"We played extra-time in the FA Cup and scored four goals - that gave everyone confidence today.

"We could see from the first minute our team wanted to get three points against a rival. We did really well. Everyone has to be pleased.

"My message to the fans was to stay calm and support the team - the players did well and the fans enjoyed every minute.

"We did good. We scored three goals so everyone has to be happy.

"The main thing is the commitment of the players and then it was about trying to manage the game against a tough team, a physical team.

"Fabian Schar has quality on the ball. It (the first goal) was a great goal. The team were giving everything and this kind of game you know you have to work hard.

On the alleged return of Dennis Wise:

"I have no idea. Someone was telling me about this.

"Yesterday I was talking to Lee Charnley and Steve Nickson about the transfer window.

"I cannot control the money but at least I can talk - I can say yes or no (to the identity of any player involved in a proposed transfer deal).”

(Wise tweeted on Sunday to deny that he was currently acting in any advisory capacity at NUFC).

On the prospect of meeting the owner: 

"It could be good if he comes. I certainly don't think it is a bad thing. I don't have any problems (speaking to him), I'm open to any good ideas.'

PS: Rafa and Ashley did reportedly speak after the game, apparently their first face to face contact since the Ponteland pizza night in October 2018. It's not known what was said, but you'd not rule out something along the lines of "you'd better lose that cup tie next week..." 

 

Schar: I got two babe!

"I can't wait to get out of it, if I'm honest. I think we'll be far better out of the bloody thing. In every aspect. Football-wise as well, absolutely. To hell with the rest of the world."

Given the poorness of Cardiff today it was tempting to wonder whether Neil Warnock actually meant the Premier League when he said "better out of the bloody thing" during a recent pro-Brexit rant.

We'd labelled the Bluebirds as relegation certainties after their weak attempt at dealing with us in Wales last August and little seems to have changed since, despite a handful of performances and results that had some pundits acclaiming him as miracle worker.

Hopefully Warnock's mood had darkened further by full time, after our French, Swiss, Spanish, Ghanaian, American, Slovakian and Venezuelan players highlighted Cardiff's lack of a back stop.   

Two moments of Swiss precision put Newcastle on the road to a timely home victory, Fabian Schar getting off the mark for his side as they won for the first time in six Premier League outings. 

Ayoze Perez then added a late third to extend City's awful record on Tyneside to ten successive league defeats and put the seal on United's most emphatic victory of the season. 

Following his midweek FA Cup posting in midfield, Schar took up a more familiar position as part of a back five - replacing Ciaran Clark in the only change to the team that was beaten 1-2 at Chelsea.

Kicking towards the Gallowgate End, a bright start by the hosts saw Ayoze Perez's header tipped over at the expense of a corner on 13 minutes. The visitors then survived a massive penalty appeal for a handball five minutes later, but fell behind after 24 minutes when Schar dribbled into the box before curling a low effort into the corner of the net. 

Referee Stuart Attwell came in for abuse from home followers for the penalty refusal and further angered them by taking a lenient view of Sol Bamba's tight man-to-man marking duty on Salomon Rondon and various other refusals to grant what looked uncomplicated decisions regarding holding and general foul play. Today was another day when linesmen contributed absolutely nothing.  

Perez came close to doubling United's lead just before the hour when he saw his shot blocked in the six yard box, but the much-prized second home goal arrived within five minutes as Matt Ritchie's flag kick was helped on by Jamaal Lascelles for Schar to bundle home and double his tally for the club.

Further chances then came and went for Newcastle to improve their goal difference before a belated upturn in effort from City saw them look to threaten our goal - although Martin Dubravka was seldom in any danger of surrendering his clean sheet as defenders made crucial blocks.

Five additional minutes were signalled at the end of normal time and halfway through that, the home side broke upfield and Perez had a simple finish from Rondon's low ball across the box from the left - his second goal in a week doubling this season's output and hopefully marking a return to the sort of form that he demonstrated in the closing weeks of last season as we navigated clear of trouble.

In addition to his scoring exploits, Schar also proved his worth at the back with some timely blocks. The same can be said of Florian Lejeune, who completed a third 90 minutes in as many weeks and looks like he's never been away - although he shared some collective guilt early on as the defence invited pressure with risky and avoidable sideways passes. Other sides will punish that.

Mention too for Sean Longstaff, who shows a good blend of confidence and competence - with the vision to see and hit decent passes, and be undaunted if they don't come off. Rondon meanwhile was a colossus; admirably leading the line and keeping his cool despite ample opportunity to plant deserved elbows in the face of his marker (in contrast to predecessor Mitro, who had an opponent in a headlock 24 hours later, days after tales about fighting team mates surfaced in the media).   

The three points saw Rafa's side swap places with Cardiff and climb out of the bottom three to seventeenth, two points ahead of the Bluebirds. Given that our next three league games see us host the reigning champions before visiting Spurs and Wolves, this was an absolutely priceless victory.

Newcastle's first home success in five attempts rounded off a week when on-field matters provided a welcome distraction from the ongoing horror show off it. Having returned to Gallowgate and seen them win again though, it's easy to imagine the owner and his cronies believing that all is well and there's no reason to invest on anything other than the latest failing High Street retail chain.

Time will tell whether he's proved right or gambles unsuccessfully for the third time in a decade. For increasing numbers though, getting to May and staying in this league just isn't enough any more. 

Defeat today was unthinkable, victory essential, the reason for being in this state still unfathomable.

Biffa