Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy and Steven Taylor scored the goals for Newcastle this afternoon, and we were the better side in the first half, but allowed Cardiff City far too much of the ball in the second half, and Cardiff had chances to win this game, before Loic Remy got his 14th goal of the season and Steven Taylor scored his 14th goal in his career at Newcastle United late in the second half.
Shola Ameobi heads in first goal
Newcastle started brightly, and before Shola headed in the first goal after 18 minutes Newcastle had four half-chances, and then on 22 minutes Moussa Sissoko, who had a good game today – hit the bottom of the post with a great right footed shot, and then again hit the post when a right wing cross was deflected onto the post.
And Mathieu Debuchy – who also looked good today – went close with a couple of decent opportunities.
In particular Wilfried Saha was showing up well on the left wing of Cardiff after starting on the right wing, and he would have scored after 28 minutes but for Tim Krul, who made a great save with his outstretched leg, and it was Tim again a couple of minutes later with another great save from a good Saha run.
And at half time with Cardiff City looking poor, the question was how Newcastle were only 1-0 up, but Cardiff had come back in the game after Newcastle had gone ahead.
City came out fighting for their Premier League lives in the second half, no doubt being told that Sunderland were 1-0 up at Old Trafford.
In the second half Cardiff City were in the Newcastle half far too much, and they looked dangerous and but for some poor finishing and some good luck for Newcastle, they would have scored a few times.
And after 69 minutes some fans did leave the ground, as had been urged by some fan organizations, but maybe there were a few hundred fans who left out of over 50,000 fans at the game.
And one guy was clapping as he left – so we are not sure what that was all about – maybe it was becasue we were 1-0 ahead? 😀
For those who stayed on it was extremely frustrating, as Newcastle were second best against the bottom of the league side, and at home too.
But Tim Krul saved well and then Colo somehow managed to kick the ball off the line from a Gunnarsson’s effort after 76 minutes, as Cardiff were allowed to be dangerous by a very lackluster second half Newcastle side.
In the second half particularly, sections of the home fans chanted anti-Pardew and anti-Ashley songs and displayed banners too, and they gave their support to exiled winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who was in the stands signing autographs – and former right back Danny Simpson was also at the game, waving to the fans – it was like a circus atmosphere especially in that second half.
Things were pretty good in the first half but they deteriorated quickly in the second, and hence the increase in chants from the fans, who are completely fed up with what Newcastle have done since Boxing Day.
Cardiff center-back Ben Turner almost scored three minutes into the second half, but he hit his shot wide, when it looked easier to score.
Bellamy came on to boos from the home crowd, but he made a difference in the game, as Cardiff were pushing forward.
Mike Williamson almost scored his first goal ever for Newcastle after 57 minutes but his shot, which looked to be going in, was deflected for a corner.
But then those two late goals settled things down and it was Remy getting his 14th goal of the season, and then Steven Taylor scoring his 14th goal for Newcastle in is 10 year career at Newcastle.
And in the end it was a decent scoreline for Newcastle, but a nervous and poor second half display.
The players came out with their kids after the final whistle, but there was no sign of Alan Pardew, who probably made the right decision not to bother to come out – after he was heckled throughout the game.
We have no idea who the manager may be when pre-season training starts in early July, but some fans made it very clear this afternoon that they simply hate Alan Pardew – and I choose my words wisely.
Newcastle fans are the best to play for when things are going well – but passion works both ways – and when we are doing very poorly – which we have been since the turn of the year – they are the hardest fans in the world to play in front of.
If that was not clear before the game today – it is crystal clear after the game.
Whether we will see any real changes at Newcastle come the end of the season – we have no idea.
But its a very unhealthy situation at the club right now – and that is the truth.
Teams:
Newcastle (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett (Massadio Haidara 45); Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita (Steven Taylor 78), Yoan Gouffran (Dan Gosling 70), Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy.
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Luuk de Jong, Adam Armstrong.
Cardiff City (4-5-1): David Marshall; Fabio (Magnus Wolff Eikrem 86), Steven Caulker (c), Ben Turner, Declan John; Peter Whittingham, Aron Gunnarsson, Kim Bo-Kyung (Craig Bellamy 45), Jordon Mutch, Wilfried Zaha; Fraizer Campbell (Kenwyne Jones 73)
Subs not used: Joe Lewis, Kevin McNaughton, Don Cowie, Jo Inge Berget.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Comments welcome.
93 comments so far
JackButler
May 3, 2014 at 7:00 PM
Comment #81toonking
Marveuax poor at his former club?
Really?
Did you watch the lad at all as by saying that you obviously didn’t!
theartfuldodger
May 3, 2014 at 7:00 PM
Comment #82Oleg g,
Let it go mate. You are a minority accept it, laugh at Perdew and move on.
There will be plenty of entertainment in the summer…jonjo shelvey…hahahahaha
Small World
May 3, 2014 at 7:01 PM
Comment #83Far better atmosphere at the match today
The crowd were much more behind the team than of late and gave Ashley and Pardew hell.
