Who's really out of Toon?

Newcastle fans seem to sum up a change in the mindset of football fans across the land in recent years. A noticeable shift from passion to outright bitterness. A move from support to hostile attack on their own clubs and representatives both on and off the field of play.

It could be that in a world that depends increasingly on electronic or virtual communication, people now see little difference in venting their frustration at the TV or via online outlets and spewing hatred in the faces other human beings.

The Geordies are a case in point as the club continues to underachieve. Some of them are even  cheering on Rangers as they try to get back into the Scottish Premier League - the sooner that happens, the sooner owner Mike Ashley is likely to sell up and ship out. 

But will that ultimately benefit the Magpies? And is their current plight all down to Ashley? Should those fans take a long look at their own behaviour and ask what sort of negative contribution they've made themselves?

Ashley (via a club statement) stated earlier this season that he has no intention of selling the Tyneside outfit for at least two years. The statement read:

“The truth is Mike Ashley remains committed to Newcastle United. For the avoidance of doubt, this means that for the remainder of this season and at least until the end of next season, Mike Ashley will not, under any circumstances, sell Newcastle United at any price. The club cannot be stronger in stating its position on this matter.”

Coincidentally The Gers should be back in the Scottish Premiership by then. They may have problems at the moment (and over-turning the thirteen point lead promotion favourites Hearts have over them is a massive one), but assuming they can keep their financial heads above water, there is no doubt they can again become the sort of cash cow Ashley loves.

Imagine it. One other major rival for the title and the two domestic cup competitions each year. Guaranteed Champions League pay-outs every season and a home support that are every bit as loyal and nutty as the mugs on Tyneside ... oh, and a chance to start again in an industry in which he has developed experience and understands a little better.

Newcastle is a cash cow itself of course. 

More than 50,000 turn up at St. James' Park and while they are in the Premier League the money will continue to roll in. All Ashley has to do is ensure the club's status in the top flight by buying players of sufficient quality to stay there.

There is also the odd possibility of improving the balance sheet by selling on staff who exceed expectations. 'Staff' because it's not just selling players like Andy Carroll or Yohan Cabaye that add to the coffers - the compensation paid for the services of long-suffering manager Alan Pardew won't have done any harm either.

Palace have reportedly shelled out in excess of two million quid for Pardew, although Ashley might well feel it's not enough - given that he now finds himself on the front line again as his former manager had been taking a lot of the vitriol that would have otherwise been directed at him.

And maybe it's the abuse he received from the Toon Army that is the root cause of the owner's seeming lack of desire to win things.

Ashley famously started his tenure standing in the Gallowgate and downed pints in local pubs with the fans, naively believing he could be one of the them. 

Owners and directors of professional football clubs can never take on that mantle. 

As soon as things go awry - as they inevitably will for every team at some stage - the punters look for someone to blame and the suits from the boardroom are usually next in line to be targeted after the manager.

Pardew himself cited unacceptable abuse aimed at his family during a lengthy losing streak this season and if anyone believes that sort of treatment can be easily shrugged off and forgotten, they are fooling only themselves. 

Who among us would shake the hand of someone who had spat venom at our loved ones? Family comes first for all of us surely?

The feelings of those particular Newcastle fans certainly won't have registered with Pardew when Palace came calling and they may also have soured his feelings towards the vast majority of the club's support.

Maybe it's a similar situation for Ashley. 

Having spent over one hundred million pounds bailing the club out and getting it onto a sound final footing, the fans turned on him because the team wasn't living up to expectations. 

Expectations of what? 

Newcastle have been one of - if not THE - biggest underachieving clubs in English football since the mid-1950s. One 'real' trophy in 1969 when they won the Inter City Fairs Cup - the weaker (if you can believe it) fore-runner to the UEFA Cup.

So again; expectations of what? 

Coming second in the Premier League as they did under Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish in successive seasons in the nineties? Losing the four FA Cup finals or the one League Cup final they have appeared in since that 'heady' European win in 1969?

Don't misunderstand. If the Toon actually won something, there will be one hell of a wonderful party and they'll drink the city dry. It would be great to see that happen, but have they hindered their own success to a certain extent?

Ashley may well have been in it for the long term when he took over. He may have been thinking logically about building for the future. Unfortunately football fans are merely a microcosm of the rest of society - a society that expects instant gratification - and when you mix malice and vitriol to unrealistic, immediate expectation and serve it up to men like Ashley, don't expect sweetness and light in return.

The Sports Direct chief may not be able to walk away as easily as Pardew, but he has a history of serving up cold dishes to business rivals and this is what the Toon Army may have been feasting on and might continue to munch on for some time yet.

