This blogger's beloved (though unsellable) Magpies won for the first time in the league this year with an outrageous late winner from Isaac Hayden against Scowling Frank Lampard's Moscow Chelski FC at St James' Park on Saturday evening. A corner deep into added time looked to have provided United with a final chance to steal the points but Matt Ritchie's kick was cleared as the fourth added minute approached its conclusion. However, Allan Saint-Maximin gathered the clearance, took a touch and put over a cross for Hayden to head into the Gallowgate goal to spark scenes of wild celebration with kids gettin' sparked an' aal sorts. Referee Chris Kavanagh allowed the visitors one further attack but once that was cleared the official blew for full-time and three vital Premier League points were secured by the Black n' Whites. The second period had seen the visitors largely camped in United's half, although they had created few clear openings to worry Steve Brucie's side who had defended resolutely. Jamaal Lascelles was back at the heart of the defence and also returning were Jonjo Shelvey and Saint-Maximin, as the injury crisis which has plagued The Magpies for the past few weeks started to subside. But Jetro Willems was stretchered from the field in just the twelfth minute as what seemed to be an innocuous collision with Callum Hudson-Odoi had him immediately signalling to the bench. Brucie (nasty to see him, to see him nasty) subsequently confirmed that Willems had suffered an apparently serious knee injury. That early setback didn't curb the home side's initial enthusiasm and in the twenty second minute Federico Fernandez supplied a cross for Joelinton who guided a header against the bar. Twelve minutes later Tammy Abraham struck Martin Dubravka's crossbar, although he had been flagged offside but N'Golo Kanté should have scored when clear on the right of the box, only to be denied by the 'keeper's left leg. At the other end Fernandez got the end of a Shelvey free-kick and seemed certain to head home but his effort went high. After the break there was almost no threat from the black and whites but for all the Moscow Chelski FC possession, there were only half chances for Willian and Abraham and Dubravka had remarkably few saves to make. Then with two minutes to go, Miguel Almirón played a fine ball to the far post which was headed back to Joelinton by Saint-Maximin. But the Brazilian swung wildly and sliced his effort wide. Nevertheless, Joelinton managed to win a corner in the final minute of added time and Matt Ritchie was roared into the Strawberry Corner as he prepared to delivered it. The corner was headed clear but then came Saint-Maximin's glorious curling ball into the box and Hayden got his connection spot-on to beat Kepa Arribazalaga who could only get an ineffective hand to his header leaving Moscow Chelski FC's manager, Frank Lampard, looking his someone sucking a lemon at the final whistle. Lampard subsequently whinged that his team has 'dominated every aspect' of the game. Except for scoring the most goals, obviously. Hayden had filled in at right back, with Emile Krafth being replaced by Sean Longstaff.
Elsewhere, Sheikh Yer Man City threw away the chance of a win in a dramatic climax at Etihad Stadium, while bottom-of-the-table Norwich City battled for a much-needed victory over strugglers Bournemouth. Two goals from Sergio Aguero inside the last ten minutes looked to have helped champions City to victory over Crystal Palace, but Fernandinho's own goal just before stoppage time ensured the sides drew two-two. At the bottom of the table, Teemu Pukki's first-half penalty was enough for Norwich to claim victory over Bournemouth, who are now only one place and three points above The Canaries, as both sides finished with ten men. Wolverhampton Wanderings fought back from two goals down at half-time for a superb three-two win at Southampton, with one goal from Pedro Neto and two from Raul Jimenez moving them up into sixth place. The Arse were closing in on victory at home to Sheffield United, but The Blades fought back with a late John Fleck goal ensuring a draw. Watford missed out on the chance of a fourth straight win when Troy Deeney had a penalty saved by Stottingtot Hotshots keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, but the goalless draw means Nigel Pearson's Hornets are unbeaten in seven games. Hundreds of West Hamsters United fans protested about the running of the club in the week of the ten-year anniversary since David Sullivan and David Gold took over, while on the pitch The Hamsters were held to a draw by Everton. Brighton & Hove Albinos are still searching for their first league win of 2020 after they were held one-one by Aston Villains at The Amex Stadium. On Sunday, Ashley Westwood's stunning strike saw Burnley come from behind to beat Leicester and earn their first points in five games. And, in Sunday's late game Champions-elect Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws defeat The Scum two-nil. Which was funny.
