Karl’s lows all over as Toon thrive
NEWCASTLE keeper Karl Darlow has come a long way since making a decidedly shaky debut 12 months ago.
Rafa Benitez’s side go into tonight’s game against Sheffield Wednesday at St James’ Park top of the league and bang on course for promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.
And Darlow, below, has played a key role in the Magpies’ march to the top of the table having been a league ever-present since taking over from Matz Sels.
The former Nottingham Forest man, who saved two first-half penalties at the City Ground a fortnight ago, is a firm favourite of the Toon Army who have compiled a song in his honour.
It is quite a turnaround considering Darlow’s decidedly dodgy first game when he looked a bag of nerves and let a Darren Fletcher header squirm under his body in a 1-0 defeat at West Brom last December.
“That afternoon was tough,” he said. “I did not have a good game. In fact, I was terrible.
“It was a real low point. I was devastated and couldn’t believe I’d played so badly because I knew in myself I was better than that and did not do myself justice.
“But I always knew that given a run of games, I would be fine. I knew I had the qualities to get through.” Ironically Darlow’s chance for redemption came after Sels had a nightmare of his own against a Midlands club, allowing a soft equaliser by Aaron Tshibola against Aston Villa.
The Belgian international, a £6m signing from Gent of whom Benitez had high hopes, had struggled to adapt to Championship football and was taken out of the firing line.
Darlow returned in Newcastle’s astonishing 4-3 comeback win against Norwich and has barely put a foot wrong since, some crucial saves helping the Magpies storm to the top of the table with eight straight league wins in a row. He added: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. We were playing poor football early this year, then displayed a bit of character but it was too late to escape relegation.
“Thankfully, we’re now showing our fans that we can play football and we’re doing an awful lot better than last season.
“We just need to keep growing.”
They will have to do it without playmaker Jonjo Shelvey, who starts a five-match ban for racist abuse this evening, with forgotten man Cheick Tiote in line for a return to the Newcastle midfield in front of a sell-out crowd. ARSENE WENGER is fuelling Arsenal’s title push by ordering his players to adopt a siege mentality approach from inside the dressing room.
During his 20-year reign, Wenger has come through tough periods where supporters have called for his head. Even Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, two of Arsenal’s most influential players, have not escaped heavy criticism in recent times.
Wenger, who faces West Brom today bidding to return to winning ways after successive defeats, says the inner sanctum of the dressing room is where the recovery process begins and ends.
“It’s not easy to walk out sometimes in a hostile environment and perform at your best,” said the Arsenal manager.
“I believe what is important is the strength you find
inside –