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Newcastle’s Gabriel Obertan sinks Leicester to bring long-awaited win Newcastle’s Gabriel Obertan sinks Leicester to bring long-awaited win
(about 1 hour later)
They say that patience is a virtue and, sure enough, Newcastle United fans were rewarded for a frustrating hour-long delay to kick-off with their team’s first Premier League win of the season.They say that patience is a virtue and, sure enough, Newcastle United fans were rewarded for a frustrating hour-long delay to kick-off with their team’s first Premier League win of the season.
Secured by a rare goal from Gabriel Obertan this much longed-for victory was not entirely convincing but at least offers Alan Pardew a little respite as he strives to retain his place in the home manager’s dugout. Secured by a rare goal from Gabriel Obertan this long striven for victory was not always entirely convincing but at least offers Alan Pardew a little respite as he endeavours to keep his seat in the home manager’s dugout.
There were times when both sides looked as shaky as St James’ Park’s brand new big screen before it received emergency underpinnings on Saturday afternoon. The hour-long postponement necessitated by the need to refasten Mike Ashley’s latest toy to its moorings high in a corner of the Leazes End probably did not do too much to help settle players’ nerves. “I’ve been a manager for 700 games now and I’ve never used the word desperate before but today we were desperate to win,” said Pardew. “We were under enormous pressure but this gives us a chance to build some confidence.”
In between much slapdash, shapeless, helter-skelter stuff – whisper it but for prolonged spells it seemed more like a Championship than a Premier League game – Fabricio Coloccini should really have given Newcastle an early lead. When Moussa Sissoko zipped down the left and cut the ball back Coloccini was well placed to apply a sidefoot finish from 10 yards but somehow shot wide. How Pardew must have wished that chance had fallen to Papiss Cissé rather than a centre half. There were times when both sides looked as shaky as St James’ Park’s brand new big screen before it received emergency underpinnings on Saturday afternoon. The hiatus prompted by the need to refasten Mike Ashley’s latest toy to its moorings can hardly have helped settle nerves.
With no one able to keep the ball for any length of time it was all almost as ragged as some of Leicester’s unnecessarily spiky tackling. Goodness knows how feisty things might have turned had Cheik Tioté, Pardew’s formidable Ivorian midfield enforcer, not been injured in the warm-up. Yet amid much slapdash, shapeless, helter-skelter stuff – for prolonged spells it seemed more like a Championship game – Fabricio Coloccini should really have given Newcastle an early lead.
Tioté’s absence heightened Newcastle’s sense of vulnerability and Leicester might have scored when Leo Ulloa imperiously shrugged off his marker before laying off adroitly to Matty James who proceeded to shoot straight at Tim Krul. Shortly afterwards the home goalkeeper looked relieved when Marc Albrighton’s deceiving, dipping, cross hit a post. When Moussa Sissoko zipped down the left and cut the ball back Coloccini was well placed to apply a 10-yard sidefoot finish but somehow shot wide. How Pardew must have wished that chance had not fallen to a centre-half.
By now Nigel Pearson’s side were settling into a much more obdurate, organised mode that Newcastle increasingly struggled to deconstruct. The only problem was that as much as Leicester’s shape had improved when they did not have the ball, they did not seem to have too much of a clue what to do with it when they won it. With ability to retain possession at a premium it was all almost as ragged as some of Leicester’s tackling. Goodness knows how spiky things might have turned had Cheik Tioté, Pardew’s feisty Ivorian midfield enforcer, not been injured.
The biggest St James’ cheer came at half-time when, finally, that big screen really came into its own with the electronic transmission of the final score from St Mary’s: Southampton 8 Sunderland 0. Tioté’s absence heightened Newcastle’s initial sense of vulnerability and Leicester might have scored when Leonardo Ulloa imperiously shrugged off his marker before laying off adroitly to Matty James who proceeded to shoot straight at Tim Krul. The home goalkeeper subsequently looked similarly relieved when Marc Albrighton’s deceiving, dipping cross hit a post.
It has been a long time since Newcastle could even dream about scoring so prolifically but they might have made a breakthrough had Liam Moore not somehow thrown himself in the way of Sissoko’s vicious shot and deflected the ball over the bar. By now Nigel Pearson’s side were settling into a much more obdurate, organised mode that Newcastle increasingly struggled to deconstruct. The only problem was that as much as Leicester’s off the ball shape and pressing had improved, they did not seem to have too much clue what to do with the ball once they won it. “Our quality in the final third let us down,” said Pearson. “But we generally looked pretty comfortable so it’s disappointing.”
Pardew’s side were piling on the second-half pressure and Cissé was left cursing himself after he connected with Paul Konchesky’s appalling backpass. Instead of rolling a simple chance into an empty net, the Senegal striker mysteriously opted for power over placement and saw the ball fly tantalisingly wide. The biggest St James’ cheer came at half-time when, finally, that big screen really came into it own with the electronic transmission of the result from St Mary’s: Southampton 8 Sunderland 0.
No matter the slightly unlikely figure of Gabriel Obertan finally beat Kasper Schmeichel to offer an increasingly anxious looking Pardew a little respite. Collecting possession, Cissé initiated a rapid counterattack before slipping the ball to Obertan. Dodging defenders, the Frenchman slalomed his way to the edge of the area from where he beat Schmeichel with a shot into the bottom corner. It has been a long time since Newcastle could even dream about scoring so prolifically but their commitment could not be questioned and they might have made a breakthrough had Liam Moore not thrown himself in the way of Sissoko’s vicious shot.
It was only Obertan’s second goal for Newcastle since his move from Manchester United and his first for two and a half years but he had proved far too quick for Pearson’s defence. Although Moore deflected it over the bar, Pardew’s side were piling on the second-half pressure. Making it count was the issue and Cissé cursed after missing a sitter following his interception of Paul Konchesky’s appalling backpass.
There was still time for Krul to quite brilliantly save Danny Drinkwater’s shot but Pardew’s decision to start Obertan and once again Remy Cabella, his £12m marquee summer signing from Montpellier was the sort of big decision by which managers stand or fall. The Senegal striker swiftly compensated by creating Obertan’s winner. Having initiated a rapid counterattack Cissé slid the ball to the Frenchman. Dodging defenders, Obertan slalomed to the edge of the area from where he beat Kasper Schmeichel with a shot into the bottom corner. It was the former Manchester United winger’s first goal for more than two years but he has never lacked pace and proved far too quick for Pearson’s backpedalling defence.
Krul still needed to brilliantly save Danny Drinkwater’s shot but Pardew’s decision to start Obertan and once again omit Rémy Cabella, his £12m marquee summer signing from Montpellier had been vindicated. Managers stand or fall by such calls and this one appears to have bought him valuable time. “For once,” said Pardew. “I can watch Match of the Day with a smile.”