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2017/18:
Check again, Mike

Huddersfield Town  1  Newcastle  0

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will need to have another look down the back of his sofa for some cash to back manager Rafa Benitez or he is set to lose hundreds of millions of his beloved pounds.

This side, as it stands, will be relegated back to the Championship unless two or three quality players are brought in before the transfer deadline closes.

No 70% discount deals from the bargain bucket or loans but genuine Premier League pedigree players that can help Benitez do his job and establish the club back in the top flight.

Anything else makes no financial sense.

This is obvious to anyone NOW - don't look back after relegation and say to Sky "with the benefit of hindsight".

United were outplayed and beaten by a Huddersfield Town side that has been strengthened in the right places from the play-off winners by a smart manager backed by the owner.

Not because Town's Chairman has the wealth of a small country but because he is smart enough to realise when investment pays off. Just like when Ashley managed to find £200m to back a building development in his beloved Chelsea.

Is Terriers' owner Dean Hoyle richer, smarter or just a better businessman than Ashley? Probably all three. He made his millions in bloody greeting cards.... But more important, he's a Huddersfield lad through and through. He understands. He gets it. He doesn't need hindsight.

A mistake from Jonjo Shelvey's replacement, Mikel Merino, gifted Aaron Mooy the chance to curl the winner in the 50th minute and all of our summer signings struggled, although Joselu did OK on his debut after replacing the ineffective Dwight Gayle.

But it could have been a different story had Craig Pawson waved his red card again. He sent off two Chelsea players last week and should have been brandishing it again to Steve Mounie for a stamp on Isaac Hayden that was worse than Shelvey's against Spurs.

The only difference was that Mounie was cleverer and more sneaky but significantly more vicious.

And Pawson again failed to favour Rafa's side when he waved play-on following a handball in the area that was remarkably similar to one given against Chancel Mbemba by Mike Dean against Manchester United in our relegation season.

Matt Ritchie came inches away from opening the scoring in the 17th minute with a fine snapshot that Jonas Lossl tipped around the post.

But the defensive performance from United deserved to be punished and it was five minutes after the break when Mooy picked up the ball and Merino's weak attempt to stop him allowed the Australian to take a wall-pass and beat Rob Elliot with a curling effort.

The Magpies still had chances to get back and Javier Manquillo should have done better with a cross straight to the 'keeper after getting behind the Town defence.

Joselu then found space in the box but hit a weak shot that was easily saved. Ayoze Perez fired over the bar from close range and substitute Jacob Murphy had an effort blocked as the home side hung on for the win.

We started last season with two defeats and finished top of the league so in that respect it's early to press the panic button.

But this is a different ball game entirely. There are only 36 games left now to gain 40 points against 19 other sides that look better equipped and in better spirits - how we've managed to become so negative again so quickly is something only the owner can explain.

He failed miserably to do so when speaking to "Craigy" last week.

No history rewrites, no hiding behind hindsight when going against the patently obvious and no more, no-money bullsh*t. You didn't do your due diligence. Get over it and keep your promises to Rafa - he's our only chance of keeping this club United.

The defeat meant we joined Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace and West Ham as pointless after two games. The first three are also scoreless while West Ham have two goals but are bottom having conceded seven. We play them next in the league.

Full match report to follow.

Team: Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Atsu, Hayden (Diame 76), Merino, Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 52), Perez (Murphy 80).
Subs n/u: Darlow, Aarons, Mitrovic, Saivet.

Booked: Ritchie, Hayden, Joselu, Lascelles.

HTFC: Lossl, Smith, Zanika, Schindler, Lowe, Mooy, Billing, Kachunga (Palmer 72), Ince (Hefele 90+2), Van La Parra (Quaner 69), Mounie.
Subs n/u: Coleman, Lolley, Malone, Williams.

Booked: Billing, Palmer, Mounie.

Goal: Mooy 50.

Crowd: 24,128 - a league record for the stadium that included 2,340 away fans. 



Town published a crowd of 24,129 for an FA Cup tie against Manchester City in February of this year.

Among former Terriers players present for their big day was ex-Magpie captain Peter Jackson.

Referee: Craig Pawson, who didn't have far to travel from his home near Sheffield.

The Sheffield Wednesday fan began the season by dismissing two Chelsea players during Burnley's 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Pawson took a break from Premier League duty back in February to preside over our 1-0 Championship success at Wolves - his first game involving Newcastle since the single goal defeat at Leicester in March 2016 on the night that Rafa Benitez first took charge of us.
 

