Newcastle dominated this game from start to finish and it was one of our best displays of the season, yet we could still only beat West Brom 1-0 because we missed chances to make this a game that still wasn’t pleasant to watch for supporters.
Newcastle had 69% possession in the game with 19 shots and 7 on target – West Brom had no shots on target but it was still only 1-0.
But it went down to the wire and when you are only one goal ahead we know that anything can happen but the lads hung on for a vital win and with Villa beating Norwich at home we move to 4th bottom of the league – but we must keep this intensity and good form up for the rest of the season.
But hey that was out 6th win of the season and we are simply delighted!!
And there was a lot of positives to take out of this game with new boys Shelvey and Townsend making a difference and Townsend with a brilliant piece of play after 69 minutes hit the bottom of the post.
Shelvey looked great as he controlled midfield and his partnership with Cheick Tiote was simply outstanding.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – scored the vital goal
It was a single goal – expertly taken by Aleksandar Mitrovic after 33 minutes – and brilliantly set up by a fantastic through ball from Jonjo Shelvey that got us the very valuable 3 points and he took it so well as he was straight through and expertly put the ball past the advancing Foster to put Newcastle ahead.
Just before the goal Cheick Tiote had hit a pile-driver into the goal after 29 minutes and the St. James’ Park crowd erupted, but then referee Mason consulted with the linesman and disallowed the goal and we can only believe Aleksandar Mitrovic was in the line of sight from Tiote to Foster with the ball swerving all over the place.
So he became an active player – which is nearly always a subjective call these days.
But a minute later and a through ball found Mitrovic clear and he put us ahead.
It should have been more than 1-0 but hey – the points are what’s important and Newcastle continue to be a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde side – but today we looked a very good side.
Here’s how we saw the game.
After 4 minutes Janmaat made a good move down the wing – and Newcastle had started this game well.
But then Mitrovic had a good chance but Foster made a great save – but that should have been a goal from the 21 year-old – Foster should have been given no chance..
It was a lively first 15 minutes from Newcastle who started like a steam train today – and then Sissoko was through on goal but Foster beat him to the through ball.
After 24 minutes a strong shot was straight at Foster.
Then very good play by Aarons as he shielded the ball out expertly for a goal-kick.
Then after 29 minutes Tiote scored but it was disallowed after referee Mason consulted with the linesman and disallowed it – presumably because Aleksandar Mitrovic was judged to be active and in the line of sight between Tiote and the goalie.
Then a fantastic early through ball from Jonjo Shelvey found Mitrovic clear and through on goal and he expertly put the ball past the advancing Foster to put Newcastle ahead.
Newcastle were easily the better side but it was worrying we had missed a couple of very good chances and half time came with the score still only 1-0.
Newcastle started the second half as they did the first and after 49 minutes a Sissoko shot was blocked.
After 50 minutes it was a good overhead clearance from Aarons who was having a (very) good game at the back.
On 66 minutes Wijnaldum missed a great chance to put Newcastle ahead and then Mitrovic headed the ball from a cross but straight at the goalkeeper as Newcastle were trying to get the all important second goal.
And then it was Sissoko who was set up just outside of the box but he put his shot wide of the post when he should have done a lot better.
And then some brilliant play by Townsend saw him beat his man on the edge of the box – and his right foot shot beat Forster put hit the foot of the post as West Brom were hanging on at this stage in the game.
It was getting a little bit dicey when it was still only 1-0 as we were trying to see time out with Newcastle attacking all the time.
In the last few minutes McClaren took off Townsend and Shelvey and they were replaced by Perez and Saivet – and both new signings got a deserved standing ovation from the very grateful Newcastle crowd.
On this display today these two Londoners can save Newcastle United this season!!
We’d love that!!
Seydou Doumbia was being readied on the sideline to make his debut.
And then with a couple of minutes to go West Brom went on a breakaway and Rondon was through down the right and he tried to cross the ball to Berahino but Janmaat made a great interception to clear – and that’s really the best chance West Brom had all game.
