In what was another professional display form Newcastle United goals in each half by former Wigan star Mo Diame and Christian Atsu saw Newcastle through to a good win that takes us one point ahead of Brighton at the top of the Championship and 9 points ahead of 3rd placed Reading with a much superior goal difference.
It wasn’t an easy win but the lads got the job done tonight against a hard-working Wigan side.
Another win and other clean sheet – just what the doctor ordered.
Yoan Gouffran congratulates Mo Diame after first goal
Mohamed Diame put Newcastle ahead against his former club on 26 minutes with a terrific goal as he combined well with the impressive Isaac Hayden before beating former Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen with his shot.
Mo is coming into some good form in the last couple of games and after the goal Newcastle took complete control of the game in that first half with the score still 1-0 at half time.
But Newcastle didn’t have it all their own way after half time and in the first 20 minutes of the second half Wigan pressed hard for the equalizer.
On 66 minutes there was a huge opportunity for sub Andy Kellett to level the scores but it was Karl Darlow who made a great save to keep the score 1-0.
That was a key save from the Newcastle goalkeeper.
And then shortly after that – after 69 minutes – Rafa brought on Ghanaian International winger Christian Atsu for Matt Richie on the right wing.
And it was just 9 minutes later – after 78 minutes – that Christian Atsu scored his 3rd goal of the season with a great shot.
That was the goal we needed and Newcastle had the game well under control and it was another win and another 3 points.
Just what we needed to go to 46 points from 21 games.
Derby won 1-0 at QPR with an 86th minute goal from Tom Ince for their 7th successive win and 5th clean sheet in a row to go to 5th place above Leeds United.
[table “54” not found /]Teams:
Wigan: Jaaskelainen, Garbutt (Kellett, 20), Warnock, Buxton, Morgan (Burn, 68), Power, MacDonald, Perkins, Jacobs, Wildschut, Grigg. Subs not used: Lavercombe, Byrne, Le Fondre, Gomez, Davies.
Newcastle: Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Hayden; Ritchie (Atsu, 69), Diame, Gouffran; Gayle (Perez, 82). Subs not used: Sels, Yedlin, Lazaar, Mbemba, Mitrovic.
Goals: Diame 26, Atsu 78
Bookings: Hayden 32
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
25 comments so far
firebug666
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:00 PM
Comment #1Oh and Jail
How many bonus points do I get for predicting the correct score?
archaeomag
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:00 PM
Comment #2Think Atsu got MoM – great goal – but Shelvey works so hard all over the pitch.
G
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:03 PM
Comment #3Richie named twice and no Gayle on the vote Ed, sort it out mate. Diame mom for me.
Belfast
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:03 PM
Comment #4We’ll need to play a lot better than that to win on Saturday for sure. That second half was dreadful. I don’t think we made more than two consecutive passes the whole half. I’d expect a good few changes for Saturday.
And if you didn’t agree that Rafa doesn’t fancy Mitrovic – That Perez for Gayle substitution said it all.
JackBall
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Comment #5Shelvey definitely MoM
kikgras
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:04 PM
Comment #6seeing maybe 110pts and a trophy…hopeful on the point total. this team has “IT”!!!!
have a soft spot (maybe its me noggin) to see Leeds get promotion as well.
JAMSHA
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:05 PM
Comment #7Good Win, Need To Keep On Winning Next 6 Games
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:05 PM
Comment #8Not worried at all about the lacklustre performance, every great team needs to show that they can win games like this. As I see it we didn’t even need to get out of 2nd gear so it’s positive that we can win games like this, especially as it conserves energy over a very busy festive period. All in all a well deserved 3 points and a nice stride towards promotion.
Onwards and upwards. HWTL.
Ps… Whiskey time whoop whoop!!!! 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:06 PM
Comment #9firebug666,
Did you get the right score as well? Three points.
Belfast
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:06 PM
Comment #10Thought Hayden was the only one that had a really good game to be honest. Diame pretty anonymous second half.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:07 PM
Comment #11If we made a 107 points and Gayle finished to I’d be a very happy man for many reasons.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:07 PM
Comment #12Belfast
Agreed, Hayden my mom to!
firebug666
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:08 PM
Comment #13Jail
Aye mate here’s a re-post:
firebug666 // Dec 14, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Why would Rafa leave? He’s been to big clubs, he’s won trophy’s, and now he has a nice little project, something he can (if he is allowed too) build with his own hands, a showpiece in the making, the sleeping giant has stirred and popped one eye open.
Rafa ain’t leaving, not as long as the fat man and Penfold keep backing him, and allowing him to build for the future.
Confirmed Rafa bingo lineup:
Darlow
Anita—-Lascelles—-Clark—-Dummet
Shelvey—-Hayden
Richie—-Diame—-Gouffran
Gayle
0-2 away win for the Toon.
HWTL
firebug666
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:10 PM
Comment #14Shelvey MOM for me, was pulling all the strings tonight, especially first half. If he gets a ban now we are going to miss him big style.
Belfast
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:11 PM
Comment #15The back four looked absolutely terrified every time that Dutch winger got the ball in the second half. Yedlin will definitely start on Saturday.
manxpie
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:12 PM
Comment #16shelvey and very easily the guy doesn’t stop just constantly gets into space to get the ball and finds a forward pass should have scored tho
Jail for Ashley
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:13 PM
Comment #17firebug666,
That’s you on 18 points, only 82 behind me now!
manxpie
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:13 PM
Comment #18that wellshit fella belfast?
Belfast
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #19Aye he’s a good player to be fair. I would have brought Anita off.
firebug666
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #20Jail
PMSL:
manxpie
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #21thats all i heard from the commentators “great run from wellshit”
yeah anita had a shocker but tbf he ran gouff and dummett plus ritchie ragged too
Belfast
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:21 PM
Comment #22I’d be very surprised if the third place team catches us now. I’m usually quite cautions like, but it would take a really piss poor run for it to happen. Think Derby have won seven games on the spin now though. So i’ll still be looking over my shoulder at them lol
lesh
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:28 PM
Comment #23Young magpie
What’s your whiskey? Can we trust it’s a good single malt.
Mind you, as you’re sipping your tipple, Jib’ll have stocked up with near empty Diamond White cans, decanted the contents into one and be enjoying a relaxing drink after a busy day.
lesh
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:30 PM
Comment #2446 points and probably safe from relegation already so soon. 🙂
What a star wor Rafa is.
lesh
Dec 14, 2016 at 10:32 PM
Comment #25Belfast
McLaren’s doing a fine job at Derby and he would be a good call for West Ham if they’re looking for a new manager in the summer.