Stats:
 
United have no points from a possible six in a Premier League season for the first time since 1999/00, when a 0-1 home loss to Aston Villa came ahead of a 1-3 loss away to Spurs.

Two defeats without scoring is the worst start to any Newcastle season since the 1981/82 campaign, when a 0-1 home defeat by Watford was followed by a 0-3 reverse at QPR in Division Two. 

The only other season we matched that "feat" was in 1937/38 when we were also in the second tier. In other words, United have never started a top-flight season by losing twice without finding the net. 

There were competitive debuts in a Newcastle shirt for Jacob Murphy and Joselu, while Mo Diame made his top-flight bow for the club. That trio extends the total of players representing us in the PL to 218. 

Rafa Benitez is still searching for a maiden away win in the top flight as Newcastle boss, having drawn two and lost the other four games on the road including the tail end of the 2015/16 season.

United now haven't won a Premier League game away from SJP since a 2-1 success against Spurs at White Hart Lane back in December 2015 - a run of 12 games (ten defeats and two draws). 

Huddersfield Town became the 47th different club that United have come up against in the PL, while The John Smiths Stadium is the 54th different venue.

Our opening Premier League away fixture of the season has resulted in twelve defeats, six draws and five victories as follows (final league position in brackets).

1993/94 Coventry City lost 1-2 (3rd)
1994/95 Leicester City won 3-1 (6th)
1995/96 Bolton Wanderers won 3-1 (2nd)
1996/97 Everton lost 0-2 (2nd)
1997/98 West Ham won 1-0 (13th)
1998/99 Chelsea drew 1-1 (13th)
1999/00 Spurs lost 1-3 (11th)
2000/01 Manchester United lost 0-2 (11th)
2001/02 Chelsea drew 1-1 (4th)
2002/03 Manchester City lost 0-1 (3rd)
2003/04 Leeds United drew 2-2 (5th)
2004/05 smoggies drew 2-2 (14th)
2005/06 Arsenal lost 0-2 (7th)
2006/07 Aston Villa lost 0-2 (13th)
2007/08 Bolton Wanderers won 3-1 (12th)
2008/09 Manchester United drew 1-1 (18th)
2010/11 Manchester United lost 0-3 (12th)
2011/12 mackems won 1-0 (5th)
2012/13 Chelsea lost 0-2 (16th)
2013/14 Manchester City lost 0-4 (10th)
2014/15 Aston Villa drew 0-0 (15th)
2015/16 Swansea City lost 0-2 (18th)
2017/18 Huddersfield Town lost 0-2 (??)

Failing to find the net at Fulham in the first game of our 2016/17 Championship season means that the last time we scored a goal in our opening away game was Ryan Taylor's "over the wall" one at the mackems in 2011.

Terriers tests - last 10 away games:

2017/18 lost 0-1
2016/17 won 3-1 Ritchie, Murphy, Gayle
1983/84 drew 2-2 Beardsley, Mills
1971/72 drew 0-0
1970/71 drew 1-1 Smith
1964/65 won 1-0 McGarry
1963/64 lost 0-3
1962/63 lost 1-2 Penman
1961/62 lost 1-2 White
1955/56 won 6-2 Keeble 4, Crowe, White

Rafa:

"You cannot make too many mistakes in the Premier League. We made one mistake, gave Mooy too much time on the ball and we conceded.

"You have to take your chances. We tried to create more chances after the Matt Ritchie effort. The reaction from the team was good to going behind.

"We are at the beginning and we have to keep going. The only way to improve is to train harder.

"I'm obviously disappointed. We have some little problems in defence, with not too many players, and we have to manage.

"They did well for a while, and we conceded because we gave them too much time on the ball. After that we were quite positive, but it's a learning process for us.

"It is a learning process for us, and hopefully we can learn quickly. That is how it is at the moment. Maybe it is too soon for us. It will take some time for sure.

"I am sure we will improve. We will need time, but I am sure we can improve.

"We started the game controlling things a little bit when they were pressing, But it doesn’t matter if you are well organised, pressing and working very hard – you have to score goals. 

"You cannot concede if you want to get results in the Premier League, or any division, but especially when you are playing in the top division.

"There is nothing to say about transfers at the moment, there is no news. I haven’t seen the latest names (linked with Newcastle) - we have to wait. 

"Obviously, we are working behind the scenes trying to do things, but I do not know what our position is at the moment.

