Another brace from Ayoze Perez, whose first goal came within the first minute of the game got Newcastle off to a good start and although we were only 1-0 up at the half, the lads kept going and by the end of the game we had a comfortable 3-0 win and really controlled the game throughout.
Certainly the crowd of just under 52,000 went home (very) happy with another professional performance from a Newcastle side who are becoming very tough mentally and know how to win games this season.
That’s a big difference from last season when we knew how to lose games and found ways to achieve that outcome far too many times.
Matt Ritchie after scoring yesterday
We have now won 12 games of our 16 games in total this season – and if leave out the first two defeats in the league we have 12 wins in the last 14 games.
One of our star players this season has been winger Matt Richie and the 27-year-old thinks the lads are getting to know each either better and how they play.
Matt thinks the team is getting better – as Rafa had predicted it would.
This is what Matt said on the Newcastle website after the game:
“Everyone’s getting to know each other, and it’s that time in the season now where people are really learning their jobs.”
“We had a lot of new bodies and ideas at the start of the season and maybe not everyone was quite on the same wavelength, and now I think that we’re all coming together.”
“Personally for me, I feel like I know what Dwight’s going to do, I know what Jonjo’s going to do, I know what Jack’s going to do, and everyone’s learning with the players around them.”
“There are relationships all over the pitch with everyone – whoever plays throughout the whole squad, we train together and have different partnerships in training, and I feel that’s really shown in the way we attack.”
“That’s what a good team does. It’s about relationships on the pitch, and working off each other.”
“I think that we’ve got a good bond, and a good blend throughout the team. We’ve got a bit of everything in the team as well.”
“The early goal helped, but to be honest the first half was a little bit bitty, and we didn’t really get going.”
“But we controlled the game throughout, I’d say, and it’s really pleasing to get the goals in the second half, because that just put them out of sight then.”
“I’m really pleased. We’ve had some good results of late. Going back a couple of weeks, we had a big game here and got beaten against Wolves, so it’s nice to continue the run.”
“And we’ve obviously learned from that little bit of complacency, if that’s what it was. It was a good three points, and a really positive day.”
“We just need to hang in there. It’s a long season and it’s early days. We’ve managed to stay calm and grounded with our feet on the floor and remain focussed.”
“With all of that, we’ll hopefully continue to win games.”
We play an in-form Preston side in the EFL Cup 4th round on Tuesday night and if we can win that we will be in the quarter finals.
Preston have just beaten the two clubs that were above us in the league during the International break – Huddersfield in mid-week and then Norwich yesterday at Carrow Road.
They beat Huddersfield at home 3-1 last Wednesday night and then beat Norwich 1-0 yesterday at Carrow Road and they are now unbeaten in their last 7 games in all competitions.
So they are not to be taken lightly and we also play them at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon – two tough games coming up.
We need two more wins.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
4 comments so far
Budge123
Oct 23, 2016 at 9:32 AM
Comment #1Not sure if it’s already been covered so apologies if so –
I thought the organised SBR chants on 76 mins were great yesterday. As were the ad hoc ones during the game.
Thought the club could have put something on the screen as they used to with the mins applause for the 2 fans in the 17th min.
That is in its 3rd season now. Looks like it’s here to stay. I don’t know of any other teams that have a tribute every home game?
Good for it to become a constant thing
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Oct 23, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Comment #2my seeing of the game yesterday…
Just got in from match
Great start could not ask for better – then we went downhill and made a poor Ipswich look half decent until the second goal
Yes we created chances but for the next 70 minutes we huffed and puffed went sideways backwards and hoof the ball up-field. To slow back passes to keeper fullbacks didn’t come short to pick ball up from keeper so HOOOOOOOOOOOOOFit long and high.
Once we kept the ball on the deck – quick passing the second goal came then the third with keeping ball on deck and moving it quickly.
Here we go with my merit marks.
Darlow 7 – did nowt wrong but to many hoof balls for me
Dummett 7 – did well defending but wants to long on the ball
Lascalles 7 – Again OK defending did well but use of ball poor.
Clark 8 – Pick of the defenders – defended well – carried the ball forward and made good use of the ball
Yedlin 7 – did a job a great going forward but wants to cut back to many times
Goufran 8 – Another workhorse performance in midfield use as a outlet to Darlow’s HOOOOOOFs and took a bit of a battering in the air.
Shelvey 7 – given to much space and used the ball well but not as influential as last few games.
Colback 8 – Except for his booking I gave him my man of the match always there for the Shelvey out ball passed the ball well long and short – linked defence and attack
Perez 8 – took his goals well had a good game but passing/application was poor and needs to man up a bit more – got knocked of the ball to easy
Gayle 7 – had one of those games chased, closed down but could not get on the end of anything and when he did put it over the bar.
Ritchie 8 – had a very good game scored a good goal but trie d the killer pass to often and at times wasteful.
Subs
Mitro 6 – Did Ok and took some punishment as target man held ball up well but again temperament could of boiled over first minute he was on Ipswich player niggled him and he retaliated
Atsu 5 bundle of energy but runs into walls to often
Hayden 6 – did a good job and controlled midfield when he came on.
All in all great result if not playing at our best and great noise for the Bobby Robson tribute in the 76th minute – class
Budge123
Oct 23, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #3Charlie – great player ratings as usual.
For me you under sell Dummett and Lascelles this week.
I thought Dummett had his best game in ages and Lascelles was both strong and skillful when required.
Back 4 looking a good unit.
Would like to see more threat down the left with faster fullback and natural winger but we still have far too much for this league
Jib
Oct 23, 2016 at 9:46 AM
Comment #4That Rafa thing when he and Jamaal surprised and delighted those kids reminded me of a Shankly anecdote.
It was a Liverpoool taxi driver told me it – he was an Evertonian which makes it even more poignant.
It was the early sixties and he was sitting at 5am in one of those all night caffs on Bolton Street that runs between Lime Street Station and the Adelphi hotel .
It was packed with taxi drivers , postal and hotel workers , having cuppas and breakfasts.
In comes Shankly trailing a crocodile of track suit-clad bleary-eyed young footballers.
He’d yarked thm out of thier warm beds and was trailing around the city showing them what real workers did and how lucky they were to be in their privileged position.
That’s man management right there !