Away win is a perfect start
A GREAT start to the season – a win and away from home.
If I was going to be overly critical then I could say we should have won by a greater margin.
After the game, manager Steve Bruce said that our failure to convert the many chances in the first half had disappointed him a little.
Maybe had we not left the Reebok Stadium with all three points then those wasted opportunities would be a cause for concern.
But the fact is we did, and as an added bonus, record-signing Darren Bent was the one who found the net.
There were also good displays from fellow new signings Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole.
But for me, more important than any of that was the mindset we took into the game in the first half.
My one major criticism of the team under previous boss Ricky Sbragia was our over-cautious approach.
We seemed to go into games with the sole aim of not getting beat – that was as high as we set our sights.
At Bolton on Saturday, there was none of that.
We went there ready to take the game to the Trotters, and in the first half that's exactly what we did.
OK, so we may have drifted out of things a little in the second period, and had Bolton managed to convert their chances, we could have come away with a draw – no matter how harsh that may have seemed given our display at the start of the encounter.
Too many times in the past, we have allowed ourselves to be bullied by the likes of Bolton.
But there was no sign of that at the weekend.
We set out not only to win the game, but to make a statement, and for long spells it was pretty much backs to the wall for Gary Megson's men.
Like I said in Friday's column, I started the season feeling positive, and as daft as it may sound after just one game, that positivity and optimism has now been joined by a feeling of genuine excitement for the campaign ahead.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not getting carried away.
After all, Chelsea at home tomorrow night could bring us back down to earth with a bump.
But we can worry about that tomorrow, for now we can celebrate or at least allow ourselves a small pat on the back – and even a little smile – at the start we have made.
If we can build on that in the upcoming games then we might have something to cheer about this season.
Keep the Faith.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Newcastle target Barnetta to quit Bayer Leverkusen
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Amalfitano flies into Toon to seal Newcastle deal
- Cats ready to Hammer out McCartney deal
- Teacher died hours after hospital sent her home
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
