Newcastle 4-1 Reading - Reaction

Finally, at the third time of asking, Newcastle managed to get some points on the board to kick-start their EFL Championship campaign. It may not have been the stylish, free-flowing football, or the dismissive, sweeping away of the opposition that many pundits had predicted from the pre-season title favourites, but last night’s game was all about getting a win.

The manner of last night’s win was always going to be irrelevant due to the importance of picking up three points, settling the nerves of both players and fans alike, easing their way into a long season and loosening the shackles of pressure that being favourites brings with it.

Rafa Benitez shocked many with his team selection for the game and all of the talk in the hour of build up to kick off was about his decision to include Yoan Gouffran in his starting XI.

After the game, Gouffran was singled out for praise by Rafa. Granted it was more about his attitude and professionalism rather than his performance, but if only a certain other Frenchman in our squad had adopted a similar attitude, then maybe he would be coming off the pitch late in a game to a standing ovation as oppose to being criticised, mocked and roundly booed whenever his name is mentioned.

Gouffran contributed to a couple of the goals, but was quiet for long periods of the game, but the fact that he has kept his mouth shut about his uncertain future, and put a shift in when called upon, saw him receive the aforementioned applause as he was brought off.

Dwight Gayle could be another who can gain a lot of confidence from last night’s performance.

Granted, he scored on Saturday, but it is doubtful that you gain much confidence from scoring from a rebound, having missed an initial penalty. Even during a first half during which he, and many of the players, struggled to dominate their opponents, he was booked for deliberately handling the ball into the net.

The fact that he wheeled off to celebrate, knowing what he had done, is not good, and not something that I personally like – or expect – to see from a Newcastle player.

However, there was nothing but praise for his free-kick that found the top corner of the net at the Gallowgate End in the second half. The great strike seemed to visibly lift Gayle, and he was always likely to grab a second after it. He duly obliged in the final stages of the game.

If he can show more of the same in future weeks, then maybe he can prove to be the perfect foil for the soon-to-be returning Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The whole balance of the side looked better against Reading than it had in either of the previous two defeats, and, although I do not expect him to play an unchanged team against Bristol City on Saturday, Rafa should be able to just tinker slightly rather than feel the need to make further wholesale changes.

Although a 4-1 result slightly flattered Newcastle, they will go to Ashton Gate this weekend with renewed optimism, and hopefully they can build upon yesterday’s result and pick up another three points.