Source: Northern_Echo
Magpies foiled by goalkeeper heroics
IN the past, a home defeat to mediocre opposition would have provoked actions at St James' Park similar to the threats made by controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones.[LNB] Jones threatened to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks because of his opposition to the siting of a mosque and Islamic cultural centre near Ground Zero.[LNB] Similarly, the almost religious zeal Newcastle fans have for their football club would have seen the burning or destroying of another almost holy object a season ticket on the back of a bad result.[LNB] But for those supporters who missed the loss to Blackpool, there is no need to resort to such acts.[LNB] The scoreline was not representative of the contest, while St James' Park has not been razed to ground by religious fanatics or rebranded just yet.[LNB] United's defeat to Blackpool was little more than watching an uncomfortable drama unfold than the current cultural crisis taking place in the US.[LNB] The Magpies may have had their wings clipped by the Tangerines but there was still enough, on this performance as well as previous ones, to suggest the team will survive in the top flight.[LNB] On another day Mike Williamson's header would have gone in off the post rather than bouncing to safety, and one or two of United's several chances would have found the back of the net instead of the arms, legs and feet of an inspired goalkeeper in Matthew Gilks.[LNB] In-form striker Andy Carroll maintained his impressive start to the embryonic campaign, which brought Blackpool boss Ian Holloway to claim: He's the best striker in the Premier League.[LNB] Joey Barton's rehabilitation continued with yet another mature performance, while new signing Hatem Ben Arfa showed, on his brief 20 minute cameo, enough to suggest there is much more to come.[LNB] Yes, there were two or three rather uninspired displays but Newcastle still did enough to win the game, and on another day they would have.[LNB] Instead United lost to a contentious Charlie Adam penalty, a minute before half time, before falling to a DJ Campbell sucker punch in the last minute while trying to press for an equaliser.[LNB] Maybe the penalty was deserved.[LNB] Alan Smith looked as if he made contact with the ball before felling Luke Varney, but if you go to ground, as so often as he does, you're asking to be punished.[LNB] The Newcastle manager was, unsurprisingly, unhappy to have lost.[LNB] I think anyone who saw today's game would probably admit it was an unfair defeat on the possession we had and the chances we had, said Hughton, whose side lost for the first time at home in 26 league and cup games. It is something we have to deal with and something we have to bounce back from.[LNB] We have to give them credit, they defended very well and the goalkeeper had an inspired day. It wasn't a good day in front of goal and they've reaped the rewards from that.[LNB] I don't want to take anything away from Blackpool but it was certainly a game we should have won. However bad this defeat feels, we are four games into the season and we have a long way to go.[LNB] We can gain things from a defeat and there is a group of lads in there (the changing room) who know we should have won the game. I think we certainly would feel more down if it was the actual performance and we hadn't created anything. I think there are enough positives from the game to take us into the next few games.[LNB] But as Newcastle learned, at the weekend, the Premier League can be a cruel mistress if you don't take your chances.[LNB] We've been good in front of goal before now, said Hughton. We managed to create enough chances at Wolves as well, but today was not our day.[LNB] No doubt it hurts and I thought we deserved the three points. But it wasn't to be and we have to make sure we do the right things now going into the game at Everton.[LNB] Hughton named the same side which had appeared in United's previous three Premier League fixtures and, while he admitted he was reasonably happy with his players' performances, he hinted he might reshuffle his line-up by the time they take to the field at Goodison Park.[LNB] He added: The players we have managed to bring in during the window are giving us choices. My decision is when to freshen things up a little bit and when to make changes but the most important thing is now that I have options.[LNB]
