Newcastle V Chelsea Febuary 2nd 2013

I listened to Newcastle playing Chelsea at St James Pak on Saturday afternoon February 2nd 2013  on BBC Live 5 via the TV and then watched the whole game as Sky’s match of the day at 8.25 and then the highlights and analysis on Match of the Day. Newcastle started confidently with Gouffran having a shot in the first minute and Cabaye in the third who had two more  attempts in the 21st minute as well as one before in the 19th. However it is Cisse who had the better opportunities in the 4th and 19th, Moussa Sissoko was playing well but no indication of the performance to come. Juan Mata and Frank Lampard for Chelsea were  threatening but as yet finding it difficult to get into the game. I, and I suspect many other supporters in the ground was becoming concerned that with all this dominance but no goals, the team would go behind when Chelsea got themselves into full gear, I have witnessed so many game where if dominance fails to be converted into goals, the game is drawn or lost. A third of the game has passed without an indication of the excitement to come.

There were then two incidents which changed the game. Jonas Gutierrez, who has been captain this season indicated to the club that he wished to return to Argentina for personal reason before the Winter Transfer period but has been persuaded to remain until the end of the season. As if to mark this development he scored a rare goal, with his head, glancing it into the corner beyond the reach of the Chelsea goal keep in the 41st minute. This was fair reward for Newcastle after controlling much of the first half. However this was marred  when  Demba Ba about to head the ball into the Newcastle net received a kick to the nose which in most circumstances would have resulted in a penalty and a sending off. After being patched up he returned to the play but was forced to leave in the 42nd minute to be replaced by £50 million man Torres.

Chelsea were ordered out early onto the pitch at half time and scored two goal in the 55th and 61st minutes which were outstanding and unstoppable. The first by Frank Lampard dipped into the goal and the second from Juan Mata swerved into  the corner, At that point it looked as if  my premonition about playing well but not converting opportunities would prove accurate.  I am not sure when it was the TV commentator made the point that given their recent  arrival, especially Sissoko who not played many games recently their substitution was likely but after a great piece of moving play, the Chelsea goal keeper palmed the ball into the path of the Frenchman who calmly poked the ball into the net away from the goalkeeper in the 67th minute. This lit his and the crowd’s touchpaper and where in fairness the crowd has remained loyal and supportive despite the recent setbacks.

A few minutes later there was the first of two star performance runs by the player. In one, playing on the right hand side of the field he out run and manoeuvred one of the best English defenders to have his shot saved by the goal keeper and  in the other he made another run against a defender on the left side of play to also have his show saved with John terry stopping the corner from Cabaye who than had a  shot coming in from the wing just past the outside of the goal post. Both teams then had chances with Cabaye for Newcastle, Meta and Lampard for Chelsea.

It was then the legend was made when in the 89th minute Moussa Sissoko who had  placed himself in the centre of the play received a pass from the wing and drilled a  powerful  lowball into the back of the net to win the game for Newcastle 3.2. In order that the crowd could show their appreciation the manager substituted Moussa a few seconds later although there was 4  minutes of extra time to defend with two shots having to be saved by the Newcastle goal keeper.

Needless to add the home crowd had become delirious and players did a full lap  of honour around the ground to about a half the stadium who stayed to enjoy the experience. The whole game, the Newcastle win and performance by Sissoko was then praised by all the commentators and news reports. While this is only two wins out of two, for many the season has now begun and relegation no longer appears the threat it still remains.

Next weekend Newcastle are at fourth placed  Spurs and the game is covered by Sky while ESPN are showing the first knock out stage home tie in the Europe League on the 14th with the return leg a week later at 6pm and I have booked a ticket for the 1.30 but not the televised home game against relegation strugglers Southampton on the following Sunday and after that we shall see the progress, (or otherwise) before booking further tickets and with Sunderland, Liverpool and Arsenal coming as visitors and Man City, in form Swansea, relegation fighting QPR and also on the slide West Ham as away fixtures, Wigan and WBA are also away with Fulham and Stoke at home. There are no easy fixtures or points. But the hope, anticipated excitement of a return to glory days which I felt last season, returns.