weallloveleeds.co.uk
  • Latest
  • Fixtures/Results/Table
  • Have Your Say
  • Meet the team
  • Contact Us
  • Links

Undercover at St James' Park

6/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Myself and my friend Dan, a big fan of Newcastle United had planned since the football fixtures had come out to come up to Newcastle to watch the game between our favourite teams, but as the best laid plans often do, the movement of the game to Good Friday and another bloody Sky game curtailed that.

So undeterred we still came up and if gave me a chance to have a look at our next opponents, a kind of 'scouting trip' with beer.

I also got the opportunity to see Luke Murphy (he's on loan at Burton) and the legend that is Luke Varney, ex-Leeds, Ipswich etc, he's had a few clubs since leaving the Theatre of Everlasting Hope.

We set off Wednesday morning bright and early to travel to see Newcastle's last fixture before they play the Mighty Whites. It was against Burton Albion who surprised our nearest, not dearest neighbours Huddersfield Town last Saturday with a 1-0 injury time win. A Transpennine express got us up to Newcastle, our travel aided by a Dark Fruits and Jack Daniels!

Travelodge found and booked in we went to have a look around St James Park pre-game and without doubt it's an old ground but still a place that has been Premier League for a number of years. I'd been before but it was a charity football match akin to Soccer Aid.

Picture
My mate Dan and the statue of Sir Bobby Robson.

Dressed and fed we set off back up to St James' ready for the game, Newcastle were expecting to beat Burton easy. However, I thought that Burton might get lucky and hopefully pinch a point.

Newcastle's line up is pretty impressive, solid at the back, two full backs that like to attack, industrious in midfield, where Shelvey is instrumental in most things they do, Diame is the ball winner with Christian Atsu and Matt Ritchie on the wings and a Perez/Gayle attack. The wingers impressed me most and both Luke Ayling and Gaetano Berardi or Charlie Taylor will know they've been in a game with these two, very direct and fast are numbers 30 and 11.

I can see Pontus and Kyle also being busy with Dwight Gayle, who netted twice earlier in the season at ER but his partner Perez isn't the most popular player and most of their fans would choose Daryl Murphy ahead of him.

Without doubt 'The Toon' have a good squad and will definitely go up this season.

The Game...

Newcastle won 1-0 but the story was about one of the strangest incidents I've witnessed at a football match, Newcastle were awarded a penalty when Gayle theatrically went over a outstretched Burton's defenders leg, penalty. Matt Ritchie scored it but the referee disallowed the goal as Gayle had encroached into the penalty area, instead of ordering it to be taken again he gave Burton a free kick much to the annoyance of Rafa and everybody in the stadium.

What a farce! Ritchie netted a superb winner twenty minutes from time, they can be good but can be beaten too, Burton with Luke Varney up front caused them enough problems to make me think Chris Wood might get a little joy from the two centre backs, but he will have to be helped, you can't launch it long and expect him to win it every time.

A great day out and if your coming up try the Strawberry public house just outside the ground, that is if the constabulary let Leeds fans in, a lovely pub and both sets of fans mixed without a bit of trouble. It sells beer and cider in two pint 'Stiens' just in case your thirsty.

Picture
This 'scout' thinks that Leeds are quite capable of rustling a few magpie feathers next Friday evening.

MOT

By Keith Ingham

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    As featured on NewsNow: Leeds United newsLeeds United News 24/7

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    RSS Feed

    This is an image from weallloveleeds.co.uk, the leading fans site for Leeds United
    Follow @weallloveleedsu
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Latest
  • Fixtures/Results/Table
  • Have Your Say
  • Meet the team
  • Contact Us
  • Links