Archive for tag: Alan Pardew’s St James’ Park Fortress?.

Alan Pardew’s St James’ Park Fortress?

October 14th, 2011 | 60 Comments |

St James' Park yesterday.
St James' Park yesterday.
Has St James Park started to become a ‘fortress’ since Alan Pardew took the managerial reigns, starting from his first match against Liverpool on the 11th of December 2010?

If we cast our minds back to the 2009 – 2010 Championship winning season under Chris Hughton, Newcastle managed to complete the season without loss at St James’ Park. In fact, Newcastle only suffered four defeats in the league that entire campaign. I remember Newcastle having a reasonably easy ride at home that season, largely due to the quality of squad we possessed in comparison to the rest of the league, though I do recall West Brom giving us a scare, in our 2-2 draw towards the latter stages of the season.

Newcastle’s first match at home in the Premier League the following season, consisted of a 6-0 thumping of Aston Villa. With United seemingly continuing their fantastic home form, you would have been forgiven for thinking Newcastle would ease past their next home opponents, Blackpool, and extend their unbeaten home run on Tyneside to an impressive 26 games in all competitions. (more…)