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Luke Edwards is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.

As well as football, Luke also regularly takes a wry look at the biggest sports stories from across the North-East and beyond. From cricket to rugby and basketball to boxing, some are criticised and some are praised.

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Thriller - Copyright Of Newcastle United

Posted by Luke on December 7, 2006 4:40 PM | 

There were two things that stuck out from Glenn Roeder's post "thrilling victory over Reading" press conference. Don't worry I'll get to the match itself in a little while.

Firstly, United's manager disappointed me a little when he would not reveal exactly what had been said to Emre to incense his Turkish match-winner in the first-half.

Roeder volunteered the information about his Turkish international being personally abused by a member of the Reading coaching staff, but then he would not reveal what had been said.

I can understand his wish to concentrate on a crucial victory and a spirited display from an injury-ravaged side that had looked in danger of falling into the relegation abyss when they were 2-1 down at half time, but the suspicion is that the abuse was racial and, if it was, that should surely be reported to the Football Authorities.

Emre is one of the few Muslims playing in the Premiership and, if the "fun-poking" was linked to his nationality or religion that it needs to be punished just as it would if a black player was called an unacceptable name on a football pitch.

If it wasn't a racist comment, Roeder's unwillingness to elaborate has clouded the issue and made people like me suspicious about what was said. I'm speculating that the abuse was racist and it might have been nothing of the sort, but there is smoke and Roeder should either put the fire out or add fuel to it.

Anyway, enough of that. Whatever was said, Emre got the perfect riposte in with a sublime strike which completed a sensational fightback by the Magpies. It was - and this phrase is overused - a vital victory as my Reality Check entry has already suggested and it was, as Roeder remarked after the game, the sort of win that thrills Newcastle supporters.

He's right of course. There will be a few killjoys out there who claim they's rather have a workmanlike 1-0 win, but they're fools. It was people like that who were responsible for Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness becoming managers.

Wednesday's game epitomised why football is so fantastic, gut-churning, head spinning euphoria after gut-wrenching, head-pounding disappointment. A full range of emotions, pain, despair, joy and excitement. Brilliant! Newcastle fans have had precious little value for money this season, but that was worth the price on the ticket.

Let's be honest, 2-1 down at half time, Newcastle looked shot to pieces at the start of the second half after a dreadful ten minute spell of defending had allowed Reading to take the lead and the initiative. They were booed off the pitch and all the talk at half time was of relegation, protests and sackings.

So credit to Obafemi Martins for winning and converting the penalty which suddenly brought Newcastle back into the game and well done Emre for shutting Reading up with actions rather than words!

Please see Reality Check for what this victory hopefully means because I've got to start cooking my signature Roast Chicken Dish for dinner (tea, supper, whatever you want to call it) and I've not got the time to go into it again!

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Comments (2)

Little Lord Fauntleroy wrote...

Roast Chicken dinner with concrete-like undercooked potatoes??? Mmm, i wish i had an invite!

As for the match. Best game of the season you say? Typical then, that as a critic of Martins' ability and Emre's desire this season, they both sparkle when I had chosen to give my ticket to a relative so that I wouldn't have to sit through what was meant to be a poor excuse for a football match.
I'm not vitriolic... No, not me!
However, I was in the warm, dry surroundings of Newcastle Arena for what I believe was a far better spectacle anyway, a live show by Basement Jaxx!!
I think my allegiances are changing from football to live music. Newcastle probably won't win a trophy until I stop going to the matches anyway, so perhaps next season will herald an unprecedented treble??

Posted by: Little Lord Fauntleroy  | December 8, 2006 1:28 PM

Harry wrote...

Are you sure you're not a Newcastle fan Luke?

Posted by: Harry  | December 11, 2006 10:56 AM

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