And will the players themselves fancy rising to the challenge of Premier League games after facing the hostility thrown their way following Saturday's FA Cup exit at Leicester? The club is still thirteen points from avoiding relegation if the forty point benchmark is to be used.

Mike Ashley knows how to make money, of that there is little doubt. He has a dazzling reputation in the City for turning tat into gold and knows his own worth, but he may well have lost any interest in turning football's pig's ear into a silk purse.

Mismanagement of Newcastle from the boardroom and selling supporters short is a tradition and has been since Wor Jackie Milburn hung up his boots. In fact even the great Milburn (a loyal Newcastle legend who has arguably done more for the Toon than any other man) advised his young nephew Bobby Charlton to give the club a body swerve! 

How things could have been so different if Milburn had persuaded the Charlton boys to pull on the black and white stripes. But Milburn was no mug and he too put his family first.

A long line of club custodians have been happy to pick the pockets of the faithful and misguided supporters while offering little in return. Only Sir John Hall (in tandem with Keegan) showed what the club is capable of achieving - his son was the polar opposite of his father and Ashley in a business sense. 

So why should Ashley be any different to those who preceded him? Especially if he feels his initial 'generosity' was thrown back in his face.

The Toon Army might be eagerly anticipating the day Ashley sells up and buys Rangers, but they should be careful what they wish for as he may not have their best interests at heart given the way he feels they have treated him and - more importantly - his family.

Who knows? If he sells the club to people with the financial acumen and ability of the characters who ran Portsmouth and Leeds into the ground, the Geordie faithful may just look enviously to regular Champions League football in Glasgow and wonder what could have been if they had been a little less hostile.

  

Walsall 0 Coventry City 2

Jim O'Brien was Captain Fantastic as he scored a belter before setting up another to seal a derby win.

Skipper O'Brien scored his fourth goal of the season with a screamer in the sixth minute when he  fired in from 25 yards shot to the right of the area past helpless keeper Richard O'Donnell and into the far top corner.

O'Donnell was a Saddlers hero for less than one minute before O'Brien's stunning opener.

Winger O'Brien was sent sprawling in the box by back-tracking striker Romaine Sawyers, but O'Donnell saved Marcus Tudgay's penalty with his feet.

But Tudgay made amends in the 87th minute when he sealed the win by heading O'Brien's corner past a static Walsall defence from ten yards for his first Sky Blue's goal since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in the summer.

Delighted Coventry boss Steven Pressley was delighted said:

"The mentality of the group was outstanding. It wasn't just a great performance, it was a wonderful result and both sides played with a real intensity."

Skipper O'Brien turned defender in the tenth minute to deflect a twenty yard shot from opposite number James Baxendale safely into the arms of stopper Ryan Allsop.

And within one minute Allsop did well to save a 22 yard free kick from winger Andy Forde at the base of his right post.

Allsop produced two great saves within seconds of each other in the 52nd minute when he beat away Baxendale's low shot from the edge of the box before getting up to block striker Tom Bradshaw's attempt to turn in the rebound.

Furious Walsall manager Dean Smith blasted:

"The way we started the game meant we ended up chasing it. It's disappointing, but it doesn't kill the season.

"We'll talk to the players on Monday, iron it out and start again."

Cheltenham Town 0 Newport County 1

Chris Zebroski returned to haunt his old club and keep County's promotion push on track.

Striker Zebroski had an unhappy six month spell at Whaddon Road two years ago, but was all smiles after netting his seventh goal of the season in the eleventh minute.

Midfielder Adam Chapman laid the ball off to the unmarked Zebroski in a central position just outside the box and he drilled a well placed low shot past helpless keeper Trevor Carson.

County have now won five from their last six games as they edge closer to the automatic promotion places, but manager Justin Edinburgh said:

"We had to put our bodies on the line today.

"I thought we rode our luck slightly in the first half, but we were resilient in the second half and once we get in front we're hard to beat."

Cheltenham should have taken the lead in the third minute.

Striker Terry Gornell hit the inside of the post from twelve yards and as winger Omari Sterling-James dithered with the ball stuck under his feet inches from the line, keeper Jamie Stephens fell on it to snuff out the danger.

County responded one minute later, but former Robins hitman Shaun Jeffers curled his fourteen yard strike over the bar from the left side of the box. 

Stephens pulled off two more great saves in the first half as Cheltenham pressed for an equaliser.

In the 20th minute Gornell shrugged off two defenders to dart into the area only to see the alert Stephens save his close range effort with his feet. 