Pardew hid in his dugout. Ben Arfa appeared in the stands behind me beside a section of the crowd who were giving Pardew some serious stick. Danny Simpson then appeared beside him. It was bizarre
Stewards were going over to stop fans getting their autographs but couldn’t stop all of the banners sporadically appearing around the ground. Whenever they waded in to confiscate them, they were screwed up and passed around.
The few hundred who walked out got a good round of applause from those of who stayed. It was a great act – we all chose our own way to show displeasure with the management and still get behind the team.
Going to the match is all about the atmosphere and occasion and something I’ll never give up on. Today was enjoyable, just as it was to see the players lap of honour at the end with Ryan Taylor’s tiny lad sticking one in the Gallowgate net
With a half decent manger next season and a reasonable spend on players maybe more of the entertainment will come from the on pitch activities. But will that happen? we’ll see.
validator
May 3, 2014 at 7:01 PM
Comment #84Mr Butler a rather rapacious retort from your good self!
Rotonda heights
May 3, 2014 at 7:03 PM
Comment #85manxpie
of course we were supporting the other side . D’urr!!!!
In a meaningless match we wanted pardew out. That result just prolongs the agony for all right thinking football fans.
toon kk
May 3, 2014 at 7:05 PM
Comment #86Oleg G
agree with what you say. The majority of people just go to watch a football match and if we win its a bonus.
Most have a short memory, one win and some think we’re ok again.
We’ll be shown for what we are against Liverpool, probably a record loss.
manxpie
May 3, 2014 at 7:06 PM
Comment #87rotonda haha i suddenly reappear do i??
it shows you ain’t been watching for a while then
are you gonna post some more bollocks that you post as fact like lukaku was out for “nearly 3 months” (it started as 2 months btw!) where as in actual fact he missed 3 prem games!! lol! and remember you posted that continuosly so yeah my points are thought out unlike yours fella so wat was wrong with my point exactly!!?
manxpie
May 3, 2014 at 7:09 PM
Comment #88rotonda no it doesn’t ffs
it just means next year you’ll be saying the same with another manager but even worse than pardew
if you cant see that then god help the club!
toonking
May 3, 2014 at 7:11 PM
Comment #89scottiedog 54
you have said you word perfectly their mate
just to add to you post i will put the other club down the A19 middleboro their stadium is now so empty and flags are banned from their group it’s so quiet. ashley split up the singing section here at st james park and now i can see him banning banners from the stadium.
basically he is the owner so he can do what ever he wants.
we as fans should just forget about the owner and just show support to the manager and team because acting like we are is just telling the world not to bother risking themselves coming as managers will be classed as puppets, players will have to do well 24/7 and the owner himself will just keep taking control of grabbing money.
StuW
May 3, 2014 at 11:18 PM
Comment #90If we were playing this style of football, but performing better(ie winning games and finishing higher) I along with others would be happy enough.
But….if we were playing entertaining football, and finishing similar positions, I would begrudgingly take that. But we are doing neither. There has to be q point where we assess everything football-wise.
Pardshole has no idea how to play football any higher than mid table. To win games at the next level, there has to be an ability for a manager to adapt his tactics properly to suit the flow of the game or the opponent itself.
I do understand pardew when he says it’s all turned pear shaped since Cabaye left. But, there was lack of intention to bring in a replacement.
StuW
May 3, 2014 at 11:22 PM
Comment #91If we were playing this style of football, but performing better(ie winning games and finishing higher) I along with others would be happy enough.
But….if we were playing entertaining football, and finishing similar positions, I would begrudgingly take that. But we are doing neither. There has to be q point where we assess everything football-wise.
Pardshole has no idea how to play football any higher than mid table. To win games at the next level, there has to be an ability for a manager to adapt his tactics properly to suit the flow of the game or the opponent itself.
I do understand pardew when he says it’s all turned pear shaped since Cabaye left. But, there was lack of intention and/or determination to bring in a replacement, even on loan. The two we chased(Cabella and Grenier) were never leaving their clubs until the end of the season. There was no backup plan. No third or fourth choice in case if that.
Even a loan would have done until the end of the season. Or, why not recall Abeid or Vuckic and give them q proper chance?
I hope pqrds leaves, but the excuses are going to be the same under him or any other manager. “couldn’t get them over the line”. Expect to hear it this summer lads…
Matt
May 4, 2014 at 12:30 PM
Comment #92In
Steven Caulker
Andy Carroll
Scott Sinclair
Matt Jarvis
hangalaand from Fulham
Micah Richards
Gabby agbonlahor
Pardew out Steve Bruce or Glen hoddle or David moyes in even uwe rosler from Wigan
Out
Matt
May 4, 2014 at 12:33 PM
Comment #93Out
ameobi
Marveux
Gutierrez
Obertan
De jong
Colo
Cisse
And I forgot to add Ben foster to the in list