Promotion, Perez and at last a penalty that everyone can agree on
Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United side are officially back in the Premier League after an emphatitic win over Preston North End. Here’s what Chris Waugh learned on an historic night at St James’ Park
1 PEREZ SHOWS THE PATH BACK TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE With Perez as a No 10 behind Aleksandar Mitrovic as a lone-forward, Benitez reverted back to Newcastle’s Premier League starting front two for much of last season.
Mitrovic has scored just six goals all season, but four of them came inside the space of just a few days in October - and all against Preston.
A return of just four goals in 23 Championship appearances hardly represents a prolific season for the Serbian though, in fairness, only 10 of those games have been as a starter.
And it Perez, not Mitrovic, who opened the scoring with the Spaniard tapping in from a corner at the back post after just seven minutes, but then for the rest of the half Newcastle struggled to find their front two.
Mitrovic had endured a poor first 45 minutes - well, until right before the break that is, when he unselfishly provided a wonderful assist for Atsu to restore the home side’s lead and settle the nerves of the St James’ Park faithful.
Hayden burst through midfield and failed to spot the overlapping Atsu on the left, instead playing in Mitrovic to his right, who then fed a delicious ball in to the Ghanaian winger, who curled home.
Unfortunately, the issue with Mitrovic was that - one 20-yard deflected effort aside - he never really looked like scoring, even against a Preston side against who he has netted four times already this term.
And therein lies the problem at the moment with the 22-year-old - his all-round game is looking in decent nick, but the goals just aren’t there...
As for Perez, he has had an upand-down campaign, but the Spaniard took his goals well - and the suggestions are he can offer something in the top flight next season. 2 ROB ELLIOT MAKES A POPULAR RETURN The 30-year-old had not been seen in a Newcastle shirt for more than 13 months after suffering a cruciate knee-ligament injury on Republic of Ireland duty in March 2016.
However, Elliot made a surprise return to the Magpies starting XI for his first United appearance since the 1-1 Tyne-Wear derby draw with Sunderland on March 20, 2016.
It was a shock in many ways to see Elliot selected for this important match given his lack of gametime over the past year, but Benitez rates the Irishman highly.
What’s more, though Karl Darlow’s shot-stopping has been exemplary all season, there have been a couple of howlers thrown in there.
Darlow’s suspect kicking led to Ipswich Town’s second goal the previous week, and perhaps that contributed to Benitez changing his goalkeeper for this one.
And, inside 11 minutes, Elliot had come up with a magnificent save.
Preston countered at pace, Vurnon Anita - who endured a torrid evening at right-back - was left for dead by Daniel Johnson, who should have scored, but put his effort straight at Elliot.
The Toon goalkeeper could do little about Hugill’s equaliser, and overall he was a calming influence back between the sticks.
Elliot is a positive player in the Magpies dressing room, and in the stands, so this was a very welcome return.
3 FINALLY, A NON-CONTROVERSIAL PENALTY FOR NEWCASTLE
As the game edged past the hour mark, the Magpies desperately needed a third goal to settle the game and ease the nerves.
It arrived, and from the penalty spot.
After Perez’s overhead kick was well saved by Chris Maxwell, Hayden then sidefooted an effort goalwards, which was destined to hit the back of the net - yet Gallagher dived and saved with both hands.
A deserved red card and spot kick followed, which Ritchie duly converted into the bottom left-hand corner to send St James’ Park into full promotion-party mood.
Perez added a fourth, and then the chanting from the home fans was just relentless until the final whistle and beyond... 4 A RARE PROMOTION AT HOME –42 YEARS IN THE MAKING Only once in Newcastle’s history have they achieved promotion by winning at St James’ Park, and that was a full 42 years ago. On that occasion, the Magpies defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 on
Tyneside on Good Friday to secure a return to the old First Division during the 1964/65 season.
Their last three promotions, however, were not sealed at home. In 1983/84 it was at Huddersfield Town, while in 1992/93 it was Grimsby.
Back in 2009/10, interestingly, the Magpies’ promotion was confirmed ahead of their home fixture with Sheffield United - and was guaranteed thanks to Nottingham Forest dropping points in an earlier kickoff.
Yet any Magpies fan who was among the 50,212 crowd at St James’ Park for this victory over Preston should savour the occasion.
Promotion secured on Tyneside is a rarity - but Newcastle have done it in 2016/17. 5 AFTER A 348-DAY ABSENCE, NEWCASTLE UNITED ARE BACK WHERE THEY BELONG It is 11 months and 13 days since the Magpies’ bitter rivals Sunderland confirmed United’s relegation with a 3-0 victory over Everton at The Stadium of Light on Wednesday, May 11, 2016.
But on Monday, April 24, 2017, Newcastle mathematically guaranteed their return to the top flight.
With Sunderland and Middlesbrough appearing doomed in the Premier League this season, and Hartlepool looking set to crash out of the Football League for the first time in their history, it appears as if Newcastle really will be flying a lone flag for North East football next season.
Finally, after this painful season without Premier League football, it will be back at St James’ Park in August.
Newcastle have achieved their goal - and congratulations to everyone associated with the football club for that.
Any Magpies fan who was among the 50,212 crowd at St James’ Park for this victory over Preston should savour it