High hopes and aspirations! Newcastle v Blackpool match reflections.
Posted on April 11th, 2010 | 130 Comments |
I played a song recently for a mate who often goes to Newcastle games with me, though not the Blackpool game ironically. It was relevant because it was number one on his birthday back in 1991 and he’s just suffered the discomfort of turning 30. The song was “The One and Only” by Chesney Hawkes and it’s spun on ‘Old Skool’ nights in University and college dance-floors up and down the country.
It’s become a bit of a cult classic, as sh*t songs go, though unfortunately I’m old enough to remember it being released first-hand and to be honest I love it so bollocks to you all who hate it.
Anyway…, heading up to the Blackpool game on Saturday, with the sun bleaching down and a sea of black and white mixing in with the tangerine of the visitors, I couldn’t help but wonder about the words in the second verse of that song. Lowbrow though they may be to music snobs, the lines “High hopes and aspirations, and years above my station. Maybe but all this time I’ve tried to walk with dignity and pride”, hit home with a certain poignancy. Though I refrained from singing them out loud as I walked past the Strawberry…
It was one of those afternoons when I sensed that everything was going to be just about right. Perfect weather, the team in good form, home advantage and a Championship title to play for. The mood was vibrant, party-like and even though we’ve played it down due to unfair criticism in the press, there is optimism around the ground again. Talks of a mid-to-top half finish in the Premiership next year were on the lips of home supporters, they’re daring to believe again.
And there was more than that, there was pride. Where once we walked with as much dignity as possible during turbulent times of late, it was a restored pride on people’s face and in their strides. Promotion is in the bag, sealed before our game against Sheff Utd and celebrated with a home win. We can quietly go about the business of taking the title to finish things off nicely and hold our heads up proudly that we succeeded where many thought and some others hoped we’d fail.
Blackpool fans brought their own hopes and aspirations on Saturday and a bagful of pride with their near-3,000 support. They were here for a great day out and a special occasion which probably, as someone pointed out to me, says as much for the improvement in the city as it does for the lure of watching their team against the mighty Mags. The roles have reversed, where once Newcastle fans looked forward to a weekend trip to Blackpool, the opposite is now just as likely. The guy in the clown suit got some stick off Level 7 and I wasn’t a fan of the taunts but he played his part with decency. So too did that Stag who got thrown out of the corporate seats for stripping down to a G-string and bow tie.
They arrived, however, in buoyant and confident mood as a team with a run of four successive wins and the reputation of playing good football. But despite manager Ian Holloway’s pre-match front, his team struggled to gain a foothold early on and despite playing some genuinely attractive football, the damage was done with the first two Newcastle goals, I’ll save you reading what you probably already know but toonsy’s match report and the new highlights article will cover it, if you haven’t read about the game or seen the goals.
The first half scored flattered us really, as they had plenty of possession but without a cutting edge and as we’ve proved all season, particularly at home and since the turn of the year we’ll get goals from somewhere. So it was something of a relief when we came out guns blazing in the second half and gave it a right go for half an hour or so to put the game beyond doubt .
Hughton’s second change unsettled us a little and Blackpool fans got at least some reward for a thoroughly decent effort on their part. But even though we were a little iffy at times, a hit and miss display from their ‘keeper who managed to be both awful and awesome in equal measures throughout, a solid enough performance and the contrast between the teams in terms of creating and finishing on the day meant the outcome was rarely in doubt.
Special mentions should go to Coloccini who was brilliant once again at the back, Danny Guthrie who looks more fleet of foot and more capable and dangerous with every game. Also to Ryan Taylor for a great cross when he came on though unfortunately, it was one their left winger would have been proud of and went straight across our box to their right forward. I bet he could spend all night trying and failing to explain what he was aiming for.
Their fans gave as good as they got, once the wind was back in their sails after they got their consolation and the general consensus was that they were a group of proper football supporters, the like of which has been consistent for the most part this season. That’s the one thing I’m going to miss. And while we dream of European places and turning the mackems over, I hope for the likes of Blackpool, who’s play-off hopes are still alive, that their dreams of promotion are realised sooner rather than later.
How they faired – Harper 6, Simpson 6 (Ameobi 75), Coloccini 9, Williamson 8, Kadar 6 (Taylor 37), Routledge 7, Guthrie 9, Nolan 7 (Barton 69), Gutierrez 8, Carroll 7, Lovenkrands 5.
Subs – Krul, Taylor 5, Barton 6, Pancrate, Smith, Best, Ameobi 5.
…pie.