Kevin Nolan helped Newcastle United step within one point of picking up the Coca Cola Championship title, with a brace tonight against Reading at the Madejski Stadium. In a game which saw us below par, Reading may feel hard done by that any lingering hopes they had of making the play-offs all but disappeared with our victory by the odd goal.
However, as with many teams this season, Newcastle’s ability to score goals and grind out the result meant Reading would have to have a go and they were left wanting when it came to a cutting edge. In fact, it took a combination of Steve Harper, Jose Enrique and Danny Simpson producing an own goal before Reading got off the mark. At the other end, Kevin Nolan re-established himself as the club’s leading goalscorer with another two crucial goals, taking his tally for the season to 18 in all competitions. (more…)
Tangerine dreamers!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… (more…)
The only way is up!Wherever you were tonight, it was a very special occasion if you were a Newcastle United supporter. Even before our 2-1 victory over Sheff Utd, when Nottingham Forest failed to beat Cardiff City at home, it meant we were guaranteed an automatic promotion place.
But when Sheff Utd took the lead through Richard Cresswell with a sloppy goal from a corner, it looked like they were intent on being party poopers. However, when Chris Morgan gave a ridiculous penalty away in front of the referee just before half-time, after drawing attention to himself and his man-handling, Peter Lovenkrands confidently dispatched the spot-kick to bring us level.
And despite some sloppy and frustrating play at times, it was perhaps fitting that Kevin Nolan should step up to put the icing on the promotion cake. After scoring some crucial goals this season, it was he who was in space to brilliantly convert a Lovenkrand’s flick on, and his overhead kick flew past Simonsen to make it 2-1 and send us all a bit mental. I’m sure there hasn’t been noise like that at St James’ for a long time. (more…)
Too Posh for promotion push?The first of many big games for Newcastle kicks off today, with the very real prospect of promotion making it’s first outing of the season. Today’s visit to London Road to face struggling side, Peterborough United, could result in guaranteed automatic promotion, should we come away with the three points and Nottingham Forest fail to take anything from their game at Bristol City.
On the flip side, depending on results, this game could also seal Peterborough’s fate and they could be facing the reality of life in League One next year. So despite a poor run of form, you can be sure that they’ll be fighting tooth and nail for this one.
You can check out Toonsy’s excellent match preview for all the usual pre-match speculation, gossip and such. It doesn’t look there’s any TV coverage, but if anyone finds any video links , I’m sure that would be much appreciated. Or alternatively, there are always lads and lasses looking for radio links as well. I’ll be making do with Lowes and Ando on Radio Newcastle. As ever, this can be the place to come together during the match and p*ss and moan, as we usually do… (more…)
All we care about is NUFC.Level 7 was undoubtedly in fine voice last night as the natives played their own part in Newcastle’s crucial victory over promotion hopefuls, Nottingham Forest. By the time Jose Enrique scored to make it 2-0, the appropriate volume which would have been fitting for such an occasion deserted me. I was so hoarse it came out as a whisper.
Each new ditty seemed to spread further and further round the ground, and when the last goal went in, the roof lifted off to ‘Jose’ ringing around the ground. And yet one song which has become less and less popular in recent weeks is the ‘Get out of our club’ song aimed squarely at our much-maligned owner, one Mike Ashley. This isn’t yet another excuse to dredge up the past because my feeling is that for now, supporters have almost, more or less, accepted an agreement to disagree on the current incumbent. Because not once did I hear the song being aired from my lofty perch, not even a whisper of it. The closest we got was the more neutral ‘All we care about is NUFC’ song. (more…)
Kevin Nolan helped Newcastle United step within one point of picking up the Coca Cola Championship title, with a brace tonight against Reading at the Madejski Stadium. In a game which saw us below par, Reading may feel hard done by that any lingering hopes they had of making the play-offs all but disappeared with our victory by the odd goal.
