Newcastle United 1, Sheffield Wednesday 0

Aug 20 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

WHERE once there was rancour and rebellion, let there be redemption and rehabilitation.

Newcastle United might have singularly failed to hit the heights of Saturday as they dispatched a spirited but limited Sheffield Wednesday with this unconvincing display, but it was at least another sizeable step in the right direction for those derided and written off in the wake of their shameful relegation.

Chief among those rising from the wreckage of that inglorious demotion is Shola Ameobi, who fired a fourth goal in two games to cap an excellent display and further his burgeoning love affair with a United support who once derided him.

And caretaker boss Chris Hughton deserves some credit too, for there was a definite fighting spirit and solidity in evidence as United repelled Wednesday’s onslaught as the second half wore on.

True Hughton may have been indebted to Steven Taylor – the one player with nothing to prove from last season’s efforts – but United could easily have crumpled in a game that represented the first real examination of their Championship mettle.

The other emerging theme of this encouraging start is the steadfast support of the home supporters. It is testament to the incredibly loyalty of the Newcastle fans that after everything the club has put them through this summer, more than 40,000 thronged the stands of St James’s Park.

Pre-season predictions of mass boycotts, which came from supporters groups as well as those with a long-held scepticism of all things black-and-white, have been proved false as Tyneside warms to the cause of rebuilding a club on its knees.

And no-one could argue that their passion hasn’t been channelled in the right direction either. Sure, the calls for the hated Mike Ashley to sell up were recycled from Saturday but in truth it was trifling compared to the lusty support afforded the players.

What they saw for their troubles was a mixed bag of a performance – stirring and full of gusto in the first half but singularly unconvincing during a nerve-wracking second half.

Perhaps it is a good thing. Ashley might not have been present, but those who attended on his behalf would have come away with the same conclusion as most of the sizeable crowd – that United are in desperate need of reinforcements to continue their solid start to the campaign. And there were, admittedly, plenty of good things to reflect on from a satisfactory first half.

United, roared on by what was remarkably a near-capacity crowd, hurtled out of the blocks propelled by the momentum of Saturday’s stirring victory over Reading – and could have notched a goal within 60 seconds of the start.

With Brian Laws’ Wednesday looking distinctly like a team still taking in their surroundings, Kevin Nolan surged through the midfield and arrowed a rising drive that fizzed just inches over Lee Grant’s crossbar.