The win came at the least expected time as Newcastle were without the injured Mikel Merino, Isaac Hayden, Florian Lejeune and the suspended Jonjo Shelvey.
But Newcastle won his game and held on for the last 20 minutes or so to the 3-2 advantage to get a very valuable win.
And wins are what will save us this season so it was just a phenomenal effort from our lads.
And after Saivet had gifted West Ham a goal after just 6 minutes he scored a magnificent free-kick from all of 30 yards out to get the Newcastle fans cheering and the Magpies back into the game.
Henri Saivet – scored great goal from free kick
You can never accuse our players of not playing for the shirt and Rafa could be right – the passion and pride of our players can save us this season.

Comments welcome.
82 comments so far
YoungMag :P
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:25 PM
Comment #1C-dog
Diame was okay. He put the effort in and for that I’m grateful but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He took his goal very well but apart from that he was anonymous.
sparky55
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:27 PM
Comment #2repost from this morning…(with a few minor changes hahahaha)
There once was a manager called Rafa
Who some thought had been hit on the nappa
but with a squad that was poo
We beat west ham away 3 two
Shame on all of you who ever doubted the Gaffa
U.S Magpie
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:27 PM
Comment #3God my house hold was jumping, thank god Man Bun didn’t haunt us to much. Saivet been saying forever to give the guy a chance. Finally got one and yes mad a mistake but then scored and then looked good all the game. I know its going to hard against Man City but if we can off a draw at home that would be amazing. As for the takeover lets get that shite squared away right now and move the club forward into a new era. Howay the Toon!!!
Bambams
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #4Can’t underestimate the difference having our captain back as well.
Lascelles will play for England in next couple of seasons.
ShirebrookToon
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #5They call us the Rafa happy clappers.
Wrong
It’s called supporting the team through thick and thin.
They Ought to try it sometime.
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #6Shame on the Good Ship Catchy and all who sail in her. Down to Davy Jones locker with the lot of them 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #7It doesn’t look like auld rubber lips is having the new manager bounce either, I think the only reason he done it at Palace is because he was an ex player. Hopefully we’ve turned a corner, City next could be the best possible team on a drink fuelled festive night.
Bambams
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:29 PM
Comment #8Sparky
I didn’t expect that from you mate !
All the best
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:29 PM
Comment #9Exactly shirebrook. I’m seething i really am.
Malta Mag
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:30 PM
Comment #10First time in a long time that we looked so dangerous going forward? My heart was in my mouth when I saw Hayden and Merino out but credit to Diame and Saivet, they worked their socks off as did pantomime villain, Joselu. Well deserved and now focus on Stoke next week while we hope to keep it respectable at least on Wednesday.
Rotonda heights
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:30 PM
Comment #11I just wish eliot could pass the ball out from the back like the city keeper instead of the endless hoofs to no one. getting a good sweeper / keeper will be a big step forwards. wonder what odds you would have got on saviet and diame scoring today!!!
defence did well to keep carrol, arnautovic and hernandez out
ShirebrookToon
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:30 PM
Comment #12Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun, it is to see
Newcastle WIN away
cyprus
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:30 PM
Comment #13What a game and we were excellent value too. Most deserved MOM Atsu (voted him finally) along with Elliot. Brilliant performance.
Honourable mention to the whole team, good stuff.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:31 PM
Comment #14Tsunki,
That disgraceful shower comment was a bit spooky. We’ll be accused.
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:32 PM
Comment #15At one point we were 3-1 up! From a goal down! I thought I was in a parallel universe for a while there 😀
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:33 PM
Comment #16Ha jail i noticed that but maybe there are few other ways to describe them…
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:33 PM
Comment #17Tsunki
Bully the blog? Give over.
We’re not the one’s demanding everybody grovel at Rafa’s feet and express our joy in blinkered, homogeneous fashion. Expressed my happiness at full-time and yet there was Youngmag “Clap louder, repeat after me, we will correct your thinking!” being the underlying tone. Reminds me of the final part of 1984 with Winston in room 101..
I’m happy to debate the points, but nobody does, just play the man.
ShirebrookToon
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:33 PM
Comment #18Didn’t see the match. But from listening to Soccer Saturday it sounded like we actually went for it today
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:34 PM
Comment #19Tsunki
As ever rarely talking about football.
Same with JfA whose in an eternal points scoring match on here with many posters and it seems to be his priority given how much he takes swipes at people compared to football related content – and he has the cheeks to accuse others of spewing bile – that’s all you do! Me thinks a case of projection as with your “disgraceful people” comment on the last thread. How on Earth would you know if I’m a disgraceful person or is your threshold for a disgraceful person somebody that critically looks at your demi-God.
My alias on here is ironic, your hailing of Rafa is blindingly serious.
You’re a monumental nugget for all manner of reasons, JfA.
