Hungry Rondon looks worth the dough for Rafa
THERE was a moment in the wake of Salomon Rondon’s second goal when a sudden hush descended on St James’ Park. So good was his header, supporters wanted to relive it again on the big screen, saving their cheer for the impact of ball on net.
And then the ground erupted once more. Not, for once, in protest, dissent or dismay, but united in celebration.
‘It is like this in history,’ began the Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, none of those present entirely sure where he was heading.
‘The Romans had bread and circus and everybody was happy. Now it is football, it is goals and wins.’
Back-to-back home victories and the emergence of a new hero in Rondon and all feels well on Tyneside.
Fans are split over whether to boycott or to ‘boycott the boycott’, which is planned next month in protest against owner Mike Ashley.
Benitez and the players want them inside St James’ and the majority, you feel, will not want to miss the prospect of another centre-forward masterclass from Rondon. ‘I could feel the emotion from the fans after my header, it was special,’ Rondon said.
‘I know that they’re looking for goals from me and in the past they’ve looked up to people like Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
‘After the game, I saw the message to me from Shearer on social media. That’s amazing, that’s what can happen in football.
‘That is also a pressure for me. The No 9 is too heavy! Especially at this club. Now I have to keep scoring.’
Benitez had fought with the club over Rondon, his No1 summer target.
A compromise was agreed and he arrived on loan as opposed to the £16.5million the boss wanted to pay.
After the worst top-flight start in the club’s history before these wins, the Spaniard was already looking to January. Now, Ashley may be minded to get by. ‘It’s a nice problem to have,’ smiled Benitez, his side up to 14th from bottom in the space of a fortnight.
But Rondon had the last word after scoring his first League goals. ‘When you’re on the pitch, you can feel it from the stands, with all the fans singing and urging the team on,’ he said.
‘Every player knows this is important and we can feed off it. It means that the players, staff and supporters are all pushing the same way.’
From no direction to one direction, all they needed was some bread and circus.
NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Dubravka 7; Yedlin 6.5, Schar 7, Fernandez 8, Dummett 7; Ritchie 7 (Hayden 74min, 6), Diame 7 (Atsu 80), Ki 7, Kenedy 7.5 (Clark 78, 6.5); Perez 7.5, RONDON 9. Subs not used: Darlow, Murphy, Manquillo, Joselu. Scorer: Rondon 7, 40. Booked: Schar, Rondon. Manager: Rafael Benitez 7 BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic 6.5; Francis 6, S Cook 6, Ake 6, Smith 5 (Daniels 30, 6); Ibe 5 (Defoe 82), Lerma 6.5 (Gosling 46, 6.5), L Cook 6.5, Fraser 7.5; Brooks 7; Wilson 6. Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, Mousset. Scorer: Lerma 45+6. Booked: L Cook. Manager: Eddie Howe 6 Referee: Lee Probert 6. Attendance: 49,266.