Still a baby-faced assassin?The predictable platitudes are already forthcoming from within, as Chris Hughton seeks to demonstrate how hurt Newcastle players were by last night’s heavy defeat to Derby County. Despite being denied an apparently legitimate goal in the second half and with some dubious decision from the officials, Hughton refused to blame anyone but the collective in black and white.
Having watched Derby categorically destory our impressive record-breaking unbeaten run in the league, supporters were given a reminder that the Cardiff demolition was perhaps a distraction from the otherwise inauspicious form leading into and out of the Christmas period.
However, Hughton was keen to point out that the results perhaps flattered the hosts, saying:
“It’s a very hurt changing room. The manner of the defeat has hurt them and I’m quite sure there’ll be a desire to turn this around.”
“It’s certainly a big blow. We’ve done something that we haven’t done all season and that’s concede three goals. If you do that then there’s a good chance you’ll lose football matches.”(more…)
This may or may not be the Derby goalscorers...Andy Carroll was already there after being formally charged for assault on Monday but his Newcastle team mates joined him in coming back down to earth with a bump, as our apparent bogey team Derby County turned us over convincingly. After the Friday night demolition of Cardiff, hopes were high of more of the same but Geordie expectations couldn’t have been more spectacularly wrong, with Derby running out 3-0 winners in front of a bumper and boisterous crowd.
Like many, I was restricted to radio commentary and Deb, who was unfortunate enough to be there, will provide us with the gory details all in good time, though some of us may not have the stomach for it. Hughton named an unchanged side, much to the delight of supporters who thought he might revert to a more defensive formation and there was undeniable confidence that we could do some real damage but it all went horribly wrong. (more…)
