Despite a 300% improvement on the Liverpool game last week, Newcastle fell to defeat at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon. Despite being in control for alot of the game, the Magpies fell down to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Blackburn. Oba Martins had given the Toon the lead just after half time. We got the panel’s reaction…

Rich

“After a good response from Sam Allardyce and his charges, we still left an enthralling encounter at Ewood Park empty handed. I, for one, have found it difficult to be too disheartened by the 3-1 loss on Saturday, especially considering the performance we put in against a decent Blackburn side. It was a true blood and thunder affair and anyone could have won it, but the injury problems in our defence during the game made taking anything from proceedings a step too far.

The injury situation would be funny if it wasn’t so sad (and regular), as at 5pm yesterday we stood with one fit centre-half out of five and with our only other option there leaving the field looking somewhat knackered as well – after Carr’s lazyitis had struck again, of course. Habib Beye again looked as good as anybody in black and white, which is a real credit to the attitude and application of our new Senegalese defender.

Aside from that, tactically it was all a much of a muchness. We didn’t seem to be playing with too much nouse or guile and the gameplan was undoubtedly built on effort, effort and more effort. Not a lot of flair and not a lot of end product means nothing new to us pained supporters, but at least the basics had returned. We never ducked out of a tackle, we matched their work-rate and we could have quite easily won the game ourselves.

If we can take the same application into St. James’ Park on Wednesday night we should have enough about us to get amongst Arsenal and we could even cause an upset. Whether we can play in a similar way remains to be seen, but one thing is a given: the lads will be nowhere near as well supported as they were by our traveling hordes this weekend. The fans, as is often the case, were the true stars in this fixture.

Men (and women) of the Match: All of those who sang their hearts out in the Darwen End (not that our players were that bad, mind!).”

Tom

“So there we have it, yet another defeat.

Allardyce has one more chance to salvage his tenure, if press reports are to be relieved. Compared to last week, this week was an improvement, but that doesn’t say a lot really. Keep on going the way we are for much longer and I can see us getting into trouble.

Sloppy tactics were once again to blame for our latest loss. Allardyce, the buck stops with you, because the players are good enough. Milner struggled once again out of position, though Smith was better in his natural role.

Newcastle United and Sam Allardyce are not the right match. Obviously, Allardyce is a good manager - his record with Bolton shows that. While he is well suited to getting the most out of limited resources, he does not suit a club with the attacking ethos, large fanbase and ambition that Newcastle has.”

Jonny Hall

“Can Sam Allardyce do any right these days? It seems like everything is against him at the minute.

Wow! What an improvement on the Liverpool game. The players showed alot of commitment and we went for it, we really did. The attacking football was good, the defending was shady but acceptable and then we took the lead. We looked like we could actually nick it.

Then it happened again. We fell apart. Two goals from Blackburn and suddenly they’re ahead before Tugay finished it off, and United were back to old ways.

What happened? I don’t know. We’re not a team at the moment, we’re not even 11 individuals, they’re just a bunch of people on a pitch together having a kick about. Is it the managers fault? I don’t know but I do know that Allardyce keeps chopping and changing and it isn’t working.

We need 4-4-2, two PROPER wingers in midfield with a flat back four that remains constant and doesn’t change, then we have a chance of succeeding. Until then anything could happen.

MAN OF THE MATCH: The fans. Absolutely amazing! So much better than the Liverpool game, they did the Toon proud and I hope there’s 52,000 of them on Wednesday.”

Join us in the next few days for the build-up to the Arsenal game. Hopefully things can get better…