Finally back on track
Graham Stuart/AFP/Getty ImagesNewcastle's Demba Ba scores the first of his two goals on a penalty kickI travelled to St James' Park Monday fully confident Newcastle would win against an average Wigan team suffering an injury crisis of their own. I even predicted 3-0 to the lads in the car -- that's my one annual correct prediction done!
I was upbeat as I took my seat. Even the poorly-timed 'persistent standing' threat left on every supporter's seat couldn't put me off. Imagine team management deciding that Monday night of all nights was the time to do that! All week we heard about how the players and manager needed the supporters more than ever and I've read a lot of rallying cries from supporters too - what better time to threaten removal of season tickets?
- Newcastle blank 10-man Wigan
Newcastle had their first shot at goal only 30 seconds in as Cheik Tiote's shot flew just wide. A couple of minutes later we saw a big hoof from the home side in a great example of all that is wrong with that particular tactic -- keeper Tim Krul sent the ball long and almost instantly Newcastle were on the back foot. Krul pulled off a good save as Wigan pressed for a couple of minutes.
The game swung heavily in Newcastle's favour when Papiss Cisse was fouled by Maynor Figueroa running onto a great through-ball from Demba Ba. Figueroa was sent off and Ba tucked away the penalty. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 when the brilliant Davide Santon struck a fierce shot and Ba scored from the rebound off Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi.
Wigan and Roberto Martinez earn a lot of plaudits for their 'style of play'. Based on what I saw, this astounds me. They were niggly -- if Figueroa hadn't been sent off Gary Caldwell would have. Caldwell was booked for a foul and then committed a challenge that would have been a yellow card all day if referee Mike Jones was consistent.
Instead he let him off, presumably because he didn't want to put Wigan down to 9 and Caldwell was subbed at half-time. They also time-wasted extensively at 2-0 late in the first half.
If you turned up at the game at half-time not knowing Wigan were a man down, short of counting the players you wouldn't have known when the second half began. They were comfortable and enjoyed spells of pressure. Arouna Kone kept Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson on their toes at all times.
Sylvain Marveaux looked the man most likely. I have criticised him for his anonymity this season but he was involved much more heavily Monday. He went on several jinking runs drifting past players with ease and if he could strike the ball more fiercely than a 9-year-old he could have scored a couple of great goals.
Marveaux played a big part in the third goal. His pass out right found Gael Bigirimana, who cut inside and finished beautifully. 'Bigi' is going to be a great footballer -- one to watch. The rest of the team were obviously delighted for him and everyone ran over to congratulate him.
Vurnon Anita put another excellent shift in. I'm not sure what has happened to Jonas Gutierrez's engine, but Vurnon is more than making up for the energy Jonas seems to have lost. He is a tidy little footballer who grows more comfortable in the team and league with the more games he plays.
The only shadows hanging over the win are the apparent injuries to Tiote, Santon and Ba. Tiote took a kick early on and struggled for mobility throughout the half. Santon was replaced midway through the second half with a strain and then Demba felt his hamstring very late on.
Injuries are the last thing Newcastle need, especially to these players. Jonas was subbed and he also looked as if he struggled physically.
The win didn't lift Newcastle any further up the table but they are now level on points with Fulham, next week's opponents. More important they're back on track.
Twitter: @MarcSDuffy
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