Newcastle United 6 Barnsley 1
6/Mar/10, KO 3pm, St James' Park, WTCTSDTD. Att: 44,464
You’ve got to enjoy afternoons like this haven’t you? 6-0 up with twenty minutes left and ripping through demoralised opposition...remember that this time next year!
Smith missed the game through injury, giving Pancake a run out on the right and Enrique made a welcome return from injury but after a reasonably bright opening, the first half was a bit of a non-entity as both sides tried to play a bit of football without any penetration (fnarr fnarr). We had slightly the better of the play and created a couple of half chances from the wings with Simpson in particular conjuring a lovely cross that was scrambled away from under the bar but neither side had any clear cut opportunities in the first forty minutes.
We had a blow half an hour in when Enrique had to go off with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring injury. Kadar came on for the Spaniard and had an excellent game, but Jose would be a real loss if he’s going to be out for any sort of length of time. The whole game turned on its’ head just before half time when we won a penalty. Pancake played a superb defence splitting ball to Lovenkrands who rounded the keeper only to tumble in the box. Was it a penalty? Difficult to be sure in real time but once the spot kick was given, the keeper had to walk.
Lovenkrands picked himself up to slam home the penalty and in the space of a minute, we were suddenly going into half time in a position of comfort.
We really made the advantage count in a second half that was, well, just massively enjoyable. We doubled our lead just a couple of minutes in. Carroll was forced wide but put over a marvellous cross that Lovenkrands jumped to power home – great header, great cross, great goal. Just a couple of minutes later, we were three up. Lovenkrands turned provider, pulling the ball back to Guthrie on the edge of the box for a snap shot that beat the keeper low down. Guthrie was excellent throughout and the difference with Smith not in the team, especially at home, and a desire to actually get forward was apparent for all to see. If we were happy with life three up it was nothing compared to making it four with what was probably the highlight of the season.
Gutierrez picked the ball up 35 yards out, weaved past a couple of defenders and spanked home an absolute beauty off the underside of the bar from just outside the box. The goal was magic enough but then, no it couldn’t be could it? Out came the weathered Spiderman mask, minging with pubes and ball sweat and the crowd got to see what they’d been waiting two year for – priceless!!! That was the signal for party time and to much amusement, the away end deserted en masse, fearing total humiliation. Guthrie got a second to make it five, a whipped free kick that beat everyone including the (shit) goalie – similar goal to Milner’s at the Mackems a couple of years back and by now, Barnsley looked a seriously broken outfit.
We only managed one more, making it six with twenty minutes still left. A hopeful looking ball forward was nodded on to Nolan, in acres of space and able to round the keeper and slot home. At this point, we looked like we could have gone on to get ten, but Barnsley stemmed the tide and even pulled one back themselves due to a bit of a balls up at the back involving Collocini presenting Bogdanovic with a clear run on goal to put past Harper.
Overall though, a tremendous result and another huge step towards promotion, especially with West Brom losing. There were so many positives from the game it is difficult to pick from them – Guthrie was superb, Pancake had a genuinely good game, Spidey’s goal and celebration was a source of genius, the crowd were great and our goal difference is heading towards being an extra point. We need to keep focused and not hoy it away but if we win down at Boro on Saturday it will be impossible not to imagine us being promoted.
Days like these don’t come that often – this was apparently our biggest win of the millennium (!) – enjoy them when you can!
Keep The Faith
Newcastle United: – Harper 6, Simpson 7, Collocini 7, Williamson 7, Enrique 6 (Kadar 8), Pancrate 8, GUTHRIE 9, Nolan 7 (Taylor 6), Gutierrez 9, Carroll 7 (Best 6), Lovenkrands 8
Ref – Hegley – 8 – No arguments from our side
Our Fans – 9 – Lovin’ it
Their Fans – 4 – Mass desertion after the fourth
Gareth Harrison
Smith missed the game through injury, giving Pancake a run out on the right and Enrique made a welcome return from injury but after a reasonably bright opening, the first half was a bit of a non-entity as both sides tried to play a bit of football without any penetration (fnarr fnarr). We had slightly the better of the play and created a couple of half chances from the wings with Simpson in particular conjuring a lovely cross that was scrambled away from under the bar but neither side had any clear cut opportunities in the first forty minutes.
We had a blow half an hour in when Enrique had to go off with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring injury. Kadar came on for the Spaniard and had an excellent game, but Jose would be a real loss if he’s going to be out for any sort of length of time. The whole game turned on its’ head just before half time when we won a penalty. Pancake played a superb defence splitting ball to Lovenkrands who rounded the keeper only to tumble in the box. Was it a penalty? Difficult to be sure in real time but once the spot kick was given, the keeper had to walk.
Lovenkrands picked himself up to slam home the penalty and in the space of a minute, we were suddenly going into half time in a position of comfort.
We really made the advantage count in a second half that was, well, just massively enjoyable. We doubled our lead just a couple of minutes in. Carroll was forced wide but put over a marvellous cross that Lovenkrands jumped to power home – great header, great cross, great goal. Just a couple of minutes later, we were three up. Lovenkrands turned provider, pulling the ball back to Guthrie on the edge of the box for a snap shot that beat the keeper low down. Guthrie was excellent throughout and the difference with Smith not in the team, especially at home, and a desire to actually get forward was apparent for all to see. If we were happy with life three up it was nothing compared to making it four with what was probably the highlight of the season.
Gutierrez picked the ball up 35 yards out, weaved past a couple of defenders and spanked home an absolute beauty off the underside of the bar from just outside the box. The goal was magic enough but then, no it couldn’t be could it? Out came the weathered Spiderman mask, minging with pubes and ball sweat and the crowd got to see what they’d been waiting two year for – priceless!!! That was the signal for party time and to much amusement, the away end deserted en masse, fearing total humiliation. Guthrie got a second to make it five, a whipped free kick that beat everyone including the (shit) goalie – similar goal to Milner’s at the Mackems a couple of years back and by now, Barnsley looked a seriously broken outfit.
We only managed one more, making it six with twenty minutes still left. A hopeful looking ball forward was nodded on to Nolan, in acres of space and able to round the keeper and slot home. At this point, we looked like we could have gone on to get ten, but Barnsley stemmed the tide and even pulled one back themselves due to a bit of a balls up at the back involving Collocini presenting Bogdanovic with a clear run on goal to put past Harper.
Overall though, a tremendous result and another huge step towards promotion, especially with West Brom losing. There were so many positives from the game it is difficult to pick from them – Guthrie was superb, Pancake had a genuinely good game, Spidey’s goal and celebration was a source of genius, the crowd were great and our goal difference is heading towards being an extra point. We need to keep focused and not hoy it away but if we win down at Boro on Saturday it will be impossible not to imagine us being promoted.
Days like these don’t come that often – this was apparently our biggest win of the millennium (!) – enjoy them when you can!
Keep The Faith
Newcastle United: – Harper 6, Simpson 7, Collocini 7, Williamson 7, Enrique 6 (Kadar 8), Pancrate 8, GUTHRIE 9, Nolan 7 (Taylor 6), Gutierrez 9, Carroll 7 (Best 6), Lovenkrands 8
Ref – Hegley – 8 – No arguments from our side
Our Fans – 9 – Lovin’ it
Their Fans – 4 – Mass desertion after the fourth
Gareth Harrison