News

The Shocking Two Year Statistic For NUFC

A chance conversation set me off looking into whether the statistics backed up what I was hearing, I couldn’t quite believe it when I read up on it.

Yesterday (23rd October 2012) saw the second anniversary of a historic moment in Newcastle’s recent history.

Two years to the day we played West Ham at Upton Park and won 2-1. So far so good and yes it is the last time we won at their place because they ended up getting relegated that season.

So why is it an important date for Newcastle United?

Two years and one day ago, was the last time Newcastle United went behind in a Premier League match and turned it around into a win.

As I went through the matches it made depressing reading and considering those two years have generally seen Newcastle on the up under Alan Pardew, it didn’t seem conceivable.

(NB Newcastle did come behind against Blackburn but that was in the FA Cup when Ben Arfa and Jonas scored two brilliant late goals)

The reality is shocking though, in 32 Premier League matches Newcastle have gone a goal behind and managed to salvage 9 draws but been defeated 23 times.

To put it into perspective, Manchester United have already come from behind to win four Premier League matches this season.

Following the fightback at West Ham, there were three matches under Chris Hughton where NUFC couldn’t turn it around –

2010/11 Blackburn 1-2, Bolton, West Brom 1-3

Then under Alan Pardew we have the following;

2010/11 Manchester City 1-3, Spurs 0-2, Fulham 0-1, Arsenal 4-4, Everton 1-2, Stoke 0-4, Villa 0-1, Liverpool 0-3, Chelsea 2-2

2011/12 Villa 1-1, Spurs 2-2, Manchester City 1-3, Manchester United 1-1, Chelsea 0-3, Norwich 2-4, West Brom 2-3, Liverpool 1-3, Fulham 2-5, Spurs 0-5, Sunderland 1-1, Arsenal 1-2, Wigan 0-4, Manchester City 0-2, Everton 1-3

2012/13 Chelsea 0-2, Villa 1-1, Everton 2-2, Reading 2-2, Manchester United 0-3

(NUFC 1000 Goals DVD, Now on Sale at only £12.99 (FREE Postage) From Amazon)

It is not like every one of those matches was a disaster and of course it was an unbelievable fightback to get a draw from Arsenal in that 4-4. While this season’s 2-2 against Everton and last season’s draws against Manchester United and Spurs are creditable.

Just think though that if after that match at Upton Park you’d known that every match you sat through where Newcastle went a goal down, we had no chance of winning…whether it was Manchester City, or the likes of Villa, Wigan, Fulham and the Mackems etc.

To have gone on so long it has to point to a weakness in Newcastle’s squad and shows absolutely how important it is that we get the first goal.

32 matches isn’t a coincidence, a case of ‘over to you and your staff Alan’.

(On sale now online – Get New Mag for only £3 (Plus P & P) or a subscription from only £23)