SIZZLING SISSOKO
But Taylor injury takes off the gloss for Pardew
ALAN PARDEW crossed his hands and looked to the heavens as a tearful Ryan Taylor, injured on his first League start in 32 months, made his way down the tunnel holding the same knee which has caused him two years of pain.
The Newcastle boss will have to wait and see if his prayers are answered on that front. But at least the intervention of Moussa Sissoko ensured a fifth win on the spin in the Premier League, lifting them to fourth in the table. To give their ascent some context, Newcastle were in the relegation zone just five weeks ago.
Pardew, though, admitted the victory was marred by the injury to Taylor, who was making his comeback after successive cruciate ligament injuries.
‘We’re sweating on Ryan,’ said Pardew, who revealed that Dr Richard Steadman, the surgeon who operated on Taylor, was in the stands as a guest of the player.
‘Fortunately, his surgeon was here from America and he went to hospital with him for a scan.
‘So the win was tinged with sadness. Ryan does not deserve the trauma he’s had already, let alone another trauma. Fingers crossed he’s OK.’
Sissoko scored his brilliant winner 12 minutes from time, forging his way into the area before swapping passes with Sammy Ameobi and hooking beyond Rob Green, who had repelled everything to that point.
The France international was skippering the side in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini and was the game’s outstanding player.
‘Moussa was the best player on the pitch by some distance,’ said Pardew. ‘We had a long discussion about the captaincy and I wanted to make sure it did not knock him out of kilter. Sometimes it can take your mind off the game. But he grew with the armband. It was a wonderful goal.’
Harry Redknapp, meanwhile, saw his Rangers side remain bottom of the table after a sixth straight loss on the road.
The Londoners were without speedy frontman Eduardo Vargas, and that, says the manager, cost them dearly. ‘When you play away from home you need pace on the break, and we’re not blessed with that,’ he said.
‘We missed Vargas, he’s done very well. He wanted to be with his wife who was having a baby, and that’s fair enough.’
Pardew’s side, though, had deserved the maximum return.
It was Taylor who dictated the tempo from the centre of the park early on. One cleverly crafted corner saw Remy Cabella locate Taylor lurking unmarked on the edge of the area. He used one touch to cushion and the next to draw a palmed save from Green.
Cabella was again the architect behind Taylor’s next chance — a measured curler from 20 yards — but again Green kept out.
Taylor then took aim with a freekick from range, slamming it into the wall, before succumbing to injury. St James’ looked to the sky in hope but the look on Taylor’s face told its own story and he received a standing ovation as he limped from the field.
The second period did not come to life until just before the hour, when Sissoko set off on a galloping run from deep inside his own half. Covering 50 yards unopposed, he slid Ayoze Perez through on goal but again it was Green who proved United’s nemesis.
It was always going to take an individual effort to break the deadlock and that moment arrived courtesy of Sissoko.
Home thoughts, however, very quickly turned to Taylor.