Astroturf won’t give Lithuania edge, says Ritchie
Elliot kept his first clean sheet of the season against West Ham but says he was indebted to Ciaran Clark for a last-gasp clearance to deny Javier Hernández. The Ireland shot-stopper said: “It was good to get some saves. “For the Cresswell shot I got up to parry it, but maybe should have parried it in a better area. “Clarkie has been outstanding to clear away the danger from Hernandez. “It’s nice to help, but every man from one to 11 and those on the bench were brilliant.” Elliot feels that the Magpies must start getting used to a different mentality at St James’ Park compared to last season. The 31-year-old said: “The difference in the Premier League is that teams won’t just sit back and we will eventually pump them. “Every team that comes to St James’ NEWCASTLE United’s Scotland winger Matt Ritchie does not fear a slip-up on Lithuania’s plastic pitch – even though he admits he has never played a competitive game on astroturf.
The Toon forward could make his 4G debut when the Scots run out at LFF Arena in Vilnius for Friday night’s crucial World Cup qualifier.
Skipper Scott Brown has already made his views on the artificial surface plain after insisting they Park this season will come here and try to win and we’ve got to deal with that. “There will be times when we don’t have the ball and times when we do. “We need to make sure that either time we are doing what the manager asks, and we do it together. “That first win of the season, no matter what league you are in, is tough. “We did this last year. We lost the first two and maybe it takes time to get going. “We managed to get ourselves going against West Ham and it takes the pressure and anxiety off, both for fans and players. “What was also good was when that first goal went in the relief was there and the pressure dropped. “The football we played after that was like in training and pre-season. “Hopefully the shackles are off. On the other hand, we can’t get excited and say we’ll fly up the table. “We have a tough away game at Swansea next, so we have to enjoy the international break and then get ready for that.” shouldn’t be allowed in international football.
But Ritchie reckons it could work to Scotland’s advantage as they look to take the game to their opponents.
“Obviously it will be different,” he said. “I know there are a few astroturf pitches in Scotland but in England they are all grass.
“But these artificial pitches are so good now that it doesn’t concern me at all.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played a competitive game at all on an plastic pitch but you do train on them throughout your career.
“We have used the astro we have at Newcastle for training a couple of times since I moved there – but only a couple of times when the weather has been bad.
“I don’t think it will give Lithuania an edge on us, though. I don’t think it will play a big factor in the match just because they have played on the 4G and we haven’t.”