And six minutes before the break the keeper needed to beat away a stinging twenty yard drive from the nippy Sterling-James.

Ten minutes after the restart the Robins were fortunate not to go further behind.

Chapman saw a goal bound 22 yard drive deflected inches wide and central defender Ismail Yakubu had a header cleared off the line by midfielder Matt Richards.

On the hour both teams came close to scoring.

Zebroski had a dipping shot saved by Carson and Sterling-James raced past three defenders, but saw his effort fly narrowly wide of the upright.

In the 91st minute central defender Darren Jones sealed a man of the match performance by timing a last ditch tackle perfectly as striker Harry Williams ran in on goal.

Cheltenham boss Paul Buckle is still waiting for his first win six games after taking over from Mark Yates, but said:

"I'm absolutely gutted because I thought we were very good today.

"I'm thrilled with the players and their work rate. There were pluses all over the field.

"They're fifth and we're nineteenth, but there wasn't a gulf between the sides." 

Oxford United 0 Shrewsbury Town 2

Mark Ellis celebrated fatherhood in style by sending the Shrews to the top of the table.

Defender Ellis added Shrewsbury's second by nodding in a left wing corner from skipper Liam Lawrence at the far post for his first league goal of the campaign in the eighteenth minute.

Manager Micky Mellon then revealed:

"He had a baby daughter just before Christmas so it's a profitable time for him at the moment. You'll have to ask his missus, but he must be doing something right.

"We came out of the traps quickly and I'm really pleased with the lads. We're delighted to be top, but we won't get carried away."

Jim Collins had opened the scoring five minutes earlier.

Scott Vernon picked out co-striker Collins with a low left wing cross and the former Swindon hit man side-footed home his eleventh strike of the season from six yards as keeper Ryan Clarke was left exposed by his defence.

Ordinary Oxford were always second best and stopper Jayson Leutwiler shut them out on the few occasions they ventured forward.

One minute after Ellis's goal Leutwiler did well to get down to a low fourteen yard shot from striker Danny Hylton and five minutes later he pushed a thirty yard free kick from Michael Collins past his post.

Collins nearly sealed a first half brace in the 40th minute, but dragged his low shot just wide of Clarke's far post from the left side of the box.

Oxford then ran out of ideas as Shrewsbury replaced Sunday's opponents Wycombe as league leaders.

Central defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival came close to adding a third when he rattled the bar with an eight yard header from another Lawrence corner eight minutes after the break.

And in the 69th minute striker Bobby Grant curled a twenty yard effort inches over the bar.

Us boss Michael Appleton heard his team jeered off at half time and on the final whistle but said:

"Sometimes you just have to give credit to the opposition and today they were the better team. You can't be too critical when you come up against a team as strong as theirs. They are top of the table for a reason.

"We also lost both our full backs to injury and you can't account for something like that. It was a learning experience and the lads are intelligent enough to use it going forward."

Cheltenham Town 1 Portsmouth 1

Nigel Atangana's greatest moment in football was tinged by personal sadness.

French midfielder Atangana, 25, netted his first professional goal for Pompey's 56th minute equaliser, but then revealed his distress at learning of the tragic death of close pal Aurelia Taton, also 25. He said:

"I lost a very good friend last week. She died in a car crash on Sunday night. She was a school friend of mine and would always call me after games to ask me whether I had played or scored.

"I scored in a reserve game on Tuesday and again today and so they are for her, she was a beautiful person.

"I'm a Christian and I prayed to God that I would score in her memory and so when I scored, that was the main reason I was happy."

Atangana is relieved that Aurelia's faith in him is finally paying off. He revealed:

"I signed for Havant at the end of October last year and it was a very good move as I scored goals. I had to take my chance, I think it was my last chance. 

"I tried to make it in France and Spain, so when a big club like Portsmouth signed me it was very exciting. It's a very big club and I know that if they hadn't had problems, they wouldn't have been in this division and I wouldn't have got this chance. I really want to repay them."

Boss Andy Awford was pleased with the point, but needed confirmation from the Pompey faithful and explained:

"I didn't realise it had gone in unto our supporters behind the goal started jumping up and down."  

Omari Sterling-James, 21, also scored his first senior goal to give the Robins a 42nd minute lead and had the chance of a brace moments before Atangana's leveller, but the striker said:

"I've been waiting for my first professional goal and I'm happy I've scored it, but I'm a bit disappointed because I thought we should've won the game. If I'd scored another then they wouldn't have, so it's about fine margins."

Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle watched his side draw their third league game on the bounce and stop the rot that cost predecessor Mark Yates his job and said:

"What we're seeing is a more resilient Cheltenham, but I'm not used to drawing this much as I always set out to win."

Walsall 3 Barnsley 1

Jordan Cook insists that Walsall's promotion push is still on track.

Winger Cook, 24, scored a brace including a spectacular equalising volley after central defender Lewin Nyatanga had given the Tykes a first half lead. He then revealed:

"We were saying as a group that we wanted to be in or around the play-offs by Christmas and we're not far off being there.

"The start of the season was't good enough, but we knew we were and said that we wanted to do something extraordinary. 

"We're climbing the table steadily. Another couple of wins and we'll be flying. You can see the team clicking. There's great promise for a tremendous season, but we're not getting ahead of ourselves.

"With some of the things you see the lads doing in training, we could be playing in a higher league easily."

Cook set up Tom Bradshaw for the Saddlers second before the break and then added the third himself at the death.

Striker Bradshaw, 22, was delighted to hit double figures for the season and said:

"It's my job to score the goals, but a lot of them have been down to the team. I'm going to miss chances, it's when your not getting the chances, that's a worry. 

"I'm happy with my conversion rate this season and it's the first time I've scored ten. To get there by Christmas and be four points off the play-offs is great."

Walsall boss Dean Smith

"This result will give the lads a big boost. There were some pleasing performances out there and it was nice to see Jordan Cook score a couple and get an assist." 

Barnsley manager Danny Wilson said:   

"They scored a 'worldy' for the equaliser. The second goal was down to ourselves - a mixup. The third goal makes it seem there was quite a distance between the two teams and it was far from that."

Cheltenham Town 0 Dover Athletic 1

Connor Essam's late strike rocked the Robins as Conference side Dover caused a major Cup upset.

Former Gillingham defender Essam, 22, lashed in a twelve yard strike after League One outfit Cheltenham failed to clear an 83rd minute corner.

Midfielder Nick Deverdics lifted the ball back into the box, central defender Richard Orlu nodded it on for Essam to pounce and bury his fourth goal of the campaign before saying:

"It's got to be the highlight of my career.

"I was at Crawley playing for John Gregory and he let me move to Dover back in September so I could rebuild my career. The last thing he said was to go and prove him wrong for letting me go. Hopefully I've started doing that today."

Delighted Athletic boss Chris Kinnear said:

"The difference was that they focussed on the money while we focussed on the glory.

"Don't get me wrong, money's important and our Chairman has told me we can afford two extra lights for training in the evening. That means we'll be able to train on half the pitch rather than quarter of it.

"It was a magnificent win though. We didn't play well, but we stayed in the game and willed a win. The players have given one hundred percent for the club and the supporters have a team that'll give them value for money. We're looking forward as a club and maybe this is the start."

Cheltenham keeper Trevor Carson needed to shut out Athletic twice in two first half minutes to spare his side's blushes as the visitors started brightly.

In the sixteenth minute Deverdics lobbed the ball from the left side of the box and forced Carson to back-peddle and tip the ball over the bar.

Stefan Payne then set co-striker Tom Murphy away on the right and the hospital admin worker cut into the area before drilling in a low shot that Carson did well to beat away at his near post.

Those close calls seemed to wake the Cheltenham up.

Six minutes later full back Craig Braham-Barrett raced down the left flank and shrugged off the attention of Essam before running along the byline to make stopper Andrew Rafferty beat his angled shot away.

Cheltenham did manage to get the ball in the net before the break, but striker Terry Gornell's far post header was chalked off as the ball was ruled to be out of play before winger Kane Ferdinand sent over the cross.

Tom Bonner blew a great chance to put Dover ahead ten minutes into the second half when the ball dropped to him after a goal mouth scramble, but the central defender managed to clear the bar with his nine yard shot.

And Payne should have done better when he received the ball on the left side of the box in the 64th minute, but lamely chipped the ball into Carson's arms.

Murphy then tried to break the deadlock less than four minutes later with a twenty yard strike that stung Carson's hands as both teams pressed to avoid a replay.

Winger Tyrone Sterling then gave Cheltenham a warning of what was to come when he hit the outside of the post with a fourteen drive from the left less than a minute before Essam's winner.

Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle was left stunned after only his second game in charge following Mark Yates dismissal two weeks ago. He said:

"I'm bitterly disappointed for the supporters and the board. It was a golden opportunity to make it into the third round. We've got to take it on the chin.

"I'd like to congratulate Dover first and foremost. I've had enough good Cup runs to know how they're feeling."

