Newcastle United fans are unlikely to find even the richest, most indulgent Easter egg remotely as satisfying as the evening that virtually rubber-stamped their team’s Premier League status for another season.
Featuring a yellow card that should have been red, a smart second-half switch to 4-4-2, two clever substitutions and an Ayoze Pérez hat-trick, this was a game that kept on giving. Indeed it was so good that, for 90 minutes, home supporters all but forgot about the enduring impasse between Rafael Benítez and Newcastle’s owner, Mike Ashley, over negotiations to extend a managerial contract that expires in June.
Written by Louise Taylor at St James’ Park
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/20/newcastle-united-v-southampton-match-report under the title “Ayoze Pérez hat-trick allows Newcastle to ride out Southampton revival”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
