COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Newcastle (A)

Blues bounce back

Football never ceases to amaze as we fans sway between agony and ecstasy as our team sways between sweet and sour with no real sane reason or explanation. After the cup debacle, our chances of an away win at Newcastle seemed slim but, on receiving the team text, I perked up as it looked a real battling line-up. With Beckford being the only real inexperienced player at the top level, the rest were tried and tested in the Blue battling stakes, so I expected Blue blood and sweat to be expended; in the main, I was not disappointed.

Injuries were shared equally between the teams so no advantage gained or lost as we locked horns on a cold but sunny afternoon. With only 30 secs gone, Neville was left in a heap clutching his ribs but, after treatment, was able to resume. It was a scrappy opening but the Blues seemed the brighter and had more of the play, so it came as something of a shock when Newcastle?s first real sortie forward resulted in a free kick which was taken quickly and seemed to catch us off-guard as the ball went left and within three passes the odious Nolan shot from a tight angle; Howard could only parry away and such was our disarray, Best found himself all alone in the box and stooped to conquer.

A real body blow... but, after a bit of despondency, the faithful roared into life and the players responded. Hibbo put in the reducer on Gutierrez and was booked, Arteta and Osman started to have influence and, on the half-hour mark, Osman broke from the halfway line, found Arteta and continued his run into the box. Arteta from the left cut in and then fed Osman with a peach of a pass for Osman to fire home with some aplomb. Players and fans were happy.

We were just digesting this when Arteta was fouled out left and Baines stepped up and put in a waist high curving free-kick that went between the defensive line and the keeper right to the back post where Jags was powering in and he poked the ball home. All were now very happy. That kick looked as though it was straight from the training ground.

With Osman and Arteta coming both inside and out, and being creative, we were bossing the midfield and their prompting gave Beckford a few runs on goal but it wouldn?t be us without a scare as, on the death of the first half, their centre-back poked wide when well placed. Heart in mouth time.

Half-time and the chat centred on what the second half might bring, such has been our inconsistency this season.

Newcastle started off like a house on fire and sub Ameobi tested Howard twice within a minute then, after another attack, I noticed Neville on the deck. He left the field holding the back of his thigh, looks like another ?hammy?; Heitinga replaced him and Jags took the armband.

The rest of the half was gripping in its own way, Newcastle had the majority of possession and Everton the majority of the clear chances. If Beckford had been able to master hold-up play and lay-off, on at least two occasions we might have profited; Saha, although looking fit and sharp, was guilty of poor finishing ? one that sticks in the mind was when Arteta sliced through their defence and plonked the ball right on Saha?s head only for him to head over with goal gaping.

Newcastle were attacking with regularity but a combination of good tackling and desperate blocks kept them at arm?s length. We broke when we could and always looked the more likely. Rodwell played one up to Saha and his lay off header was perfect and into the path of Beckford but his shot was at the keeper with plenty of the goal available. Beckford then got put in right side of the box and his goal-bound shot across the keeper was superbly tipped away for a corner.

On 70 mins, Beckford was replaced by Anichebe and he took to the field accompanied by a cacophony of abuse from the home fans. All to do with the legal action against the odious red one. It wasn?t long before they clashed with Nolan seeming to kick him to the ground, Vic retaliated and both were booked.

With quarter of an hour to go Arteta had a great chance to seal it but stabbed wide from close in. Newcastle continued to attack but we were defending with spirit and quick to break and Anichebe who was mostly raiding from the left was put in at least three times but looked less than convincing when it came to execution. Then Newcastle scored... or so we thought... but, before depression could set in, it became obvious that it had been ruled out and we had a free-kick.

As the game entered the last knockings, we gave away a couple of soft free kicks, one on right on the edge which hit the wall and caused an almighty melee but somehow it was hacked away. Coleman replaced Osman who had a great game today and he was given a resounding send off from the faithful.

5 mins of injury time and more desperate defending, interspersed with some neat breaks... but both Anichebe and Coleman lacked the nous to make the most of the run-down-the-clock art.

MotM: For me, it was take your pick from Arteta, Osman and Jags.

Overall, a good rollicking game to watch and so much better with a win. I thought today the manager got team and tactics right, he found a way to win. Now, if he can just find a way to improve on our finishing, we will be a whole different team.

Neville joins the injured so that?s not good news considering squad strength with games coming thick and fast. Coleman is a bit of a mystery to me. He came on the scene and excited us with fast direct running confusing defences and to be truthful his team-mates too; lately, he appears to have changed his game and looks the poorer for it. I also wonder if hypnotism might help Anichebe to make things happen rather expecting them to happen and then whinge when they don?t.

Rodwell did a good job today; maybe his passing at times was a bit off but being able to look down on the game he did some tremendous work filling holes and closing down avenues all across the pitch and drove forward when he could. Some of his covering work and getting a foot in reminded me a little of Bracewell today. Hibbert did ok to, it was the type of game where his defensive doggedness was required, he also got in two great crosses.

Birmingham on Wednesday and almost certainly it will be a whole different type of game... but, with today?s application from both management and player,s one we should achieve 3 league wins on the bounce ? now that would be nice.

A note for Beckford. Set off for the ground on Monday morning!
See you there

UP THE BLUES

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