TOON SCRAPPERS
Rafa’s fight club show spirit but Saints hit back
Newcastle proved their fighting spirit extends beyond the confines of the training ground to the satisfaction of manager Rafa Benitez.
after an international break dominated by a training-ground bust-up, Benitez applauded the effort of his team as the Geordies took a point north from the long haul to southampton for the first time in 13 years.
twice they led through goals by Isaac Hayden and ayoze Perez, but saints responded to salvage a draw with two Manolo Gabbiadini goals, the second a penalty. ‘the spirit is very good,’ said Benitez. ‘the city and the fans, everybody is behind the team and the players see that. we have a lot of people together working hard for each other.
‘You are disappointed because you could win and we brought 3,500 fans on a sunday on a long trip and it is a pity not to give them three points. I am not happy with the goals conceded but at the same time you are happy because you have a point away against a good team. Overall if was a good performance, creating chances.’
Few had anticipated such entertaining fare. saints had failed to score in 10 of their previous 12 home fixtures and boss Mauricio Pellegrino tackled the problem by selecting two central strikers and two genuine wingers against the team managed by his mentor Benitez.
the tempo was brisk, the passing fluent, mistakes rife and opportunities came and went, even before Hayden lashed the opener past former Newcastle keeper Fraser Forster.
Matt Ritchie’s cross from the left was deflected to the feet of christian atsu but his half-volley on the turn was blocked by Maya Yoshida. the rebound spun to Hayden, five yards outside the area, and he met it with a firsttime strike which fizzed through a crowd and deceived Forster.
saints almost conceded a second in freakish circumstances early in the second half. a cross by Perez was met at the near post by a combination of Yoshida and Joselu, looped high and hit the bar.
Gabbiadini equalised with his first goal for nearly two months. the chance seemed to have gone when the Italian striker was forced wide and opted against a pass inside to cedric soares.
Instead, he wriggled into a shooting position and snapped a low effort past Rob elliot with his left foot from inside the box.
‘ Manolo is an important player,’ said Pellegrino. ‘He is working hard and the goals complete a striker’s job.’
Relief washed around the stadium. Perhaps too much because Newcastle were celebrating their second goal within two minutes.
Jonjo shelvey, playing with a cast on his left hand to protect the finger broken when he tried to stop the fight between Jamaal lascelles and Mo Diame, instigated the attack, as he did so often from central midfield, and Ritchie released Perez through the inside-right channel.
His first effort was beaten back to him by Forster, who then made a mess of his angles and was beaten at the near post.
‘we conceded too quickly, a soft goal,’ said Pellegrino. ‘we have to be better organised but it was a chaotic game and I will take some responsibility because sometimes you have to break the game to create something.’
Deandre Yedlin escaped a sending-off as Newcastle dug in. Having been booked in the first half for disputing a free-kick, Yedlin was late on Nathan Redmond and must have been relieved when referee Kevin Friend let him off.
Friend had no room for discretion, however, when Florian lejeune lumbered across and tripped shane long inside the area. the referee pointed straight to the spot.
‘It seemed from the bench to be a penalty,’ conceded Benitez and up stepped Gabbiadini to beat elliot with confidence.
Newcastle settled for the point, which keeps them locked inside the top half of the table.