"We will see what happens, it's still 11 days, but I don't see an easy window yet."

Latest Premier League results/fixture:

Sat 19.08.2017:
Swansea City 0-4 Manchester United
Bournemouth 0-2 Watford
Burnley 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
Leicester City 2-0 Brighton and Hove Albion
Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace
Southampton 3-2 West Ham
Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal

Sun 20.08.2017:
Huddersfield Town 1-0 Newcastle
Spurs 1-2 Chelsea

Mon 21.08.2017:
Manchester City v Everton (8pm) Sky
 
Borrowers:
Loan lads on target

Sean Longstaff (Blackpool)
It's now two goals for Lobby in as many games for the Tangerines as they drew 3-3 at Doncaster Rovers in League One on Saturday. 

He shot home a glorious first equaliser and played the full game as Blackpool came from behind three times.

See Lobby's goal online

Ivan Toney (Wigan Athletic)
Ivan scored after eight minutes to give Wigan the lead at Oldham Athletic in League One on Saturday. It was 2-0 not long after and it stayed like that with Toney making way for Will Grigg in the 71st minute. 

See Ivan's goal online here

Adam Armstrong (Bolton Wanderers)
Adam started the game but was sacrificed at half-time with the Trotters 0-2 down. It finished 1-2 after Bolton scored a late goal.

Callum Williams (Gateshead)
Gateshead were back on home territory and posted another 3-0 victory, Macclesfield Town going the same way as Torquay did last week. Callum wasn't in the squad, nursing an injury picked up against Wrexham.

Alex Gilliead (Bradford City)
Alex was an unused substitute as the Bantams lost at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, the only goal of the game coming just after half-time.

Tom Heardman (Bury) 
Tom wasn't in the squad for the 2-3 home loss to Bristol Rovers in League One on Saturday and is yet to make his competitive senior debut for the Shakers.

Matz Sels (Anderlecht)
It's now back to back losses for Anderlecht, who have won just once in their opening four games as they attempt to retain their Belgian First Division crown.

Sunday saw them beaten 2-3 at home by Sint-Truiden, with Sels playing the full game - beaten three times by efforts from within his six yard box.

U18s:
Derby day draw

mackem U18s  1  Newcastle U18s  1

Beaten 1-2 at home by Manchester City last weekend, Newcastle's U18 side got their first point of the season when they made the short journey to Whitburn.

However, only a dubious late goal denied them all three points on a windy wearside as their winning run against the mackems came to an end.

A goalless first half saw United dominate possession but were slightly fortunate to still be level at the interval.

Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka had hit the bar from long range for the home side in the ninth minute and Lee Connelly shot wide of an empty net in seven minutes later, after 'keeper Otto Huuhtanen went walkabout.

Adam Wilson thought he had put Newcastle ahead on 25 minutes following a strong run by Thomas Allan, only for Anthony Patterson to dive full length and deny him.

But the young Magpies went ahead four minutes after the break when an accurate forward ball by Kelland Watts found Elias Sorensen on the left edge of the box and he squared it for Matty Longstaff to finish with a low shot from six yards.

Allan had a couple of chances to double the lead, the first coming in the 77th minute but after rounding the 'keeper he hesitated from shooting and a defender got back on the line, allowing Patterson to dive and dispossess the United forward.

And then ten minutes from time Allan attempted to lob Patterson who did brilliantly to palm the ball away.

The unwashed got their equaliser in the 88th minute when a suspiciously looking offside Connelly slipped the ball under Huuhtanen after Watts mistimed a header.

Team: Huuhtanen, Allen, Aplin, Longstaff, Cass, Watts, Wilson, Goodridge, Sorensen (Robson 60), Allan, Kasinga (Young 74).
Subs n/u: Gamblin, Langley, Joyce.

Booked: Kasinga, Aplin.


Run the Race:
Beautiful Vision

Supporting his efforts for the Useful Vision charity in 2017, Mark Allison aka Run Geordie Run has some brand-new T-shirts on sale, designed by one of the children who stand to benefit from the proceeds.  

They cost £12 with every last penny going direct to the charity. Find details of the ordering process along with information about Useful Vision online here

2017/18:
Signed shirt offer

In addition to the 10% discount offered to NUFC.com readers our sponsors MJS Computers have a 2017/18 season Newcastle United home shirt autographed by Rafa Benitez up for grabs in a prize draw.

