One of the surprising heroes of yesterday was winger Christian Atsu. Christian was injured during the Africa Cup of Nations in July and just returned to full training in the past week.
The timing of his return was quite fortunate as Allan Saint-Maximin injured his hamstring in training last week. He was declared fit for Tottenham and made the team. However, after sprinting to the byline early in the game, Allan tweaked that hamstring again. He had to be removed a few minutes later.
But Atsu was on the bench thankfully and came in on the left-wing for Allan. It was quite a performance from the 27-year-old. He set up the lone goal of the match expertly picking out Joelinton after some breathtaking build-up play.
Christian Atsu spoke to NUFC TV after the game. This is what Christian said about the performance and how difficult the game was:
“That was a really difficult game and we had to dig really deep to win this game. The way we defended, we deserved to win this game.
“That is what the gaffer wants from us. To be able to defend but also to attack. He wants also to play football, and that’s what we got. Throughout the week we have been practicing this, and now we showed it.
Christian was also asked about the support of the fans, and this is what he said:
“The fans love this club, and they want the best for the club. So whenever things are going wrong, they have to be upset, but a lot of people never expected us to beat Tottenham.
“They will say our best should have been a draw, but this is what Newcastle is made of and this is what the fans are made of, to support this club and to fight for this club.
“Newcastle fans are always amazing and fantastic. They support the club through thick and thin, so for us, we thank them for their support. We are going to fight and work hard this season.”
Atsu had a terrific game, and he also ended last season very strongly in the absence of Miguel Almiron. He will be pushing for his place after a performance like this.
What a way to win @NUFC ???? pic.twitter.com/8OI31rBVRT
— Christian Atsu (@ChristianAtsu20) August 25, 2019
Here is the play build-up play leading to the goal. What a pass from Christian and goal from Joelinton.
1??7?? passes – then ?
Catch up with the ? moments from yesterday's win on NUFC TV.
Extended highlights: https://t.co/VMAFUZmWdy
Brief highlights: https://t.co/pu0ebj5KuI#NUFC pic.twitter.com/uikmYE5VMk
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 26, 2019
57 comments so far
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:26 AM
Comment #1Booyaaaah!!!
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:27 AM
Comment #2That’s killed your firstery. 🙂
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:31 AM
Comment #3Hard ground out win but well done to the lads for getting a result down there. Don’t know if we can go the whole season this way but it makes a change for the away support to have something to chant about on a sunny day in the smoke. We’ve got a habit of catching the big teams with their pants down trying their fancy Dan stuff out against plain hard work ethic. 🙂 Still not sure about that hi-vis getup mind but hey if it’s a winning strip keep it on!
c-dog
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:31 AM
Comment #4Shelveys absence crucial
He’s not mobile enough for the elite level
getoutofworeclub
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:35 AM
Comment #5After reading the blog the last few days after the win everything what Ashley has done in 13 years it all seems forgot about remind me again the net spend in 13 years and also getting rid of the best manager since Robson and Keegan f1ck me it doesn’t matter what ash does let’s all just keep supporting sports direct FC the only toon fan on here that speaks sence is toon 22 1 win and it’s all forgotten support the team and super Bruce haha laughing stock believe me we will still go down
Mag :P
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:36 AM
Comment #6Haha ancient.
Of course I’m easily pleased when we beat champions league finalists away from home with a clean sheet.
Do you have any braincells?
Where did I say that we should play like that all season? Where is the evidence to suggest that we will? Nothing wrong with showing respect to a far superior outfit.
Can’t believe I’m having to justify why I’m pleased after a terrific performance.
Mindshaft
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:36 AM
Comment #7Still buzzing, need to go for it against Leicester and Watford is a must win game who haven’t won in 7 games and lost last 6
Come on the toon
Ron Knee
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:39 AM
Comment #8I hope he gives the Watford match priority.
Mag :P
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:39 AM
Comment #9I can see us setting up with this against watford:
………………….. Dubravka
……. Schar……. Fernandez…….Dummett
Krafth………Longstaff..Hayden……….Willems
………Almiron……Joelinton………Atsu
Pushing the wing backs higher.
Mund
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:40 AM
Comment #10Looks like the Sunderland wums are out in force on the blog today it’s laughable that some still find negatives after yesterday’s performance
AncientC
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:40 AM
Comment #11Mag P?
“Where did I say that we should play like that all season?”
Where did I claim otherwise?
Keeping working those neurons “braincells [sic]”. You’ll get there in the end…
c-dog
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:44 AM
Comment #12Almiron better out wide
Everything we said Bruce was doing wrong he changed. Not to arrogant to listen to sense. Impressive Brucey boy.
posada
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:44 AM
Comment #13Looking forward to the Leicester game now.
It’s been a while since the Arsenal match.
I like these night time games.
Crowd will be down, but has been for many years for this stage of the league cup.
Would think there will be a lot of younger supporters.
Taking advantage of the cheaper tickets.
Good on them.
Team selection will be interesting. Most of the team from yesterday will be knackered.
Lot of injuries.
Might have been a game for Sorenson if he was still here.
Mund
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Comment #14A brilliant win and strong performance which was much needed after last weeks diabolical showing.
Shelvey should be sold it’s obvious we are a better unit without him. There was once I rated the lad but since Benitez dropped him we looked a much better team without his Hollywood passing which in my eyes gives away possession way to much. I’d rather have that responsibility left to Schar and Lejuene.
AncientC
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Comment #15c-dog, always with the Shelvey “not mobile enough”. And to think you claimed JFA was repetitive over Rafa?
