Our pre-season’s a success says Hughton

Jul 27 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

THERE was good news for Newcastle United supporters after their team humiliated at Brisbane Road on Saturday: Pre-season is going very well.

The Magpies were humbled and embarrassed when a first-choice side – save for the injured Nicky Butt and the rested Steve Harper – were beaten 6-1 at Leyton Orient.

But having banned his players from speaking after the game, caretaker manager Chris Hughton insisted that football-wise, Saturday’s “blip” apart, Newcastle’s pre-season has been a success.

Newcastle had a 100% record in pre-season before the weekend, but their defensive deficiencies were laid bare by a League One side assembled without a transfer fee being paid.

Playing for a club with no manager, no captain, no new signings and effectively no owner is a difficult task, but some of their lamentable defending made a mockery of Hughton’s post-match comments.

“This is probably the only blip we’ve had pre-season, it’s gone very, very well,” he said.

“We’ve managed to limit the injuries we’ve had. Apart from Nicky Butt with his thumb we’ve got a full compliment of players which means we’re certainly doing something right in pre-season.

“There isn’t anybody that’s showed in training or the games up until Saturday that they’re not very much behind me. It was just a day to forget.

“It was a real down and a real disappointment but for every part of pre-season so far the group’s been a good group and it’s going to have to be.

“It’s a very tough division with tough places to go, more games and, as we’ve seen in the last few seasons, the quality is very, very high.”

Hughton forged his reputation as a

coach, and has shown little inclination for management. Nevertheless, he says he has been enjoying his third stint as United’s caretaker boss in under a year.

“Up until 3 o’clock on Saturday I’ve very much enjoyed the challenge,” he said.