Anyone having an Apple, iPad, iPhone or laptop repair carried out by MJS until 3pm on Saturday September 16th and quoting NUFC.com will be entered, with one winner selected at random on that date.

NB: callouts excluded, only repairs at MJS Computers, 30 Merton Way, Ponteland, Northumberland NE20 9PS will count. One entry to the draw per item repaired. 

2017/18:
Nottingham Forest (h)

The Magpies begin their League Cup campaign with a home tie on Wednesday evening against a Forest side managed by Mark Warburton.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm and the tie must be concluded on the night via extra time or penalties if required. 

Tickets are on public sale now - lower sections of the ground only - priced at £10 adults & £5 concessions. These double to £20 & £10 on the day of the game.

Whichever side wins through will take their place in the Third Round draw, which at the behest of cup sponsors Carabao will be conducted in Beijing on Thursday. 

NUFC: Jonjo Shelvey remains suspended (2 of 3), while Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune are both injured. It's uncertain whether DeAndre Yedlin will be fit enough to feature against Forest.

Betting: Coral's new punter offer now includes £30 in free football bets for a £10 initial stake online here

NFFC: There's a quick return to his former club for striker Daryl Murphy.

Ahead of their trip to SJP, Forest beat the smoggies 2-1 at home in the Championship on Saturday - a second league victory in three games so far this season.

To qualify for the Second Round, Forest saw off Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at the City Ground.

Referee: Darren England from Barnsley - taking charge of his first game involving NUFC.

The 31 year-old made his Football League debut during 2015 and took charge of a Championship game for the first time in March of this year.

This will be the first time that he's refereed a game involving a top flight side but SJP isn't the biggest venue of his career - having overseen May's League Two playoff final at Wembley.

Pizza Express in Dean Street are once again offering anyone with a valid match ticket a 30% reduction on their total bill on Wednesday. Only one match ticket is required for a full table to qualify - open from 11.30am.

UK TV: No UK live coverage. Channel 5 have a 90 minute highlights show at 10pm on Wednesday.

Overseas TV: None

UK Radio: None

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Travel: Don't forget that the Metro is still off in both directions between Shiremoor and South Gosforth. The usual 900 bus replacement service is in operation.

Stats: 

Forest lost 1-3 at SJP in the league in December, having beaten United 2-1 by the banks of the Trent earlier the same month.

The two sides last met in this competition back in 2011, Newcastle winning away by the odd goal in seven.

Also paired together in 1974/75, a 1-1 draw at the City Ground was followed by a replay on Tyneside that the Magpies emphatically won 3-0.

United have emerged unscathed from their last sixteen Second Round ties (six on a two-legged basis) and last lost in this round to the smoggies back in 1990:

1990/91 Middlesbrough lost 1-2 (on agg)
1991/92 Crewe Alexandra won 5-3 (on agg)
1992/93 Middlesbrough won 3-1 (on agg)
1993/94 Notts County won 11-2 (on agg)
1994/95 Barnsley won 3-1 (on agg)
1995/96 Bristol City won 8-1 (on agg)
2000/01 Leyton Orient won 3-1 (on agg)
2001/02 Brentford (h) won 4-1
2007/08 Barnsley (h) won 2-0
2008/09 Coventry City (a) won 3-2
2009/10 Huddersfield Town (h) won 4-3
2010/11 Accrington Stanley (a) won 3-2
2011/12 Scunthorpe United (a) won 2-1
2013/14 Morecambe (a) won 2-0
2014/15 Gillingham (a) won 1-0
2015/16 Northampton Town (h) won 4-1
2016/17 Cheltenham Town (h) won 2-0

Second Round ties:

Tue 22.08.2017:
Accrington Stanley v West Brom
Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic
Barnsley v Derby County or Grimsby*
Birmingham City v Bournemouth

Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday
Brighton & Hove Albion v Barnet
Cardiff City v Burton Albion
Carlisle v mackems
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
Doncaster Rovers v Hull City
Fulham v Bristol Rovers
Leeds United v Newport County
smoggies v Scunthorpe United
MK Dons v Swansea City
Norwich City v Charlton Athletic 
QPR v Brentford
Reading v Millwall
Sheffield United v Leicester City Sky
Watford v Bristol City

Wed 23.08.2017: 

Blackburn Rovers v Burnley
Cheltenham Town v West Ham Sky
Huddersfield Town v Rotherham United
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest
Southampton v Wolves
Stoke City v Rochdale

* the abandoned First Round tie between Grimsby Town and Derby County will be played on Tue 22.08.2017.

