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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
(35 minutes 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 good things come to those who wait 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 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.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.
“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.”“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.”
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.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.
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. Yet amid much slapdash, shapeless, helter-skelter stuff – for prolonged spells it seemed more like a Championship game – Fabricio Coloccini should 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 10-yard sidefoot finish but somehow shot wide. How Pardew must have wished that chance had not fallen to a centre-half.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.
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. 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 Cheick Tioté, Pardew’s feisty Ivorian midfield enforcer, not been injured.
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.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.
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.” 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 know 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.”
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.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.
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 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.
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. Although Moore deflected it over the bar, Pardew’s side were piling on the second-half pressure. Making it count was the issue and Papiss Cissé cursed after missing a sitter following his interception of Paul Konchesky’s appalling backpass.
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.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.” 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.”