Guthrie: Fans can fire us to victory

Oct 7 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DESPITE an early season characterised by the flowing football which is Newcastle United’s trademark, Danny Guthrie has told fans to get used to 1-0 wins.

The Magpies have won twice by that margin at St James’s Park this season, and the 22-year-old midfielder expects plenty more as teams travel to the North East determined to defend.

Guthrie, though, believes the club’s passionate support will allow them to prevail more often than not.

Saturday’s goalless home draw with Bristol City saw Newcastle become the last Championship team to fail to find the net in a match this term, and Guthrie has warned things will not get any easier. “We’ve scored quite a few goals and won quite a few games 1-0, especially at home,” he said.

“I think that will happen more as the season goes on. Teams are really difficult to break down, like on Saturday.

“That game was so frustrating because we had the chances and missed them. But I think we’re going to get games like that and we’ve just got to accept it. Last season there weren’t enough goals around the team. This season everybody seems to be chipping in.

“We’re going to need that for the rest of the season. It just takes a bit of pressure off the lads up front.

“Midfielders these days should be aiming to get into double figures and it’s certainly my aim.

“You aim to win every game but that’s not going to happen. But especially at home, with the support we have, we expect to win and if not we certainly don’t expect to lose.

“The support is a big factor. Teams raise their game when they come to St James’s but with the fans behind us it’s a big help, especially when it’s 0-0 late on.”

Guthrie was full of praise for the fans of what is comfortably the Football League’s best-supported club.

They were quick to voice their discontent at owner Mike Ashley’s regime in pre-season, but have largely focused on the football since the competitive action began.

“The fans have been right behind us since the first game,” Guthrie explained.

“You get the odd chant (about Ashley) but you just have to ignore that and get on with our own game.

“We hear about all the things going on behind the scenes at the club but when you come into training or turn up on a match day you’re not really thinking about that, it doesn’t really bother you. I think I speak for everyone when I say that. You hear it and see it but it doesn’t really affect anybody.”

Keeping their minds on the job has been made easier by a Championship fixture list which sees teams play almost every weekend and midweek.

But the international break brings a brief respite, with no game until a week on Saturday.

“International breaks are good and bad,” Guthrie reflected.

“You know you’re going to get a couple of days off, which I think everybody needs because they’re going to be tired. But also you know there’s not going to be a game for two weeks.

“I think it’s come at a good time for us because we’ve played a lot of games and the rest will do us good.

“When we’ve had three games in a week I always prefer that because you’re always dying to play the next game and you know it’s only two or three days away. It’s a challenge physically, but I prefer playing – everyone does.

“Even when we went to Blackpool and got beaten, we knew we had a game a couple of days later and it was important to bounce back.

“It’s always good because it’s not lingering about in your system and you can go out a few days later and put things right.”

Newcastle’s quest for goals should be boosted by the return from injury of Shola Ameobi in early December. The striker is making a good recovery from a stress fracture of the foot.

WEST BROM midfielder Chris Brunt has been ruled out for two to three weeks with a calf strain sustained at Preston on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was making only his second appearance since returning from a knee injury but limped off on the hour mark at Deepdale nursing a tight calf.

Scans have now revealed the extent of the injury.

Although he will miss Northern Ireland’s final World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic next Wednesday, the international break means his absence for Albion will be limited.

Championship rivals Sheffield United have also been dealt a fresh injury blow with the news that midfielder Nick Montgomery will be sidelined for two months.

The 27-year-old sustained a knee injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Doncaster at Bramall Lane and it was initially feared that he had suffered cruciate ligament damage.

Although those concerns have been allayed, Leeds-born Montgomery has damaged medial ligaments and has been ruled out of action for at least eight weeks.