Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton hails strength in depth after victory
A JUBILANT Chris Hughton last night insisted Newcastle's thrilling Carling Cup third-round win at Chelsea underlined the strength in depth that exists at St James' Park.[LNB] Hughton made ten changes to the side that won at Everton last weekend, but his second string' still proved good enough to end a 24-year wait for a Magpies win at Stamford Bridge.[LNB] Goals from Nile Ranger, Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi established a 3-1 lead after Patrick van Aanholt had scored an early opener for Chelsea, but extra time beckoned when Nicolas Anelka's late double tied the game.[LNB] Ameobi had the last laugh though, heading home Jonas Gutierrez's corner in stoppage time, and the striker was one of a number of fringe players to impress on one of their few outings this season.[LNB] Ranger, Peter Lovenkrands, Alan Smith and Ryan Taylor also caught the eye, and while questions were asked when Hughton only made three signings this summer, the depth of talent at his disposal is looking more and more impressive by the week.[LNB] That showed what we have regarding competition for places, said the Newcastle boss, who also watched Sol Campbell impress on his senior Magpies debut.[LNB] You've got a team that played today and apart from (Haris) Vuckic, (Shane) Ferguson and possibly (Nile) Ranger, these are all players that have been first-team regulars (in the past).[LNB] Young Shane Ferguson is a player who floats between left back and left winger, and he'll be more pleased than anybody with the game he's had.[LNB] But that was a really good team performance from a team that had quite a few changes.[LNB] Hughton saved special praise for Ameobi, who was linked with a move away from St James' Park in the summer after struggling to hold down a place in the starting line-up in the second half of last season.[LNB] The emergence of Andy Carroll has cast Ameobi into the shadows this season, but after scoring in Newcastle's previous Carling Cup win at Accrington Stanley, the striker produced a superb attacking display last night.[LNB] He outclassed Chelsea youngster Jeffrey Bruma from first moment to last, and underlined his enduring ability with two accomplished finishes, the first with his right foot and the second with his head.[LNB] That's why he's here, said Hughton. Shola showed why he's still at this football club.[LNB] He's had a period at the club where injuries have hindered his progress. That was the case last season. But when Shola's in this form, he's a top, top player.[LNB] Ameobi's winner capped a remarkable evening that saw Newcastle romp into a twogoal lead, only to almost suffer a defeat when Paulo Ferreira rapped a fierce drive against the post with the score at 3-3.[LNB] That game went so many different ways, said Hughton. After the start they had, most people would have thought they would get a second and a third. We showed great character and good finishing and, at 3-1, we had arguably the best opportunities to kill the game off.[LNB] They got back into the game with as soft a penalty as you will see, but thankfully we were able to score a winner.[LNB] Chelsea's 86th-minute penalty came when Mike Williamson was penalised for the weakest of tugs on Alex, and Hughton admits he would have felt deeply aggrieved had Ameobi not converted his last-minute winner.[LNB] To say it (the penalty) was soft was an understatement,[LNB] he said. At that stage, if the referee doesn't give that, we hang on to the game and win it 3-2. We went through a period we didn't need to go through. Had it gone to extra time, it would have been a travesty.[LNB] Abdul Osman stroked home a penalty to hand npower League Two Northampton a famous Carling Cup triumph at Anfield and heap more woe upon Liverpool's new boss Roy Hodgson.[LNB] Osman's strike which capped a 4-2 spot-kick win for the Cobblers sent boos cascading around Anfield on a night when Hodgson's men had been lucky to take the game into extra-time at all.[LNB] Milan Jovanovic had given the hosts a ninth minute lead, but Northampton's confidence was underlined by Billy McKay's 56th minute equaliser.[LNB] Michael Jacobs looked like he might have won it for the visitors with his strike in the extra period but David Ngog bundled home the equaliser four minutes from time to take the game to penalties.[LNB]
