EVERYTHING Newcastle United had been warned about looked to be coming true at St James' Park on Saturday. It just made victory all the sweeter.
With the Magpies producing probably their worst performance of the season, it ought to have been the weekend when both English football’s remaining unbeaten records fell. But the day before one United collapsed in a dramatic heap, another rode their luck for the kind of victory Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils have trademarked in recent years.
It was because Newcastle’s football was anything but that the manner of their victory was hugely encouraging.
A scrappy 1-0 win has given manager Alan Pardew problems to ponder, but how to lift his team’s spirits is not one. When their football fails them, that is pulling the Magpies through.
St James’ biggest crowd this season was in expectant mood, despite Pardew outing in the build-up the dangers laying in wait. In hindsight, he ought to have done more than just voice concerns. Altering the side which performed so well in the previous four games might have shaken pre-match complacency, but having made such great play of sticking with those who have earned his loyalty, he may have been unwilling to preemptively strip anyone of their place.
Wigan Athletic pitched up having lost their last five games, but Roberto Martinez set his team up cleverly to counter Newcastle’s threat and with better finishing might have upset the odds.
It took less than six minutes for Tim Krul to produce his first and best save of the match, stretching out his left hand to keep out Victor Moses’ snap volley.
Making his first start since a knee injury, striker Hugo Rodallega showed his rustiness after being released down the inside right channel by David Jones’ beautiful pass. As the South American sliced at the ball you could feel the restlessness from the home fans. While their displeasure sharpened, Rodallega’s finishing did not, putting a good chance into the side netting in the final half-hour.
When Jonás Gutiérrez ignored pleas to shoot and instead over-hit a pass to Yohan Cabaye, the groans went around the stadium, just as Pardew had predicted. “We have to be able to overcome that,” he stressed on Thursday. Eventually his team did.
A minute later, Leon Best finally forced Ali Al Habsi into a save, although the cross was so inviting from Gutiérrez the goalkeeper ought not to have had the luxury. When the striker was replaced by Hatem Ben Arfa at the interval, it was a fair reflection of Newcastle’s first-half display rather than simply his own.
