Final Whistle

Before this game, it seemed as though both of these sides would lose. Fortunately, that’s not possible, so a draw looked the most likely result, until Joey Barton jumped off the prison bus to bang a penalty home after just 10 minutes played. Newcastle would double their lead before their shaky defense remembered what not to do and conceded – setting up a tense final 25 minutes, before eventually winning 2-1.

Newcastle fan’s nerves will likely be in tatters come the end of this season and many will hope they simply come out with their Premiership status still alive. Providing they can keep winning these relegation 6 pointers, that should be within their grasp.

West Brom, having started brightly since promotion last season look to be very much in the dolrums at present, after taking a couple of heavy beatings at the hands of Man Utd and Hull City before this match. They will hope for an easier time against Blackburn on Saturday, but they should know by now there are no easy games in this league. Newcastle is one of the easiest at present, and in truth they were never in this one.

Man of the Match has to go to Joey Barton who, despite our opening dig, showed real class from the penalty spot – give him a Matt Busby or an Alex Ferguson to guide him and just maybe he’ll fulfill his potential and stay on the straight and narrow. A manager of any sort would be good for the Geordies, for that matter.