Newcastle got their first win in seven games this afternoon at the Reebok Stadium, when goals from Ben Arfa and Demba Ba (who else?) within a two minute spell in the second half, gave Newcastle all 3 points.
And with Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool all drawing their games today, Newcastle have gained two points on those three teams above them in the league.
The game was rather dull, with very few chances being created, but then Ben Arfa, who had been brought on as a a sub for Leon Best after 60 minutes, scored the first Newcastle goal.
The Frenchman got onto the end of a cross from Ryan Taylor, and he rifled home from the center of the box and into the bottom right hand corner in great style to send the Newcastle fans into delirium.
It was the kind of goal a class player can get when the side seems bogged down, and this was a good goal for Newcastle and Ben Arfa’s second goal ever for the Newcastle side, and his first this season.
Ryan Taylor did well to get down the left wing and the Liverpudlian hit a perfect cross and Ben Arfa simply hit it first time into the right hand corner with his left foot – what a class goal!
A lot of our readers wanted Ben Arfa to start this game, and it looks like he’s almost a certainty to start at Anfield on Friday, with Leon Best again unimpressive.
And would you believe it, but just two minutes later Demba Ba shot from the center of the box about 7 yards out put the ball into the top left hand corner, after he had received the ball from a good cross from Gabriel Obertan.
And the Senegal International can hit them all right and it was suddenly 2-0 to Newcastle after a rather dull first 69 minutes but an exciting two minutes of two goals for the Magpies.
That goal was Ba’s 14th of the season, and he is now in second place in the Premier League with 14 goals, just two goals behind leader Robin van Persie, but one above Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero.
Mike Williamson came into the side and did nothing wrong and Fabricio Coloccini was again majestic at the heart of Newcastle’s defense after the Argentine had a rather so-so game on Wednesday night.
The defense was hardly ever tested by a lack-luster Bolton side and Newcastle had the class in Ba and Ben Arfa to get all three points.
The good news for Newcastle is that it was their second clean sheet in the last three games, and their sixth clean sheet of the season.
That’s exactly what Newcastle need to do in future games to get back to their winning ways.
Next up is Liverpool at Anfield and Blackburn held them to a 1-01 draw at Anfield after going 1-0 up at the interval.
We need to get the first goal on Friday and we could be in that game with a chance.
But a very welcome three points this afternoon form Newcastle, and the win will give our lads loads of confidence.
Comments welcome.
24 comments so far
warwick
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Comment #1Well done, happy christmas to all fans worldwide.
Really needed those 3 points today and the team got it done, great sub, great finish, over the moon!
geordiejohn42
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Comment #2HBA totally changed the game big time surely now AP must realise that he has to start in every game because he can open things up and also he’s a creative player who we badly need on the pitch. Feel sorry for Best he tries his best but he hasn’t scored for quite a few games now that’s not good enough. Well played lads now lets get another 3pts at Pool … Andy Carroll must come back home he’s having a rough ride at Pool fans are giving him stick .. come home Andy we’ll welcome you with open arms
Steve_48
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Comment #3Aye results count, need to work on the performances though.
Pardew needs to think about his team selection though for me going forward, HBA needs more field time and less arse warming the bench time.
Next game should be interesting …
HWTL
[Happy Christmas everyone BTW, and HNY]
Zangwill_Ho
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Comment #4Good win
Brutooon
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Comment #5NO PERCH = 3 EASY POINTSSS
James Bad Luck Perch
Howay Da Lads
Steve_48
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #6geordiejohn42 // Dec 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Only worth £5m now
Klatoon
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #7Great win,poor performance esp 1st half
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Comment #8Brutoon, it’s Boxing Day, we’ve had a great away win to end a slump of 6 games without a win and we scored two good goals after dominating them for perhaps the entire game. Now is not the time for you to get on the Perch bashing so please give it a rest.
blissna
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Comment #9It is sad that indeed that Best may make way for Ben Arfa. Best adds so much other than goals to our game that I think it’s unfair to say that, that isn’t good enough. I was worried that this would happen because I think Best’s strenght is important during the first 45 mins when everyone is relatively fresh. I still view Ben Arfa as an impact sub. Great to see him on the score sheet don’t get me wrong but with ACN coming, Best needs his play time. Certainly can’t bench Ba! So I think this softly softly approach is the best bet. Give him a few more substitute appearances before playing him as Best’s supporting man come January (based on the likely assumption of no strikers coming in).
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Comment #10ben ARFA must start and perch must be dropped of the squad and we will every game HA HA HA
blissna
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Comment #11I have a horrible feeling that Ben Arfa’s goal may make people put him on a pedestal. Thus far he hasn’t even earned the right to polish the pedestal, let alone adorn it.
Let’s not forget he is still rusty and rough around the edges.
