Happy Toon makes good listening for McClaren
WHEN Steve McClaren took to the field after his pulsating return to the Premier League, he could not have been sure of the fans’ response. What the former England boss got in return for offering applause to all four corners of St James’ Park was an early sign of approval. Although his Newcastle side had surrendered their lead and came close to losing in added time, the Toon Army had at least been entertained. Such enjoyment was in short supply last season but a trio of summer signings played a leading role yesterday. Georginio Wijnaldum was man of the match and scorer of a superb header. Chancel Mbemba — the man with four birthdays and who arrived at the ground in a tuxedo suit — showed a maturity beyond his supposed 21 years, while Aleksandar Mitrovic was booked within seconds of his introduction for a thunderous challenge on Matt Targett. But that ugly incident merely added drama to a captivating contest in which Graziano Pelle nodded the visitors’ opener before Papiss Cisse and Wijnaldum put Newcastle ahead, only for substitute Shane Long to salvage a point for Southampton with a late header. McClaren, making his return to a Premier League dugout eight years after being sacked by England, said: ‘I appreciated the crowd reaction at the end.’ Expectation was not high following a draining pre-season, which included a Stateside tour and four defeats, but the manager declared: ‘I’m delighted with what I saw. For 75 minutes, we were excellent. ‘We didn’t play smart after that and I think that was due to fatigue. ‘We went a goal down but what a great response we got. They stayed patient and we got ourselves in front.’ McClaren was still taking his seat when his side’s second goal went in, Wijnaldum scoring an early contender for goal of the month three minutes after the break. Cisse sprung Gabriel Obertan clear on the right. The winger delivered first time on the half-volley to Wijnaldum, who soared to finish the most incisive of breakaways with a superb header. ‘What a great goal that was,’ said McClaren. Three minutes before the interval, Cisse had turned in a deflected cross with his chest from point-blank range, cancelling out Pelle’s towering header on 24 minutes. But Long rose at the far post 11 minutes from time to flash his header into the net for the equaliser. Saido Mane wasted two chances to win it for Southampton. First he was denied by a sliding Jack Colback inside the six-yard box, then he fired wide from 12 yards. Saints assistant manager Erwin Koeman, taking charge as brother Ronald recovers from Achilles surgery, said: ‘It’s not a bad start to the season but if you get the chance to win, then you have to take it.’ He was not impressed with Mitrovic, who was also accused of elbowing Maya Yoshida. On the reckless lunge that saw the striker cautioned, Koeman said: ‘It was unnecessary to do that. If he touches Matt, then he puts him in hospital.’