GAYLE FORCE
Midweek round-up including Newcastle’s 4-3 win versus Norwich
IF THERE is a match this season with a more dramatic finish than Newcastle against Norwich last Wednesday, then it is going to have to be something really special.
Trailing 3-2 deep into stoppage time in the battle of two of last term’s relegated Premier League teams, the Magpies not only bagged an equaliser but then won it with Dwight Gayle’s hat-trick goal in the 96th minute.
The majority of the St James’ Park crowd of 48,236 erupted in ecstasy, while the Canaries fans were left as ‘sick as a parrot’.
It looked as though Norwich were flying back to the top of the table when goals from Graham Dorrans, from the penalty spot, Cameron Jerome and Jacob Murphy gave them a 3-1 lead with 69 minutes played.
However, Gayle, who had put the Magpies ahead in the 24th minute with his first, pulled one back two minutes later – and then came the incredible finale.
Bizarre
Yoan Gouffran headed the Toon Army level five minutes into stoppage time, before exCrystal Palace hitman Gayle bagged the last-gasp winner a minute later.
Delighted Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez said: “I’m really proud of my players when I see them react to pressure like that.”
Shell-shocked Norwich boss Alex Neil added: “I’m frustrated with my players, I also feel for them. There are a whole load of emotions – it was a bizarre end to the game.”
The victory helped Newcastle up to third place in the Championship, a point behind second-placed Norwich.
The biggest beneficiaries of the Canaries’ late collapse were
Huddersfield Town. The previous night the Terriers had climbed back to the top with a 2-1 home win over basement side Rotherham United.
Elias Kachunga and Nahki Wells were on target for David Wagner’s men, while Danny Ward replied for the Millers, with all the goals coming in the first half. It made it five straight home wins for Huddersfield in the Championship.
Brighton drew 0-0 at Ipswich, despite having Dale Stephens sent off late on.
They slipped to fourth place, while there was no stopping Brentford.
Dean Smith’s Bees stormed to a 4-1 victory over Reading, with Josh Clarke, Lasse Vibe, Maxime Colin and the in-form Scott Hogan all netting as they climbed to fifth. Jaap Stam’s Royals could muster only a Yann Kermorgant penalty.
Bristol City also moved into the play-off positions, thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 home win against Leeds, Marlon Pack netting the all-important winner. At the other end of the table,
Wigan Athletic hauled themselves off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home win against Wolves. Will Grigg came off the bench to net an 88th-minute winner.
With manager Nigel Pearson suspended, assistant boss Chris Powell took charge of
Derby County and he couldn’t have asked for a more positive response as the Rams won 2-0 at fellow strugglers Cardiff. Goals from Tom Ince and Nick Blackman, from the penalty spot, were decisive. Blackburn slipped back into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at home against Sheffield Wednesday, who climbed to eighth. Steven Fletcher netted the winner.
Red-hot
Aston Villa’s frustrating habit of conceding late goals struck again as they were held 1-1 at Barnsley. Jordan Ayew’s 61st-minute goal looked like easing the pressure on manager Roberto Di Matteo, but sub Sam Winnall levelled for the Tykes in the last minute. There were three other draws in the Championship. QPR drew 1-1 on manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s return to Burton, Nicklas Bendtner netted for Nottingham Forest in their 1-1
draw against Fulham and Birmingham City drew 2-2 against Preston.
In League One, Scunthorpe and Bury stormed on at the top, ahead of their showdown yesterday. Red-hot Josh Morris hit an away hat-trick as the Iron hammered Walsall 4-1, while Bury ran out 3-1 victors at MK
Dons, with James Vaughan netting two.
In League Two, Plymouth extended their lead to five points with a 2-0 win at Leyton Orient, who had Andy Edwards in caretaker charge after the dismissal of Andy Hessenthaler.
His cause wasn’t helped by the dismissals of skipper Robbie Weir and debutant defender Jens Janse in the opening 14 minutes. Jimmy Spencer and sub Ryan Donaldson scored for the Pilgrims. Portsmouth, who had been second, lost 3-1 at Blackpool.