Source: SKY_Sports
Hughton stands by decision
Chris Hughton has declared that he stands by his decision to start Michael Owen on the bench for Newcastle's game at home to Arsenal on Saturday.
The former Tottenham assistant manager is in charge of team affairs while manager Joe Kinnear recovers from triple heart bypass surgery.
Owen had only just recovered from an ankle injury before he was thrust back into the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw at Hull City - after missing the club's previous five games - but found himself axed at the weekend.
As well as leaving the former Liverpool ace out of his starting XI Hughton also dropped Jonas Gutierrez, Alan Smith and Geremi to the bench from the Tigers clash.
Newcastle went on to lose the game 3-1 but only after they had squandered several chances to take the lead in the opening 45 minutes, with striker Obafemi Martins missing from the penalty spot.
"I stand by it. I have to," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"I am the person who is responsible for picking the team. Probably in the first hour there wouldn't have been too many complaining.
"There weren't people making judgements in that hour. That's because up until then it was a good performance.
"As we all know there are no guarantees that having Michael or Jonas or Alan Smith or Geremi would have got us the result we wanted."
