West Brom 4, Newcastle United 2

Jan 25 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Dumped out of the Cup, their 14-game unbeaten run ended and with their lead at the top of the table shrinking, the confidence United carried into the Christmas programme has ebbed away over the last three weeks. The certainty that characterised the granite spine of Hughton’s team has been chipped away over 180 gruelling minutes.

Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith have bossed Championship midfields throughout this successful campaign, but the task of keeping West Brom’s effervescent engine room under control has stretched two of Newcastle’s most influential players.

These sapping games have taken their toll, too. United lost defensive lynchpins Steven Taylor and Danny Simpson in Monday’s battle of St James’ Park, while on Saturday Shola Ameobi left the Hawthorns with his arm in a sling.

The other Taylor, Ryan, will miss the midweek engagement with Palace when the limitations of United’s threadbare squad will be laid bare for owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias to see.

But for all the insecurity Newcastle may be feeling this morning, they can at least take succour from the fighting spirit shown over 180 minutes against worthy rivals in the race to return to the Premier League.

Second best for 45 agonising minutes, they looked dead and buried at 2-0 down but, summoning reserves of character, United rebounded brilliantly to turn this game on its head.

It was the same a week ago, when a point was rescued through endeavour and fortitude.

Nolan talked after Saturday’s encounter of the respect that had been built up between the two sides over a pair of engaging contests and that, more than anything, should guard against complacency in the long road ahead.

The burning sense of injustice that United and their followers felt at the game’s conclusion should also provide added motivation for the skirmishes that await Hughton’s men in the coming weeks and months.

In the long run, the Newcastle manager may consider his side better out of a competition which they harboured little enthusiasm for this season.

Resources are scant and further progress would put a strain on a promotion bid that dominates the agenda at St James’ Park.

That is only a sacrifice worth making if United clinch their return to the top flight – something that on recent evidence is by no means a sure thing.