But that was a case in points that because we didn’t get the second goal where we could have lost 2 points at the death.
The whistle was blown and we got the all important win.
Great!!
Howay The Lads!!
Newcastle: Elliot; Janmaat, Coloccini, Taylor, Aarons; Sissoko, Tiote, Shelvey (Saivet, 90), Townsend (Perez, 88); Wijnaldum; Mitrovic. Subs not used: Darlow, Gibson, Barlaser, Williams, Doumbia.
West Brom: Foster; Olsson, Chester, Yacob, Gardner (Berahino, 46), Anichebe (Rondon, 74), McClean, McAuley, Fletcher, Dawson, Sandro (Pritchard, 46). Subs not used: Myhill; Pocognoli, Lambert, Sessegnon.
Goals: Mitrovic 33
Bookings: McAulay 48, Chester 63, Olsson 83
16 comments so far
chewbaccy
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Comment #1win ugly
SPRINGY
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:17 PM
Comment #2was’nt sure about aarons before the game but he played well so got to give the lad credit…..tiote was great today….not a bad performance by anyone…just the odd wrong final ball or decision so cant complain…..mitro deserves a mention too….strong, some nice link up play and touches and held the ball up well.
Lindisfarne
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:17 PM
Comment #3Not even ugly, a poorly played match that we managed to come out on top of.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Comment #4Nouts a bother man! Well done NUFC.
Clean sheet with a make shift defence, players to come back should see us through until Summer. Still tough games to come but bouyed by the new signings performances today and well done young Rolando, he’s had a tough time of late.
will die for the toon army
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:20 PM
Comment #5WBA was so poor that scares me.
BUT if we are to bench any one bench Wujnaldum or Sissoko. MITROVIC is untouchable we play around him.
Was a boring game.
UNTOUCHABLES
Mitrovic, Tiote, Shelvey (Ass. Manager), Elliott and Colo.
The rest can be rotated and benched i dont care.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #6Worst performer Gini, makes a difference.
catchy in norway
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #7that wasnt winning ugly,, we should have won by at least 4
JAMSHA
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Comment #8nice win hope we dnt enjoy this win an be over confidnt….if we manage to beat chelsea then we have 70% chance to avoid relegation
cyprus
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #9I’m guessing you didn’t watch the game. Excellent play throughout, only negative we didn’t put like 4 past them.
NoahJ
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #10shout out to aarons, who is not a left back. he played very well today
whilst we played well, our finishing was very poor, and had we played against a better team, then we would have been punished for being so wasteful.
NoahJ
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Comment #11also, I thought tiote really complemented shelvey’s play today. they are probably my favoured central midfield pairing
Goofy
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:28 PM
Comment #12Not getting the “ugly win” comments. I really enjoyed that game. We were in control for 90% of the match and could scored 4 or 5. If we could turn that form on away from home we’ll stay up.
JP...from The Rock
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #13Saw patches of the match and was impressed with our forward play. Shame our finishing keeps letting us down. And Sissoko knuckled down and tried which is very pleasing compared to his shocker against Everton. So relieved to have got the three points it was a must win game. Now we have to kick on and keep picking up points, still alot of work to do.
Itching to see Doumbia play as I feel he would have buried half the chances we created today.
south coast toon
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Comment #14phew and results went are way
SA Toon
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:47 PM
Comment #15What an important win, and I don’t think there was anything ugly about it at all! Hopefully that will lift the mood a bit and give the lads some confidence. But how many more goal of the season contenders is Tiote going to be denied?
cookiemate
Feb 6, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Comment #16How was it an ‘ugly win’ we played some really good stuff and controlled the game, as for comments in regards to benching Gini…..are you mad? what warrants that? he along with Shelvey are our most creative players, and both played well.
Who would you put on in his place exactly? another DM? anyone who said that clearly wasn’t watching the same match, although it wasn’t his best performance he still played well.
All this being said it was a good win but against a poor West Brom side, if we can produce that against better teams Away then we are laughing but that’s a big if