LEERYDER Commitment of United’s players to the cause is fan-tastic to see
NEWCASTLE United’s current crop of players seemed to prove they fully understand what it means to wear a black-and-white shirt during 20 glorious seconds at the King Power Stadium last weekend.
As Newcastle players steamed into seven tasty tackles against Leicester City, each challenge was greeted with an even louder cheer from the away section who have craved such commitment for years.
It showed it does not always need to be stunning individual pieces of play or 30-yard screamers which earn the appreciation of the paying fan - and more often than not those who travel long distances just want to see similar commitment from the players they are there to support.
This was not exactly the start of a display of such dogged determination from the players because, in fairness, Rafa Benitez’s side have been showing similar attributes in fragments since the turn of the year with only the class and quality of Manchester City and Liverpool being able to beat them in the Premier League.
However, hopefully this was not the end either and Newcastle players can go on to replicate it going forward – particularly in the last six games at a time of the year in which many teams assured of safety are accused of already having their minds on the beach.
Certainly a quick look at the faces of the players as they were able to milk the applause from the away end suggested they want to taste more of the same.
What the majority of supporters then did not see afterwards, however, was the reaction of the players as they filed out of the King Power Stadium to board the team bus.
Unlike previous teams who have