Saturday’s match ended Newcastle United 2 Hull City 1.
Ahead of each game we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.
Plenty to talk about after this Hull City one…
A match that saw Newcastle United go two goals up inside the opening seven minutes but end up having a huge battle on in the final quarter of the game to ensure the three points were banked.
Matthias Jaissle went into this huge game with at least nine first team squad players ruled out through injury and needing to bounce back after Monday’s defeat at Leeds.
On this occasion it is ‘Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey…’:
POSITIVES
A win’s a win
Three points.
That’s what we needed and that’s what we got. We look up the table once more.
Positive reaction
The Leeds defeat, the Leeds performance, had us grounded. We were pretty bad at Elland Road, I don’t think anyone is going to disagree with that.
If ever we needed a positive reaction, being two goals to the good before seven minutes was on the clock wasn’t too shabby a response. Joe Willock looks like a man reborn.
As it happens, we ended up desperately needing the cushion that that early lead gave us as the pressure mounted towards the end.
Botman returns
Our Dutch centre half has had a few pelters of late. I thought he was awful against Leeds.
Not today. I thought he looked calm and assured. An accomplished performance from wor Sven, long may it continue.
NEGATIVES
Torture
The last twenty minutes was torture. Maybe the entire second half was?
We had the opportunity to kill the game when Yoane Wissa stepped up to take that penalty at the end of the first half, but his attempt was lame, a spot-kick easily saved by the Greek keeper.
At 2-0 we were still in command but Cho’s strike on 67 minutes made for a frantic and frenetic finale that my blood pressure could have done without.
I don’t like singling out players for criticism and this is a young guy who has just joined Newcastle United.
I also know this will divide opinion, but the lad was poor and offered little, much the same as in his full debut at Leeds. He needs to improve.
International break
Three weeks before we kick a ball in anger. What is that about?
On the one hand, we have time to get the walking wounded (of whom there are a few) back in contention, but on the other, it’s three weeks of kicking our heels.