Oxford United 2 Tranmere Rovers 2

Jason Koumas was hoping to star on the telly, but would settle for a great repeat.

Former West Brom and Cardiff winger Koumas, 35, came off the bench in the second half to secure a replay for Tranmere before revealing:

"As soon as I scored, I thought I can't wait to see that one on Match of the Day. The last time a goal of mine featured was about four and half years ago when I scored at Villa Park for Wigan."

But the ex-Wales international also fancies a re-run one of Tranmere's greatest Cup adventures. He grinned:

"I wouldn't mind having a run like we had during my first spell with the club. In 2001 we beat Everton, but lost to Liverpool in the quarter finals."

Koumas also revealed he has no intention of retiring any time soon. He said:

"I love playing and training - I really love it. I'm taking my coaching badges and trying to help bring on the younger lads at the club, but I still have a lot to offer on the pitch."

Tranmere manager Micky Adams was delighted for Koumas and said:

"He's a great kid - well he's a kid to someone like me! 

"I had a little fancy for him that as the game opened up it was right for him to make a stamp on the game and so it proved."

Striker Cole Stockton opened the scoring for Tranmere in the first half before loanee hit man Tyrone Barnett bagged a brace to put Oxford ahead after the break.

Barnett, 29, then said:

"My loan deal is up after the next game against Bury, but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Oxford win the replay and get a good draw against a top club in the next round. The players, staff and fans here deserve it. It's a great place."

And Oxford boss Michael Appleton said:

"We've got Tyrone Barnett for just one more game before he goes back to Peterborough and he's showing everyone now what he can do.

"I just hope some other club doesn't now reap the benefit of a fit and strong Tyrone Barnett because he's got there through being with us."

Cheltenham Town 1 Oxford United 1

Tyrone Barnett listened to expert advice from keeper Ryan Clarke to earn Oxford a deserved point.

Striker Barnett, 29, is on loan from Peterborough until January and finally beat excellent stopper Trevor Carson with his third goal of the season before revealing: 

"He had a brilliant game and had stopped me from a similar position early on. As we came out for the second half Ryan whispered to me that he'd noticed their keeper had a habit of spreading himself when he rushed out.

"It was good advice and so I put the ball between his legs. I don't think he'll get an assist though."

And honest hit man Barnett admitted:

"I probably have half the number of goals I expected to get by this stage off the season, but hopefully I'll kick on from here."

Cheltenham opened the scoring in Paul Buckle's first game after succeeding Mark Yates who was sacked last Monday and defender Jack Deaman claimed the former Torquay manager had an immediate impact.

Deaman, 21, teed up Byron Harrison for his seventh goal of the season and said:

"It was a pretty straightforward goal. Byron did really well to put it away, but the build up was simple and the boss had told us to keep it that way. Sometimes you can over-complicate things, but if you keep it simple it's likely to get you results."

Buckle was delighted with his new team and said:

"I’d like the boys a bit fitter. We had a few go down with cramp, but that shows me they gave everything. In January we need to add and help this squad, but they’ve been brilliant."

Oxford chief Michael Appleton said:

"It should've been six points with the number of chances we had! I'm disappointed in the result, but everything else I'm delighted with."

Bristol City 0 Preston North End 1

Callum Robinson has two targets: Silverware for Preston and a hand in Kevin Davies's 150th career goal.

Villa rookie Robinson, 19, scored his fifth goal in seven starts to keep the Lilywhites promotion push on track and condemn City to only their second reverse this season before revealing:

"I'm only a young player learning my trade and when you have class acts like Kevin around it makes it easier. He's a gentleman too."

Former Bolton and England striker Davies fluffed his lines when Robinson set him up in the second half, but Robinson said:

"It'll come, I have no doubts. When it does I want to be there to play my part. He had a chance of it last week In Cup against Havant, but he let me take a penalty for my hat trick instead. That says a lot about him."

Robinson extended a one month loan deal at the beginning of the campaign until January and said:

"If Villa don't need me it makes sense for me to stay at Preston and help them try and get promoted. That would be brilliant for someone of my age. I'm already full of confidence and I've learned so much playing at this level.

"Obviously I want to play at the highest level possible, but I'm loving every minute at the moment."

Delighted North End boss Simon Grayson joked:

"It'll be nice if we can go up and Bristol can follow us. They have a great side. It was a case of two good teams going head to head."

Manager Steve Cotterill shrugged off City's second successive defeat and said:

"All in all, I'm very proud of these players. I'll take the second half performance and the first fifteen from the first half. We'll get these points back by the end of the season."