Got to laugh at those claiming Rafa engineered that win with a midfield he would never have picked if all other options weren’t off the table for one reason or another. A game that was barmy even by NUFC standards. That chaos was all part of the plan obviously! The sequence of abject losses though, nothing to do with Rafa! Want it both ways.
YoungMag :P
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:35 PM
Comment #20Where’s catchy now? Crying into his pillow?
Dennis Twice
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:35 PM
Comment #21Attack Toon attack, attack!
U.S Magpie
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Comment #22#10 Malta Mag? Stoke? We play Man City then Brighton before Stoke on Jan 1st. Your not a Mackem in disguise are you?
ShirebrookToon
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Comment #23YoungMag
Sssshhh ffs! 😆
JP...from The Rock
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Comment #24I’ve gone for Saivet MoM. To come put of the blue and play like that well done lad.
YoungMag :P
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:37 PM
Comment #25Give over Hail.
Still on his case after a win. Can’t be pleased?
You’re happy to criticise but not give plaudits. Hypocrite.
manxpie
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Comment #26Saviet for me, took some balls to take that free kick after his monumental mess up especially waiting over a year for a start and got us back on track
Anyone see the nufc twitter banter?
geordiemark
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Comment #27Tsunki
go and stick ya heed in your tacky direct mug you mug ? sorry couldn’t help that one, were all entitled to have our moans at the club and about rafas selections to play if you cant take it that’s up to you
just in case you missed my comment tsunki should change your id to twisty suits you better 🙂
the ledge
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:39 PM
Comment #28Brilliant result. Fair play to Rafa And the team. With the players westham have they should be beating us at home. But when you have a brilliant manager,he makes the difference .If Rafa had of been in the other dugout we would have been slaughtered today. In Rafa we trust!
manxpie
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Comment #29Check out @NUFC’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/944573872359268352?s=09
SPRINGY
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Comment #30Gritty display today,lascelles looked like the captain we needed…and although saivet was at fault for there first goal thought he played well and showed what good pro he is to come in from the cold and do a job… hopefully that gets his foot in the door for a few more appearances…i dont think we have seen anywhere near enough to totally pie him off….great 3points….a nice merry christmas from lads.
Rotonda heights
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Comment #31give it a rest hail. you’re not going to bring anyone down tonight no matter how much you try.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Comment #32HwA,
I don’t comment on match days because I prefer watching or listening to it. You don’t deserve to celebrate the victory you are an absolute disgrace of a fan. The type that would walk out when you don’t like what you see
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Comment #33Hail – It’s nothing to do with revering Rafa you plonk it’s all to do with your crowd of vitriolic badgerers clubbing together to bring the club down under the inference you know so much about football and that because you think this team is more capable than it actually is, the manager is at fault and we are all idiots for not seeing it.
An example of your hatred skewing rational judgement has to be a classic pointed out by jane – your ranting on about the calamity of choosing saivet and how everything was going wrong, as planned, but failing to spot his equalizer – a true classic and illustrative of your blinkered bile. You got badly caught out there.
martoon
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Comment #34I have to be honest when I saw that midfield I wasn’t impressed but Rafa sees them in training and knows their form. Then blow me they both score!
Against city I’d be tempted to keep the same midfield and save Shelvey and Merino for the match that really matters against Brighton.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Comment #35It’s a really important win but we can’t forget some critical mistakes Rafa has made last few games.
Yes, of course he’s limited by his playing staff but criticism is still fair.
Let’s just enjoy this whilst we can!
the ledge
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:42 PM
Comment #36Delighted with this result!!!
Tsunki
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:43 PM
Comment #37Hurts doesn’t it geordiemark? Maybe if you hadn’t been so quick to shoot your mouth off you would have stuck your foot in it. Anyway I don’t really have to point it out, it’s all there in the last thread. Call me a liar why don’t you?
Rotonda heights
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:44 PM
Comment #38martoon
he had to play them he had so many injuries
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Comment #39Youngmag
I’ve given Rafa credit for victories plenty of times in the past when he has been the primary difference. Today he wasn’t and that selection and the chaos that ensued was largely out of his hands. Maybe he’ll mastermind something against City – highly unlikely given the real disparity of class (not imagined like some do when comparing us to Burnley, West Brom, Stoke, Huddersfield, Brighton, Swansea), but we’re on surer footing now and spirits boosted just in the nick of time, so never say never.
Again, you’re not contending the main points made in previous comments, but right now I have much better things to do than squabble.
lochinvar
Dec 23, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Comment #40At 1-0 down your heart sinks, the beads of sweat appear on your forehead, the dog hides behind the sofa with the wife who hid there at 3pm and wrapping xmas presents isn’t going to happen.
Ninety minutes later you feel like you’ve been an extra in Get Carter and you’ve a rerun of a Lindisfarne christmas party at the City Hall playing in your head.
I also suspect that the lads and lasses coming back home are in great fettle, singing their hearts out and the Great North Road will have never looked sweeter.
Not before time !