Chris Hughton supports fantasy football

Nov 16 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United boss Chris Hughton wants his team to throw off the shackles and become the Championship’s entertainers on their own patch when they return to action after the international break.

United have opened up a six-point gap on the play-off places over the first quarter of the season, acquiring an admirable ability to grind out results when the pressure is on.

They have been similarly solid during a superb run of six wins and two draws at home but, with the exception of the defeats of Peterborough and Reading, Hughton knows that the Magpies have played functional rather than fantasy football in front of their own fans.

That is not a problem on their travels but the United boss admits that both the players and management would like to be more expansive at St James’ Park.

The club’s attacking options will be boosted before the next home game with Swansea by the return of Shola Ameobi, while forward-minded players like Kevin Nolan and Andrew Carroll are in a rich vein of form.

And Hughton believes that should be the signal for his side to begin to really impose themselves on their second-tier rivals.

“I don’t think that it is necessarily the case that someone is due a beating, but we know that we can play better in front

of our own fans,” he said. “The Peterborough game was a big step forward on that front. We would like to have scored a few more goals at home and really imposed ourselves on opponents. We have done very well in terms of results and I am delighted with that but I think there is certainly a feeling within the squad that there is more to come from us with our home performances.

“Away from home, I think we will continue to grind out results and that is fine. It is a long season and you don’t complain if you pick up some hard-fought points here and there.”