Newcastle 1-2 Stoke: Daily Mirror match report
Published 22:30 26/09/10 By Simon Bird
Resurrecting the plan to sell the naming rights to St James’s Park is suddenly looking a good idea.
Maybe a change of name will be enough to convince Chris Hughton’s players they are away from home.
Is it the burden of a big crowd desperate for success? Is it the pressure of this season being defined by home matches? Is it the ghosts of the last top flight season returning
James Perch’s terrible headed own goal to make it two defeats in a row at in front of the frustrated Geordie crowd. But in between there have been, two wins away, at Everton and Chelsea.
Will the real Newcastle United please stand up?
Hughton’s men were crushed by a second half bombardment as Tony Pullis’ side proved there really is not need to change their direct route one approach. It works, and against side’s as fragile as Newcastle, they have no need to find anything more subtle.
With Kenwyne Jones untouchable in the air when he’s on form, and balls being thrown into the box to wear United’s down, Stoke climbed out of the bottom three and their start of season jitters seem to be over.
Newcastle, though, are still baffling their fans. How can they look so proficient at Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge, then so poor in the last half hour yesterday.
United were in charge thanks to a Kevin Nolan first half penalty, but crumbled after the break. Jones hit the bar twice before levelling with Perch netting the “winner” five minutes from time.
Hughton will also face questions over his substitutions, removing Cheik Tiote, their best player, and Hatem Ben Arfa when ahead. United quickly lost their shape badly.
The United boss said: “Highs and lows we are experiencing show where we are at the moment. We knew this would be a tough season. We will probably lose more than we win. That is the unpredictability of coming back into this division. For us it is almost a learning curve. From the lows we have to bounce back.
“No one expected us to win at Everton, or Chelsea. We did. This is a real blow for us. I am realistic enough to know where we are at the moment. We have just got promoted. My thoughts have not changed. I am realistic.
“Pressure at home? Speaking on the back of a defeat, we have to guard against it. We have to make sure we don’t become nervous at home. I am conscious of missed chances.
“The two areas, we had to deal wit their set player better. But from two set plays we were done. Also in the second half we needed to get the second goal. Stoke upped their game, upped their intensity and we didn’t do enough to get a second goal. They had a resilient back line.
“We didn’t create enough in the second half. We knew it would be a tough encounter. We had to deal with their physical strengths. We didn’t carve out enough goal scoring chances. Give them credit for defending well and getting two set play goals.
“These results pressure us to get points away from home. This league is full of unexpected results. We have to get enough points from home games this season. It was unfortunate for Perch. For as bad as everyone feels he feels the worse. I don’t need to tell him any more than that.”
After 41 minutes without a shot on target from either team it looked questionable if there would ever be a breakthrough as both defences scrapped well, but a clumsy intervention from Robert Huth ensured the deadlock ended.
The Germany defender barged into Andy Carroll he looked to challenge for Jose Enrique’s cross, and referee Mike Jones awarded a just penalty, despite Stoke’s protests.
Skipper Kevin Nolan stroked home his third of the season as Thomas Sorensen dived the wrong way.
His celebration, wheeling away to the Leazes End doing an impression of a chicken, cheeks puffed out, was questionable, but his finish wasn’t.
This was a test for United. Boss Chris Hughton says the season will be defined by home results, and the defeat last time out at St James’s Park against Blackpool raised fears, that were quickly quelled by away wins at Everton and Chelsea.
Stoke improved after the break and finally mounted some sustained pressure which led to Jones’ deserved equaliser.
Pullis’ men gathered a head of steam but taking control on the hour. First they hit the woodwork twice. Jones hit the post with a header, and when the rebound fell to sub Ricardo Fuller he poked with under pressure from Williamson.
Then Jones again caused havoc when Dean Whitehead curled in a free kick to the back post and the former Sunderland striker rose to head against the bar. That was cue for Stoke to grow in confidence and start to impose their direct game on Newcastle.
Chris Hughton hauled off Hatem Ben Arfa, and Stoke sensed their chance. Conceding free kicks around the box against such a muscular side is dangerous, and that was Newcastle’s undoing.
Matthew Etherington’s in swinger was headed back across goal by Robert Huth who out jumped James Perch. Jones peeled off Andy Carroll and had a free header into the net.
The £9 million Trinidad and Tobago target-man has already notched four this season, including three games in a row now, and his move away from the North East has given him a new lease of life.
Delap’s long throw then chipped away at Newcastle’s resistance, wearing down the defence and putting doubts in minds before a stunningly bad own goal by James Perch.
The right back was marking Huth as Etherington swung over a dangerous corner, which Perch dived to head spectacularly into his own net.