U23s:
Black Country 
bonanza!

West Brom U23s  0  Newcastle U23s  4



Having beaten Stoke City 4-3 on the road a week earlier, Newcastle U23s maintained their prolific away form with another notable success on Friday night.  

The game was played at the Hawthorns and Peter Beardsley's side found the surroundings to their liking, netting three times in a nine minute first half spell.

Kyle Cameron struck first on fourteen minutes, playing a 1-2 with Callum Smith before curling in a great effort from the left hand side of the box.

Cameron then turned provider six minutes later, sending over an excellent cross from the United left for Luke Charman to coolly beat Baggies 'keeper Alex Palmer. 

And it was 3-0 midway through the first half when Callum Smith's centre reached Craig Spooner, who smashed his shot home for a first goal at this level.

The interval was reached without any further scoring as Albion tried without success to reduce the arrears - intermittent showers giving way to heavy rainfall.

With Stefan O'Connor and Owen Bailey on for fellow defenders Curtis Good and and Jamie Sterry, United almost grabbed a fourth goal after 52 minutes.

However Charman's flicked header just missed the angle of the bar and post, after Dan Barlaser lifted his free kick goalwards.

The Newcastle goal was threatened on 64 minutes as Kyle Edwards made his way forward and created a chance with a mazy run - only to curl his side-footed effort narrowly wide of the target.

The blue-clad Magpies did make it four though with 15 minutes remaining, when another Barlaser free kick was played into the Albion box from the left and headed in by Owen Bailey for his first competitive reserve goal.

Team: Harker, Sterry (Bailey 46), Cameron, Hunter, Yarney, Good (O'Connor 46), Spooner, Barlaser, Charman (Gallacher 77), L.Smith, C.Smith.
Subs n/u: Woolston tbc, Sangare.

(The teamsheet listed Paul Woolston as starting, but Nathan Harker played the full 90 minutes). 

WBA: Palmer, Soleman, Melbourne (McCourt 65), Chambers, O'Shea, Jameson, Clayton-Phillips (Azaz 55), Bradley (Ferguson 75), Morton, Roberts, Edwards. 
Subs n/u: Pierce, Przybeck.

Booked: Bradley, Edwards.

Referee: Peter Wright.

Crowd: 224.

Internationals:
Toon duo recalled

A 39 man preliminary squad for World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia has been announced by Ireland, with Rob Elliot and Ciaran Clark included.

The Magpies pair last featured for Ireland back in 2016 - Rob's appearance against Slovakia in March curtailed when he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage.

Clark meanwhile played in a 1-0 victory against Austria in Vienna last November but sat out a qualifier against Wales in March due to injury.

PS: Former Magpie Daryl Murphy is also in the squad.

Unlikely lads:
Transfers 

Old boys on the move: 

Gideon Adu-Peprah Cambridge United (trial)
Sam Allardyce left Crystal Palace
Sammy Ameobi Bolton Wanderers
Vurnon Anita Leeds United
Sebastien Bassong Birmingham City (trial)
Gael Bigirimana Motherwell
Kevin Bond Birmingham City C
Lee Bowyer Charlton Athletic AM
Titus Bramble Stowmarket Town
Tony Caig Bury GC
Ian Cathro left Hearts
Adam Campbell Morecambe
Ryan Donaldson Hartlepool United
Seydou Doumbia AS Roma to Sporting Lisbon (loan)
Shay Given training with Macclesfield Town
Yoan Gouffran Goztepe Izmir
Stuart Green Cleator Moor Celtic M
Jonas Gutierrez Independiente 
Des Hamilton Eccleshill United AM
Jamie Holmes South Shields
JJ Hooper Grimsby Town
Brad Inman Peterborough United to Rochdale (loan)
Darren Jackson Scotland U19 AC
Peter Lovenkrands Rangers YC
Lomana LuaLua South Shields (trial)
Ryan McGorrigan Blyth Town
Daryl Murphy Nottingham Forest
Conor Newton Hartlepool United
Gabriel Obertan Levski Sofia
Alan O'Brien Chippenham Town
Scott Parker Spurs Academy C
Matty Pattison South Shields
Nile Ranger Southend United to HMP venue TBC
John Robertson Inverness CT M
Lubo Satka DAC 1904
Steven Taylor Doncaster Rovers (trial)
Steven Taylor Peterborough United
Haris Vuckic FC Twente
Mike Williamson Oxford United
Andy Woodman left Whitehawk