SwedishMagpie
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Comment #12we played so bad for 60 minutes but then when ben arfa came on we started to play football and scored 2 great goals ! ben arfa must start against liverpool !
nufc mad man
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Comment #13sky sports need to be looking at us being at the same level as liverpool apart from with the transfer window.
results today prove it
MOTM either raylor willo or HBA
and in january what i think we need is 2 CB one of which can just be a loan also 1 LB a winger and a forward
solano
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:45 PM
Comment #14Madman….that’s AMBITION, mate! It’s a word that doesn’t exist in the vocabulary used in our marbled halls of power though.
geordiejohn42
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #15Steve_48 // Dec 26, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Would be nice but I think we could get him back for 15m can’t see KK getting rid for 5m but could get him on loan with a view to a permanent we need a ST bcos Ba is away on ANC McLoven, Best, ShoAmeobi isn’t the answer nice lads I’m sure but no way we want to get into the CL this season (and anyone who has a go at me for saying this) I’m only being optimistic here it can be done got plenty games left to do it .. but can’t sell any more players and add to the squad then who knows
angelswithdirtyfaces
Dec 26, 2011 at 5:57 PM
Comment #16Raylor
Best
Obertan
Perch
Simmo
Pardew
ALL of these get a regular slagging off – that’s half the team and the manager yet we still manage to get 30 pts and sit 7th in the table.
A lot of your guys know sweet FA about football and have no right to call yourself Toon fans. I’m totally peed off with the lot of the usual slaggers. Brutoon, Catchy etc., please stop posting on this blog unless you have something new to say and not just blind stupid prejudice.
And another thing – Ben Arfa is not the Messiah, he is not anywhere near Messi or any of the other world class players he is compared with – he might be one day, but if he’s showing that kind of form consistently he will have signed for one of the big four for megabucks. He is not even approaching his best for except in patches and Pardew’s judgement in the way he plays him is just fine by me.
Rant over.
Good things happened today ….
We won
WBA’s form shows they’re not such a bad mid table side when they hold Citeh so their result against us doesn’t look so bad.
Bindippers home form is nothing special – so we can equal or better Blackburn.
Reasons to be cheerful one- two- three.
GeordieDan
Dec 26, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Comment #17And a Merry Xmas 1 and all ! 😀
Great to see Benny get his goal, fantastic in fact! How well did he take it. Sheer class.
And nothing else to say about just how good Demba Ba is. What a striker that lad is.
Bring on the scousers and judas (if he gets off the bench).
jammylambo
Dec 26, 2011 at 6:34 PM
Comment #18thank you newcastle , did all my boxing day shopping then got home and won 20quid off the 2-0 result. bring on the scousers.
Sgt. Heagerty
Dec 26, 2011 at 6:49 PM
Comment #19Sorry I’ve been AWOL mates. Another surgery plus moving into my new house has kept me from typing and then no Internet for a week when we moved. Rough patch we hit with all the injuries, it’s part of the game, the lads haven’t played poor but the back four has been a mess with injuries and it has hurt us, especially since our side was built with solid defense I’n mind. Huge 3 points today, demba ba is absolutely brilliant. Give the lad the number 9 immediately. Sign him up to a rock solid deal so the wallet snatchers don’t poach him from us for their all Newcastle squad they got going on. Great match Good to be back to winning, hwtl!!!!!
moonraker
Dec 26, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Comment #20Great win in a game we should always have won.
Interesting to see WBA got a point at Anfield which shows we underestimated them at home last week!
Lovely to see HBA score in front of the lads! We do have a lot of quality in areas but I have to say Leon Best is not the answer! In fact I would go as far as to say he aint got a clue! give me Shola anyday.
Anyway were back on track with Williamson doing a great job alongside Colo
Here’s to giving the scousers a shock!
Howay the Lads 🙂
moonraker
Dec 26, 2011 at 7:06 PM
Comment #21* sorry I meant a point against citeh; it was Blackburn that did the scousers ha ha Nice one
bills-son
Dec 26, 2011 at 7:40 PM
Comment #22Ba’s goal was quality – watch how he delays his run across the defender until Oba releases the ball. Most forwards go too early and that give the defender more chance to go as well and block the ball.
Ba is a top top striker who will always score goals.
west-ldn magpie
Dec 26, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Comment #23Poor 1st half thought our passing was terrible,Alan pardew needs work on passing the ball around.slight improvement 2nd half Ben arfa,scored a nice.obertan set up nice, goal for ba,he’ll shut up a few pathetic funs who’re giving him a hard time.
Nick Sly
Dec 26, 2011 at 8:48 PM
Comment #24Hatem Ben Arfa!!!!!
There’s the magic that we’ve been screaming about for weeks.
Bring on the Scousers!
HWTL!!!