United can't win 'em all
THERE were a lot of reasons to win at Oakwell – 6,987 to be precise.
That was the number of Newcastle United fans who travelled to Barnsley on Saturday.
Their team, however, was to be denied an eighth successive win in agonising fashion, Bobby Hassell levelling three minutes from time to claim a point for Mark Robins' side.
To Chris Hughton's players, the result felt like a defeat, but if they were down as they left the field, they just had to look up at the packed North Stand, and the overspill in the West Stand, where every single away supporter was on their feet, applauding them off.
They might have been down, but as those fans reminded them, they were far from out.
After all, you can't win them all, not least in the Championship.
And the result still stretched their lead at the top of the division to eight points, though second-placed West Brom can narrow that tonight when they take on QPR at The Hawthorns.
Given the results we've seen in recent weeks, a home win is far from a formality.
Back to Oakwell, and long after the final whistle, the 40-strong away convey of coaches and minibuses was still snaking around the stadium.
Despite the frustration of Hassell's equaliser, those on board were still in high spirits, with Newcastle still seemingly on course for a Premier League return.
The belief, it seems, is as strong on the terraces as it is in Hughton's tight-knit dressing room.
For 45 minutes, United – who took a sixth-minute lead through Kevin Nolan's 10th goal of the season – were comfortable.
There wasn't any swashbuckling attacking, but that hasn't been a hallmark of Hughton's side away from home, where they tend to invite teams to test them before hitting them on the break.
Barnsley couldn't fashion much in the way of chances before the break, despite spells of possession, while the visitors could have added to their early advantage.
But that all changed in the second half, when they tore into Newcastle, winning a couple of early corners before Anderson de Silva broke down the right to cross for Emil Hallfredsson at the far post, who shot past the advancing Steve Harper into the roof of the net.
United were stunned, and Jose Enrique made a crucial goal-line clearance to stop a Ryan Shotton effort.
The momentum was with the home side, yet Newcastle – as so often on the travels – got a goal against the run of play, substitute Marlon Harewood scoring what looked to be the winner 10 minutes before time, with Carroll, back doing what he does best on the pitch, again the provider.
Hassell, however, gave Barnsley a point which they arguably deserved, such was their second-half dominance.
After the last of the coaches had passed the players' entrance, Hughton's side emerged, Dublin their destination for their Christmas party.
They had set off for Edinburgh last season on the back of the same scoreline, with former United defender Abdoulaye Faye having earned Stoke City a draw at St James's Park.
Then, with relegation fears increasing by the week, there was little, in supporters' eyes, for the players to be celebrating.
Thankfully, this time they've earned the right to party, albeit briefly, before getting back to work.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
