Toon blank puts record bid on hold
NEWCASTLE were unable to break their 24- year away win record — and a goalless draw against Reading tightened up the fight for the Championship title. Rafa Benitez’s side equalled the 13 away victories Newcastle achieved in the 1992-93 season under Kevin Keegan with two wins against second-placed Brighton and Huddersfield, in third, in their previous two games to move clear at the top.
But they could not land the recordbreaking victory at Reading, instead making do with a point against Jaap Stam’s play- off hopefuls which allowed Brighton to move three points behind with their victory.
In 1993, Newcastle finished off their away run with a win at Grimsby to ensure promotion back to the top flight and they are not far away from replicating that achievement under Benitez. The away following is just as fierce with 3,704 making the journey.
‘The away form is dependent on the attitude of the players,’ Benitez said. ‘The way they work, the confidence they have is the key. You can prepare a game plan but it depends on players and they have been good. The whole season away, they understand what we are trying to do.’
On the field Newcastle were hindered by a half of the pitch balder than Stam. They were attacking into it for the first 45 minutes and it was proving awkward for them to play on.
A cut-back to Jonjo Shelvey hit a divot just as he swung to shoot and he missed the ball. ‘That was why he missed,’ Benitez said. ‘It was not the best.’
London Irish play rugby here when it is not used for football, hence the poor surface. And this felt like a rugby match at times — a lot of sideways passes from Reading.
‘It is lively,’ admitted Stam. ‘The players need to be aware of what they are doing. Normally players are looking forward when they are receiving the ball. Now you need to focus on your first touch, everything takes a bit longer. We are used to it but it’s not ideal for a team who want to play possession football and pass the ball going forward.’
It meant Newcastle’s closest chance came from a long-range effort in the first half rather than intricate play. The ball found its way to Matt Ritchie from a corner and his low drive came back off the post, bouncing across the goal-line. Yoan Gouffran was there for the rebound but Paul McShane leaped in to clear.
At the same end, Garath McCleary, more accustomed to the dips and lumps, almost won it for Reading deep in stoppage time, dribbling into the box from the left flank but his shot clipped the angle of the upright.