I wonder where ‘toontaff22’ is these days. A mystery that one.
geordietom
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:49 AM
Comment #16looking back at the results off yesterday most of the away teams done well , wor team won howay lads at least be happy for a few days . sick of the neggers on here …
still buzzing …
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:49 AM
Comment #17Shelvey is getting pelters for having an off day in a lousy formation and is suddenly again a lazy, overhyped Hollywood passer. Shame the “fans” can’t get a bit of football nous together. This is the player that single handedly dragged us out of the clarts many a time with sublime control of the midfield when it was set up around him you ungrateful lot. 🙂 Shelvey was dropped not because he’s utter crap ha ha but mainly because it wasn’t going to work in a park-the-bus style, now that we have mobility from midfield it’s obvious we don’t need his passing to cut the midfield out completely and can rely on the ball being carried forward and can afford dropping our defensive mid back a bit. But we might need him for other games so don’t write him off yet.
All good yesterday and definitely got the run of the green but I have to agree this is the defensive style and counter they spent three seasons perfecting. I very much doubt we can do this all the time and you have to hope that Bruce has some clue as to what shape he’s going to set us up against lesser teams at home. I don’t have much confidence in that, given his track record, but I do have confidence the players will still be defensively effective as long as Bruce doesn’t tinker with it.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:51 AM
Comment #18C dog, fair play.
posada
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:52 AM
Comment #19Bruce made a big decision yesterday.
On team selection and formation.
That was a big plus.
I was not sure he would.
Mag :P
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:52 AM
Comment #20Ancient.
Why are you the only one unhappy with how we played?
It got the win didn’t it?
You ask how many times we will win by playing that, well it’s 1 out of 1 so far isn’t it?
You’ve definately got the hump over the dropping of Shelvey it’s pretty sad. Especially when it’s justified by the result.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:52 AM
Comment #21Tarquin you’re not qualified to discuss football. Stick with ownership and sociology.
geordietom
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:53 AM
Comment #22booked into the Sandman Signature hotel for wednesday night wor lass cant wait to see the match , gonna have a walk round town before the match get a Savaloy Dip or two couple of beers . might even have a burger outside the ground are they safe to eat lmao…
HWTL…
Mindshaft
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:54 AM
Comment #23aincient: Think we’re going to have to play like that for most of the season to get any points, same as under Rafa – players seem more comfortable playing defensively and we tried playing ‘expansive’ football against a lesser team already with disastrous results – I’m not a huge fan of Bruce and he seems way to touchy after his comments yesterday but fair play , he changed the team back to a defensive counter attacking team to get the win
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:55 AM
Comment #24Something stuck in your shoe felonious? I don’t recall addressing you.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:55 AM
Comment #25Go play basketballyfooty
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:57 AM
Comment #26Munster as an über-supporter what’s your take on Shelvey? Do you agree he should be supported out of the club or supported in? 😉
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 26, 2019 at 11:58 AM
Comment #27Munster I’m trying to drill down to your level give me a break man it’s tough going.
posada
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Comment #28geordietom
Think you will find they are safe enough.
Same as burger van stuff anywhere.
Much better than you will get inside the ground I would say.
Although I think one side of the Leazes corner has a Dickinson’s.
I can’t get to it though from my precious seat.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:04 PM
Comment #29Tarquin, the only stuff stuck on my shoe reminds me of you.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:05 PM
Comment #30Re shelvey, need more from him but I wud keep him unless we get big bucks.
Munster Mag
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:06 PM
Comment #31And tarquin, your avatar is a cheap nasty dig. Tool.
AncientC
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:09 PM
Comment #32Mag P, I am happy with the result, but extremely concerned with the omen in yesterday’s performance. Sure, you take a win where you can get it, but what is the long term strategy?
How many more backs to the wall performances will you be happy with? Let’s just get through the next game any way possible… let’s just survive this season… then what?
Bruce is a means to an end. Not blaming him for it, but that’s what it is.
Oldgit1
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:11 PM
Comment #33Toon 22, you are a one trick pony, to come on this site with your dribble on a day when we won away to the spurs and spout your accusations to fellow posters shows you are a WUM.
Your sole aim on this blog is to be as destructive as possible.
Be gone you fool.
geordietom
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Comment #34Posada …
we are in the Milburn stand looks like i’m quite away from Dickinsons mate looking forward to the match …
Mag :P
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Comment #35Ancient
Yes. It is concerning that we have to resort to that but if it means the players are going to give 110 percent then its always going to have my backing.
Ashley is the reason we are so far behind clubs like Spurs and the main reason why we have to resort to overly defensive football.
You still won’t catch me complaining about our style of football if it means we grind out results and leave the game feeling proud of the lads. Because behind all of the politics that is what it’s all about.
geordietom
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Comment #36OLDGIT …#33 …
couldn’t agree more mate he feeds off the gloom and doom …
lesh
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:15 PM
Comment #37Posada
Sounds as though you’re hoping there’ll be a lot of younger supporters at the cup match.
Good on them? Don’t you think a half empty SJP’d send out a stronger anti-Ashley message to the media?
Ashley doesn’t need Bishop when there’s fans like you to do his PR for him while even paying for the privilege of doing so!
geordietom
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Comment #38we won didn’t we !! be happy for a few days me i’ll be happy to take one nil wins all season …
Mund
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:19 PM
Comment #39If Shelvey is not an automatic starter why keep him just to start the odd game and mostly coming off the bench. He is one of our highest earners and the wages could be spent better elsewhere.
He is lazy got no pace and try’s the Hollywood over simple passes most the time. Granted sometimes he makes his passing look sublime but not enough to say he should be a starter or even an asset. To say he single handily dragged us out the crap is nonsense. I don’t hate the player but I much prefer other players over him.
toon22
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:21 PM
Comment #40Looking forward to the cup game ?
It’s club policy to not compete in the cups