Walking in a Hughton Wonderland? Newcastle 3 Scunthorpe 0.
Posted on March 18th, 2010 | 226 Comments |
The singing was spontaneous not contrived. It was a natural response to a moment when we ultimately put yet another win beyond any doubt. There was a relief in that chant, from fans who you sensed were previously ready, willing and able to let the manager know they had his back but unwilling to break ranks from those who lumped him in as part of the Ashley crew. It almost happened against Preston and there was a spattering of pro-Hughton singing but it was half-hearted and almost through gritted teeth.
Last night he was awarded with his name being included in a song made significant and poignant, particularly because of the passing of the great Sir Bobby Robson. And it was as if as a whole, Level 7 decided to agree Hughton has nothing to do with the running of the club off the pitch and that he deserves to know that he’s appreciated for what he’s helping to deliver on it. In fact, perhaps also significantly, there was only one version of ‘Get out of our club’ churned out and even that was by only a spattering of surprisingly soulful and willing antagonists.
Focusing on the game itself, if you’d turned up on 80 minutes with supporters flooding out of the doors and Scunthorpe enjoying their best spell in the game, you could have been forgiven for guessing the wrong score. The truth is though, that this game was all but over when the second goal went in and might well have been over even before that. So the final ten to twenty minutes somewhat detracted from what was ultimately another commanding display from those in black and white.
Football is an unpredictable game as we’ve all come to realise and yet sometimes, particularly if you’re in a Championship-winning vein, things go very much the way of form. And when Chris Hughton, with home advantage, was able to field a side that was effectively as strong as he possibly could against a team struggling against relegation and missing key players, you sensed this one should be a formality.
And so it turned out as we, after a slightly jittery few minutes, completely dominated the first half. Danny Guthrie was busy and industrious all night along and contributed with two assists, and his first came from a corner with ten minutes gone which Andy Carroll met to power a header into the back of the net to make it 1-0. Scunthorpe seemed barely able to cope with the early onslaught and confusion at the back led to a free kick delivered beautifully by Guthrie and finished well by Nolan, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
More good build up play led to arguably the best chance of the night falling to Peter Lovenkrands but the Dane smashed his shot off the bar and with the ball falling invitingly to Routledge, the defence managed to scramble it to safety. Carroll was denied a couple of chances but it seemed inevitable that the floodgates would open. And when Routledge split the defence with a great pass, Lovenkrands held his line well and finished smartly to make it 2-0. Good chances for Lovenkrands, Carroll and Coloccini all came in quick succession but ultimately failed to increase the lead.
Despite the good start, there was a touch of arrogance at times from a number of players who appeared to think they could go through the motions. Notably Nolan, Gutierrez and Enrique and it was perhaps that as much as the spurned chances and decent goalkeeping that kept the score at 2-0 going in at half-time.
It had taken the modest band of Scunthorpe supporters a good half hour before they broke into song, as it seemed both team and fans alike were shell-shocked. Adkins clearly gave his players a bollocking because Scunthorpe came out looking far more up for it in the second half. And as a result that got their crowd going and in turn ours. My personal favourite ditty of the night had to be “Phil Brown’s on the dole” to the tune of Three Lions.
Despite the renewed vigour from Scunthorpe, it wasn’t long before we extended the lead. Coloccini, who was in great form all night, took the ball from their striker in the corner and tucked the ball inside to Guthrie. The midfielder was fleet-footed all night but when he swivelled, it looked like he had nothing on. But a 50-yard pin point ball had Andy Carroll charging into the box. The striker did well to outpace the defender but by the time he composed himself, it looked like the angle might be too acute but current form is obviously breeding confidence and he finished with a fine chip over the keeper for 3-0.
Gutierrez thought he’d made it four after some more good build-up play but it was ruled offside. And other than that, the rest of the game turned slightly in their favour, as Scunthorpe finally found their feet but with Hall and Colo in commanding form at the back, we barely looked like conceding. Hughton brought on Kadar for Enrique, who received rapturous applause and took off both goalscorers, Carroll making way for Leon Best, with Lovenkrands coming off for Nile Ranger though because of the way the game went none of the trio made much impression.
When the final whistle left, it seemed like half the stadium was empty but you sensed those that had left were witness to the beginning of the final stages of our inevitable promotion. Conceivably, we could win less than half of our remaining games and still go up automatically. But it doesn’t look like we’re keen on dropping points and the monumental fall from grace that some of those longer-in-the-tooth are concerned about just doesn’t seem possible. Scunthorpe were a poor side, if I’m being brutally honest, but we seem to have progressed during the season to a level which means we punish teams rather than feel sorry for them.
Hughton might have some injury headaches ahead of the Bristol game on Saturday, with Hall appearing to pull a groin, Simpson taking a knock and Lovenkrands limping off. But you imagine we can faith in a man who has dealt with such problems in the measured and successful way he’s done all season because after all, it’s his wonderland we’re walking in.
Us – Harper 7, Simpson 6, Enrique 7, Nolan 8, Coloccini 9, Hall 9, Routledge 8, Guthrie 9, Gutierrez 8, Carroll 9, Lovenkrands 8.
Subs – Krul, R.Taylor, Kadar 7, Pancrate, Butt, Best 6, Ranger 6.
Goals – Carroll 10,55, Lovenkrands 22
Scunthorpe – Murphy, Wright, Jones, Raynes, Williams, Thompson, McCann, O’Connor, Wright, Forte, Hayes.
Subs – Lillis, Woolford, Milne, Sparrow, Canavan, Togwell, McDermott.
Att – 39,301
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
Great results well done the lads.
Hughton 10/10, the team 9/10. Level 7 fans 9/10 – rest of the fans 4/10. The gate was disappointing, the noise levels poor and the ground was emptying way before the final whistle.
I seem to be a voice in the wilderness where I sit.
I sincerely hope we can get behind the lads better at our next home game against the forest.