Play-offs bid in doubt now for Spartans
possibly during the home match against West Bromwich Albion, I’d then hand Slimani his first start – as long as he continues to impress during training.
Rafa has to find out once and for all whether it’s worth trying to sign Slimani permanently this summer, so he needs to see the striker start some games. I liked what I saw from the Algerian on Sunday. He made a real impact off the bench. He helped set up Matt Ritchie’s winner and he really put himself about.
It’s all about variety and options, and Slimani gives Newcastle that. They don’t have another striker quite like him in their squad. He’s tall, powerful and good in the air.
It’s a decent alternative to have – and being able to change things up certainly helped Newcastle to beat Arsenal at the weekend.
It’s a big few weeks for Slimani in the context of his career, but I’m sure Rafa will give him an opportunity to really impress.
Let’s see if he can take it – but I don’t expect him to start at Goodison on Monday evening.
Gayle may get one final chance to hit the back of the net, and I hope he does. BLYTH Spartans boss Alun Armstrong conceded his side’s playoffs hopes are all but over after defeat to lowly AFC Telford last night.
Marcus Dinanga’s first-half goal separated the two sides at Croft Park as Blyth’s miserable run stretched to seven straight defeats.
The latest setback leaves Spartans 11th in the table, seven points outside the play-offs with just four games remaining.
Armstrong admitted: “It is tough, I feel for the lads at the minute. They’ve never been in this situation before and they are struggling to deal with it.
“We need to concentrate on where the next win will come from now, hopefully at home to Southport on Thursday.
“The lads were saying all the right things in the dressing room before the game, but we look so nervous at the minute, and a shadow of the team we were.
“We need to return to that team and we have a chance to put it right straight away. We need to make sure we are up for it.”
Burton Albion loanee, Dinanga, rolled the relegation-threatened Bucks ahead with their first opportunity of the game just before the half-hour mark.
It was enough to earn a 1-0 win and take the Shropshire outfit four points clear of the drop zone, with goalkeeper Peter Jameson Blyth’s top performer on the night.
Jameson denied Elliot Newby with a superb save when the Bucks were three against one after the break.
Kane Richards was then thwarted by Jameson with a great block as Telford pressed for a second clinching goal.
Sean Reid glanced an 89th-minute header wide before substitute Dan Maguire fired over in stoppage time for a struggling Spartans. ■■MARSKE United closed the gap on Northern League Division One leaders Morpeth Town with a 5-0 hammering of already-relegated Washington last night.
Jarrow Roofing gave their survival hopes a further boost as Dennis Knight’s stunning late strike gave them a 1-0 win at Newton Aycliffe. The Roofing are now three points behind fourth-bottom Bishop Auckland and hold a game in hand over the Two-Blues.
A first-half goal from Chris Salmon and second-half strikes from Tom Potter and Jack Walker helped Whitley Bay to a 3-1 home win against already-relegated Billingham Synthonia.
Division Two promotion contenders Whickham secured a 3-2 home win against Crook.