What a contrast to last Saturday's efforts or lack of them, a performance full of drive and motivation saw us overcome Newcastle comfortably 3-0. It could have been eight or nine, had our finishing been slightly more clinical; the most comforting thing was the increase in tempo and the way in which everyone worked hard off the ball, pressing and harrying the opposition at every opportunity. I'll try not to mention Rob Styles, he's just a brainless cretin.Our first came from the spot, a clever piece of trickery from Ade saw him create space for a cross which N'Zogbia raised an arm towards, RVP dispatched the penalty. For the handball it was more a penalty than not, however in the context of Coloccini's clear foul from behind on RVP in the third minute that Styles missed, it definitely seemed fair enough. Eboue was looking lively and was strangely cunning in possession, while Denilson looked so much more comfortable with Cesc back in the mix. Nasri adds so much more than Hleb ever did, his directness and ability to go both ways, make him a great addition to the team. RVP and Ade's work rates were up on a week ago, you need everyone at the races week in week out.
The second came after some fantastic dribbling and then a great one two led by Emmanuel Eboue, we then teed up RVP with a perfectly weighted backheel, RVP couldn't miss and didn't. To be fair to the northerners, they had two decent chances, one scuffed by Owen and the other cleared by the crossbar. However to pretend Newcastle deserved anything out of this game would be foolish and something only done by rather inebriated geordies. Several cracking chances went begging in the second half, but a third was added by the deserving Denilson after some sterling unselfish setup play from Ade.
Despite constantly fouling us in a rather cynical fashion, Newcastle couldn't stop us, however that didn't stop them bringing on the half brained halfwit Joey Barton on for the final few minutes. He was greeted by a chorus of boos and did plenty to justify this vociferous reception. His appalling studs up lunge on Nasri was a disgrace and could easily have been a red card, had Styles not been a brainless cretin, deciding it was not even a foul.
The cheeky Nasri then innocuously clipped Barton's heel, and after much appealing from the horrendously ugly Nicky Butt (a man whose face even his mother cannot bear to look at apparently), Styles produced a yellow for Nasri, that's justice in the Premiership for you. Keegan's pathetic over reaction did him no favours after the final whistle, he should have a very hard look at the scum that his club employ before seeking to criticise the most minor of indiscretions in such a manner.
Today we saw a team performance and that was the deciding factor, there was more precision and less delaying in the final third as well, while Newcastle were not allowed to relax in possession for a second. This was not far off the same Newcastle side that fought for a deserved draw at Old Trafford a couple of weeks back. The defence and the lack of strength in depth in midfield are still areas of concern for me if we are to challenge on all fronts, however I never doubted the massive amount of talent in the players that we already had at the club. I think Emmanuel Eboue could become a rather popular figure if he continues to put in performances like he did today on a regular basis, well done Mr Eboue.
