faced Shane Ferguson had another excellent display at left back, to go with his very good performance against Accrington Stanley in the previous round.
And this Northern Ireland International already seems destined for bigger things, as he was completely unfazed playing at Stamford Bridge last night, and will have done himself no harm at all and if Jose Enrique gets injured, this lad is the ready-made deputy.
Shola Ameobi got two goals for Newcastle and his bustling physical style just could not be contained by the Chelsea defense, and on last night’s form Shola looked one great player – let’s be clear about that one.
Shola has been more than inconsistent at Newcastle over the last 10 years, and still has his critics among the fans, but his commitment to the Newcastle cause has never been questioned, and he showed that last night and now has 3 goals in the Carling Cup this season – from just two games.
Nicolas Anelka also scored two goals, the first was a well worked goal by Chelsea down the left wing after 70 minutes, but his second was the softest penalty you will ever see after 87 minutes – with center-back Alex now up for an Academy Award next March.
Chris was asked if he thought the penalty award was a soft one, given by referee Phil Dowd, for a supposed foul against Mike Williamson on Alex:
“No. To say it was soft was an understatement,” “At that stage we hang onto the game, and win it 3-2. We went through a period we didn’t need to go through.”
“That game went so many different ways. After the start they would have thought they would get a second and a third.”
“We showed great character and good finishing and at 3-1 we had arguably the best opportunities to kill the game off.”
The press headlines seem to accentuate Chelsea had only 10 men – and that’s correct – they went down to just 10 men on 62 minutes after Yossi Benayoun was injured, but manager Carlo Ancelotti had already used all his 3 subs.
What the press doesn’t say is at that point Newcastle were already 3-1 ahead, and indeed before Anelka scored his first goal on 70 minutes, as Chris points out, Newcastle missed two great chances through Lovenkrands and Ameobi, and could have even been 5-1 ahead – as the TV commentators pointed out.
But it was an historic win for the Magpies last night, make no mistake about that, and we suppose we can celebrate it for a day or two – but the lads need to get back to earth soon – because on Sunday we just must beat Stoke City at St. James’ Park.
Nothing less will be good enough.
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
lesh
Sep 23, 2010 at 9:54 AM
Comment #1Hawaaaaaaaay the lads!!!!!
callie9
Sep 23, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Comment #2I’m still absolutely buzzing. I really don’t think under any other manager we’ve had since SBR would we have went down there and had a go. Scoring 4 goals at Stamford Bridge in any competition is fantastic, and credit to the players and especially for CH.
Selbymag
Sep 23, 2010 at 9:58 AM
Comment #3I have defended Shola for years. When he has had a run of games he has scored goals at all levels.
Under Roeder his record was exceptional a goal every other game if memory serves me correctly.
He played through 2 seasons needing a hip operation but didnt have it just in case Shearer got injured and he was needed.
When he is on his game and up for it he is pretty much unplayable.
I cant think of any player who has divided fans opinions in such away in my 30 years going to games. My old man slates him every game and ive nearly come to blows twice with so called fans abusing Shola at away games.
He may sometimes be a big useless Sh*te but he is our big useless sh*te and he does produce the goods when needed.
Keep the faith!!
magpie6699
Sep 23, 2010 at 9:59 AM
Comment #4Interesting stat from another site – total transfer cost of the 2 teams last night.
The Toon – £23 million – Colo, Smith and Guti.
Chelsea “reserves” – an astonishing £73 million!
short trousers
Sep 23, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Comment #5magpie6669 wat site m8??
toonboyjake
Sep 23, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Comment #6great game last night and all the lads played til the very last minute, giving it 100% the whole time. funny thing was the chelsea fans in ground and on the train, all saying that it was a sub and reserve team we beat, when i told them that was our sub and reserve team they quickly changed there tune and said they only had 10 men, i pointed out we were 3-1 up by that point and recieved abuse from that point on for the rest of my journey home, they are very bad losers and couldnt just accept that on the night CH had really got the lads pumped and we, at times, outplayed them
alex84
Sep 23, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Comment #7looking at there team last night, they picked a very strong team, grnated it wasnt there first team wit the excption of terry and anelka, but it wasnt ours and i thought at times we completely outplayed them, i thought guti looked alot better, we totaly deserved that win…and one thing to the actor Alex…karma is a mother fu$$$$!
magpie6699
Sep 23, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Comment #8shorttrousers – it’s called “view from the seats” which has the delightful address http://www.shiteseats.co.uk
(Hope I don’t get banned!)
gorskino10
Sep 23, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Comment #9Shame really he is a LB having to beat Jose Enrique will be impossible for him :(, maybe he should try other posistions like RB or LCB!
Rotonda heights
Sep 23, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Comment #10selbymag
I know exactly what you mean. A Shola is for life, not just Christmas. He’s part of the furniture and I just can’t help liking the big lug, especially when he plays like last night and has the last laugh on those who rubbish him.
Thoughts turn to Stoke now though and I’m worried about our ”players” getting kicked to bits, a la Barton at Wolves. Ben Arfa is a marked man now and you’ve seen how atrocious the standard of refereeing is right now.
Toonboy_84
Sep 23, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Comment #11@8
That link…………………………………………………….
Feeling down? Just imagine Shola on a segway! LMFAO
baro
Sep 24, 2010 at 12:27 AM
Comment #12That was one of the best games ever! NO doubt that it was the best game ever for Shane Ferguson. That young 10 year old is just amazing.