United fiery desire on display

MATT Ritchie feels the fiery display by Newcastle United against Royal Antwerp simply summed up the Magpies’ burning desire to win games.

It may have been billed a friendly clash but United’s 1-1 draw with the Belgian side was not short of needle as tackles flew in and the referee was needed to calm two stormy situations down.

Referee Jose Gambin even blew a few seconds early as Reda Jaadi tried to square up to Jamaal Lascelles in the closing stages.

Ritchie told the Chronicle after the game: “I think that just shows we are professional about our jobs. We went out to win the game.

“Any game you go intoout there, a five-a-side, or a game on the park, friendly or in the Premier League, you want to win the game. It is the same in training.”

Ritchie scored a wonderful chip to open the scores at the Pinitar Arena but Antwerp found an equaliser through Alexander Corryn.

Reflecting on the game and his goal, Ritchie said: “It was a good ball from Chancel Mbemba, I made a good run and managed to get on the end of it.

“Luckily enough I put it in the goal. It was good to keep scoring and overall it was a pleasing experience.

“It was really good because it put some minutes in the legs.

“Obviously, we wanted to keep our match fitness for the games coming up.” Newcastle could have snatched victory in the closing stages as Dwight Gayle was presented with a penalty, but he saw his effort saved.

Ritchie added: “We wanted to win the game for sure. I think it was a good performance, that was the main thing.

“There were some really good positives to take from it.”