Splash the cash Ash, or risk blowing promotion
AS the dust settles on this absorbing contest, one question remains unanswered.
It's not whether Newcastle United, and for that matter West Bromwich Albion, are fit to grace the Premier League, as this pulsating game answered that one.
Instead, it's just how deep is owner Mike Ashley willing to dig into his pockets to ensure they get there, as there's a long, long way still to go in the Championship.
Ashley was at St James's Park last night to see a contender for the league's game of the season.
The match went from end to end for 90 minutes, and bettered many seen in the top flight so far this season.
There's no doubt that Newcastle, if they can keep those 11 players fit between now and the end of the campaign, will be promoted, but that's a big if, and doesn't Chris Hughton know it.
That's not forgetting that one of that team is now officially again a Manchester United player – Danny Simpson.
Hughton needs signings, and he needs them this month. However, will Ashley stump up the cash to ensure United have the strength in depth to see out the rest of the season?
Newcastle haven't been badly hit by injuries so far, but how long can that good fortune last, not least because United, until Saturday at least, are fighting on two fronts.
Already, Hughton has lost out on two players understood to have previously been keen to come to St James's Park – Matthew Kilgallon and Jermaine Beckford – and he's in danger of losing out on a third in Simpson, talks on a permanent move having broken down last week.
Simpson, up against a tricky opponent in Jerome Thomas, gave everything for the cause before hobbling off late in the game to an ovation from St James's Park.
But Newcastle's spirit was best typified by goalscorer Peter Lovenkrands, who had suffered the lowest of lows just two days after the high of scoring a hat-trick against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup last Wednesday.
Lovenkrands had returned to Tyneside the day before the game having had a short spell of compassionate leave in his native Denmark after the death of his father Bent.
No one would have expected Lovenkrands to return so quickly, yet he did, and the forward honoured his father with another memorable goal.
The celebration was emotional, a tearful Lovenkrands running to United's fans with one arm pointing to the heavens, and the other touching his chest.
It added poignancy to a tremendous game, the like of which hasn't been seen at St James's Park in a while, with Newcastle, above all, having scrapped and fought their way through a gruelling and tortuous few months.
Hughton's side had earlier come from behind, Danny Guthrie cancelling out Jonas Olsson's early opener with a stunning free kick which left goalkeeper Scott Carson with no chance.
Roman Bednar sent Roberto Di Matteo's side back into the lead early in the second half, but Lovenkrands, fittingly, ensured United got the point they deserved.
They could have taken all three – referee Paul Taylor missing a blatant late foul on Andy Carroll in the box in injury time – but even Hughton acknowledged that would have been harsh on West Brom.
The two sides, of course, have to do it all again in the FA Cup at The Hawthorns on Saturday. But it's unlikely it'll be any better than this.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Simpson (R Taylor, 86), S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique; Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez; Lovenkrands, Ameobi (Carroll, 78). Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Butt, Pancrate, Ranger.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Carson; Jara, Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Koren, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas; Bednar (Miller, 64). Subs not used: Kiely, Cox, Moore, Mattock, Zuiverloon, Teixeira.
Goals: Olsson 13, Guthrie 25, Bednar 46, Lovenkrands 53
Bookings: Tamas 18, Bednar 54, Olsson 60, Jara 62, Ameobi 74, Dorrans 75
Sent off: None
Attendance: 39,291
Referee: Paul Taylor (Enfield)
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Friday 25 May 2012
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