Having failed to make their dominance count in the first meeting with Rochdale, this blogger's beloved (though unsellable) Magpies made no mistake in their FA Cup replay, coasting into the Fourth Round at St James' Park on Tuesday evening. The outcome was hardly unexpected given the strong starting line-up and bench named by Steve Brucie (nasty to see him, to see him, nasty), but there were certainly some unexpected, 'I can't believe my eyes'-type events for almost thirty thousand fans present to witness. Mister Cashley made a rare visit to Gallowgate as United avoided any additions to their lengthy sick-list - and saw record signing Joelinton finally break his scoring duck with a first competitive home goal and only his second since joining The Magpies in the summer. On a night of broadly positives, there was a successful return from injury for Jamaal Lascelles, more valuable pitch-time for Matt Ritchie, a run-out for Jonjo Shelvey and an assist on his senior debut for teenager Tom Allan. Some generous defending by the League One visitors had allowed The Magpies to rack up an unassailable early lead by the half-hour mark. An own goal and a suicidal clearance by 'Dale goalkeeper Robert Sanchez that gifted Miguel Almirón a goal sandwiched by a quality Matty Longstaff's strike. A low-key second period was illuminated when Joelinton shook off his torpor to stick the ball past replacement custodian Jay Lynch, rounding off his side's first victory since the week before Christmas. Making his first start since returning from a lengthy injury, Ritchie's cross from the left was prodded into his own net at the Leazes End by Eoghan O'Connell in the seventeenth minute. Another Ritchie cross from left three minutes later found Matty Longstaff in front of goal and he had to time to take it down, turn and dispatch it past Sanchez. Six minutes later it was game over when Sanchez passed straight to Almirón - who had shot against a post when the tie was still scoreless - and he picked his spot to open up a three goal lead - the Paraguayan's fourth goal in his last five games in all competitions. Joelinton's goal arrived eight minutes from time when a neat pass from Andy Carroll released Allan down the right and his measured low cross was touched in by the Brazilian from six yards. An evidently relieved number nine then ran to embrace Brucie and his coaching staff on the touchline before being mobbed by his team-mates. Dale's consolation arrived in the eighty sixth minute when a short corner was played back by Aaron Wilbraham for Jordan Williams to hit a low shot from the edge of the box that beat Karl Darlow via a post. A fifth home goal almost followed in the closing seconds after Joelinton gained possession in the 'Dale box and set up Carroll, whose rising effort was tipped onto the angle of post and bar. Newcastle now face another League One side, Oxford United, in the Fourth Round. Victory over The U's would see The Magpies appear in the Fifth Round of the competition for the first time since Cashley bought the club in May 2007.
A deal to show FA Cup matches via seven online betting websites is being investigated by the Gambling Commission, the industry regulator. The Football Association has been criticised after it sold the rights to the competition via a third party. The Football Association being, of course, an organisation that is keen to fine and suspend any footballer or club official found to have bet on any football-related activity. How ironic it is, therefore, that they seem to have no problem getting their collective kit off and hopping into bed with such people as these. Sanctions for bookmakers involved could include a warning, financial penalties or the revoking of licences. 'Our investigations into that matter are ongoing,' Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur told BBC 5Live. 'I understand why there are concerns and, to be clear, we already require gambling operators to market, advertise or engage in sponsorship in a socially responsible way. We are in touch with all operators in the deal to find out what they did to satisfy themselves.' A Gambling Commission spokesperson added: 'We expect gambling operators to ensure, when agreeing commercial deals relevant to sport, that such arrangements are consistent with keeping gambling safe.' Since the start of last season, bookmakers have been able to show FA Cup ties on their websites and apps. The seven gambling websites - Bet365, Betfair, William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes, Unibet and Paddy Power - acquired the rights via the agency IMG, who agreed a deal with the FA. Who, in turn, didn't ask too many questions when they saw the size of IMG's cheque. Probably. In the FA Cup third round, twenty three matches were available to watch on Bet365 - all those that did not kick off at 3:01pm on Saturday, including this blogger's beloved (though unsellable) Magpies draw at lower league Rochdale. The matches were available to anyone who had placed a bet or put a deposit in their account in the twenty four hours before kick-off. Betting companies with streaming rights for FA Cup ties say they would allow the games to be streamed on a free platform elsewhere. In July 2017, the FA announced it was cutting its ties with gambling firms, but the deal with IMG was done in January 2017.
