Although he hasn’t produced his best so far this season, Wijnaldum showed his class in this match with a rare quadruple, becoming only the second player after Shearer to score as many in a single league game for the club.
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“But today we showed what we are capable of”.
“Everybody is really frustrated and disappointed, the game really split into two offensively and defensively”. I am relieved and the crowd got behind us from the first whistle.
United then pulled away from their opponents once again as Sissoko played a drilled ball onto the chest of Mitrovic.
Wijnaldum, ably assisted by the impressive Moussa Sissoko, gave Newcastle a 2-1 lead with his first two goals either side of Dieumerci Mbokani’s equaliser, and although Ayoze Perez extended the home side’s lead, Nathan Redmond kept the visitors in it at the break.
“The front four were excellent, especially Gini Wijnaldum”. I don’t think he was under great pressure before kick-off anyway but he is under even less now.
“I’ll take the responsibility for that but the squad know we have to take responsibility as a group because we didn’t defend anywhere near well enough”.
Prior to the game, McClaren said it would take three transfer windows to turn his team around.
“If you score and you get a result, you are happier”. He was out injured for much of 2013-14, which is why he was so grateful to then-Holland coach Louis van Gaal for picking him in the World Cup squad.
Having set a standard, Newcastle must live up to it. “I’m so pleased for the players and the fans, but I’ve said all along that we couldn’t get too down after (losing 1-6 to) Manchester City and we’re not going to get too high after this”.
However, after an uncertain start to the second half, Aleksandar Mitrovic gave them breathing space before Wijnaldum, who was indebted to fellow midfielder Moussa Sissoko for the service he provided, scored twice more to wrap up the points.
This encounter will be far from straightforward, but if they can keep things tight at the back Newcastle to possess a threat going forward.
Played for both – Ruel Fox: A familiar face during the early years of the Premier League, Fox began his career at Norwich in 1986 and stayed for eight years, helping them to third place in 1992-93. It is a long time since concentration has ranked among Newcastle’s fortes and, by way of emphasising the point, they quickly lost focus.
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Every game is different, and Newcastle is highly unlikely to have a similar performance against the Black Cats. Olsson and Brady constantly doubled up on Janmaat with Sissoko failing to track back more often than not. And yesterday, we had the opportunity to see a team succeed and at just the right time as the Tyne-Wear Derby inches closer.
