Newcastle United 2 West Brom 3

Newcastle United failed to win again last night however it wasn’t for the lack of trying. Roy Hodgson’s West Brom came to Newcastle full of confidence after their late win against Blackburn Rovers last weekend through a Peter Odemwingie thunderbolt. Newcastle looked fragile all day without Yohan Cabaye who was out through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at home to Swansea at the weekend. I however would not say Harris Vuckic was the cause of the problem but Newcastle’s usually top performer Cheik Tiote and even the so often remarkable Tim Krul were far from at their best all evening. Tiote would be the catalyst for west Brom’s first goal stuttering over the ball before playing a stupid pass in search of Obertan allowing West Brom to break with pace and a wonderful ball through from the outside of Chris Brunt’s left boot allowed Peter Odemwingie to race away from Colocinni, placing beyond Krul with an inch perfect left strike into the bottom left corner for 1-0. Newcastle had the ball in the net soon after through Demba Ba but Leon Best who nodded it back down to him was in a offside position for once meaning the goal would not stand. They were however level on the half hour when their prolific centre forward Demba Ba smashed home a powerful free kick which Ben Foster got a glove to but was helpless to stop it hitting the back of the net. It was 1-1 and everything to play for. Newcastle may have been dominating but again clumsy as Demba Ba came back to defend only to concede a free kick for his efforts. A poorly defended set piece would be then the undoing of the toon army has Krul came then didn’t come meaning when the ball was headed across goal he was nowhere to be seen and McAuley had the easiest of goals to open his Premier League account. Vuckic who had been the real creative force for United in the first half burst through and his tremendous left footed strike deserved a goal but smashed agonizingly off the underside of the bar and the post before an off balance Demba Ba headed over. The Geordies were behind 2-1 at the break and a frustrated full house of supporters sat expectant of a better performance in the second half.

Ryan Taylor entered the fray for Davide Santon which I thought irregular but post match learned it was due to a knee injury. West Brom looked the more likely to score and Shane Long came agonizingly close after going round Tim Krul but could only hit the bar as he went to lob the ball over last man back James Perch. A let off for Newcastle  but had they learned their lesson. Newcastle fans chanted the name of Hatem Ben Arfa  and they got what they desired with the try hard get nowhere Leon Best being replaced to allow the little Frenchman to enter the battle. He made an instant impact by winning a corner after showing off some of his silky skills. It was his lay off in the end which allowed Demba Ba  to smash Newcastle level in the 81st minute and from there on in there it looked like Newcastle would be the only winners. Vuckic nearly did it with his thunderbolt of strike tipped over the bar by Ben Foster. The kid had done good but unfortunately for him the defence had not learned their lesson and piled forward leaving the flanks vacant for speedy Shane Long to run into and it would be his looped cross that Tim Krul should have came for but again did not and as a result would be headed down to Paul Scharner to score a late winner as the Austrian stretched out a leg and volleyed home. They had not learned their lesson as Ryan Taylor had ventured out of position. Tiote then came close to scoring off a Ben Arfa cross but it was well saved at the near post by Ben Foster.

West Brom are now flying and played some nice football to go with it while Newcastle must win now on Monday really to save their good start of the season.

By Ste Smith

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson:

“It was remarkable to come back again and get the third goal. We squandered good opportunities in the first half, although they weren’t clear-cut.

“We were solid defensively and worked very, very hard. If Shane [Long] had not hit the crossbar then life would have been more comfortable.

“It’s been misfortune more than anything as to why we have not won as many points at home as we have away.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew:

“You would have expected us to win after we got back to 2-2. They had a bit of fortune for their third goal.

“We were cheap with possession at times.

“Maybe the win is playing on our minds – we want that under our belts. We were desperate at times. We have to be more patient and more controlled. We were throwing numbers forward and got caught at times.”

Man of the Match

Shane Long caused the Newcastle captain Fabricio Colocinni so many problems yesterday it was quite unbelievable as he has never seemed to be troubled to a great extent all season long. I would say he did a good job at sticking two fingers up to Alan Pardew and the Newcastle borard who came to the decision he would not worth the money during the summer. He deserved a goal and came so close but it was obvious why he has managed to find the net so often.