There were positives in defeat for us, insists Magpies coach

PETER Beardsley opted to look at the positives from Newcastle United’s disappointing night against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Beaten 1-0 by a Championship second-string side, the 721 Toon fans watched on as Wolves earned a scrappy victory.

However, Dwight Gayle managed to get 60 minutes under his belt and Henri Saivet and Jack Colback played 90 minutes, while Rolando Aarons got 85 minutes to keep him in contention for first-team action.

Beardsley was disappointed to lose, but said: “There’s always a positive or two. It was good for us because all of them were good examples to the younger players.

“Henri Saivet, Dwight Gayle and Jack Colback all came and put a shift in and did what they could.” Gayle is now in the frame to start against Liverpool after getting through an hour unscathed.

Beardsley added: “Dwight was planned for 60 minutes, so no issue there.

“For the last 30 minutes Jack and Henri could not have done any more.

“All we ask is that they’re a good example, as Jonjo (Shelvey) was two weeks ago. That is what we look for from them.

“They were probably the big pluses where the younger ones are feeling frustrated.

“I asked both Jack and Henri if they wanted to come off, but they wanted to stay on.”

Beardsley said: “We created chances in the second half but didn’t take them, but it is what it is.

By the end of the game Wolves had cranked up the time-wasting.

Beardsley said: “One of the Wolves players kicked the ball into the stand on the final whistle and the worst he got was a booking – he was laughing at the ref and that’s not acceptable.

“When you are winning the rules are different.”