Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Roeder pleased for Oba

07 Dec 2006 - 09:17:29

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Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder hopes that the club's fans will now see the best of Obafemi Martins after the Nigerian striker scored his first Premiership goal of the season in the thrilling 3-2 win against Reading.

Martins brought the Magpies back to 2-2 with a second-half penalty before Emre sealed a pleasing comeback for Roeder's side with a late winner.

Roeder said: "I couldn't be more pleased. He (Martins) certainly showed he knows how to score a penalty.

"It's only a matter of time before he shows everybody he knows how to finish in open play.

"He had a goal taken off him against Portsmouth, which we all know now was a poor decision, and there've been a few incidents recently - he hit the crossbar at Middlesbrough and again tonight with a tremendous header.

"He's just not quite had the breaks he deserves, but it's starting to come and, if he can pinch some goals in the next few games, that will give him even more confidence.

"But I'm sure the celebration we saw tonight, we'll see many more times.

"I suppose, in a strange way, that was the sort of game Newcastle fans enjoy - as long as the outcome is what the outcome was at the end of it."