Magpies claim first win of the season

AT the third time of asking, Newcastle United’s season is finally up and running. The final scoreline might have been somewhat flattering, with the Magpies enjoying a three-goal advantage their play didn’t always deserve, but this was still a marked improvement on what had gone before. Not exactly polished; but no longer pointless either.

A first win of the campaign had looked in doubt when Garath McCleary cancelled out Isaac Hayden’s 20th-minute opener on the stroke of half-time, but three second-half goals enabled Rafael Benitez’s side to finally make their mark in the Championship.

Matt Ritchie, who already looks crucial to Newcastle’s attacking prospects, scored from the spot, before Dwight Gayle made it three goals in the space of two games with a superb free-kick and a close-range strike in the dying seconds.

There were flaws in the Magpies’ display, most notably a continued shakiness in defence and a failure to exert sufficient control at the heart of midfield to shut down a limited Reading team.

But by the time the final whistle blew, the hosts could celebrate a comfortable success, largely thanks to the strength of their attacking resources. Gayle, a £10m signing from Crystal Palace, looks capable of scoring a hatful at this level, while Hayden, who likes to attack from a deep-lying midfield role, already looks an astute acquisition.

That Newcastle could afford to leave the likes of Daryl Janmaat, Jamaal Lascelles and Jack Colback on the bench speaks volumes for the depth of talent at Benitez’s disposal. The Spaniard might still be looking for further additions, but this is already a squad with plentiful options.

Blending them together successfully remains a challenge, although Benitez will have been satisfied with his side’s efforts in the opening and closing stages.

The Magpies were rightly prevented from taking the lead in the third minute when referee Andrew Madley penalised Gayle after he converted Ayoze Perez’s right-wing cross with his arm, but the tone was set for a flow of early one-way traffic towards the Reading goal.

Perez saw a near-post volley deflect narrowly wide, with debutant Ciaran Clark heading over from ten yards from the resultant corner, before the hosts deservedly claimed the lead in the 20th minute.

Ritchie’s set-pieces are a key part of his arsenal, and while his free-kick from the edge of the area was blocked, the ball fell kindly for Hayden, who was loitering on the edge of the box.

The former Arsenal midfielder steadied himself, before dispatching a crisp low effort into the bottom left-hand corner. It was his first competitive goal since a £2.5m summer move from the Emirates, and ensured Newcastle’s early dominance was rewarded.

The recalled Yoan Gouffran came close to adding a second goal shortly after the hour mark, only for his swivelled volley to fly straight at Ali Al-Habsi, but with Newcastle’s defensive vulnerabilities sporadically reappearing, Reading provided a considerable scare with their first meaningful attack.

Matz Sels, who has looked far from assured in his early days as a Newcastle player, was beaten all ends up by Roy Beerens’ 20-yard effort that cannoned against the crossbar, and while the Belgian goalkeeper parried Danny Williams’ shot from a similar distance moments later, it was hardly the most assured of interventions.

Reading’s ability to grow into the game reflected Newcastle’s lack of control in midfield, with the hosts boasting no one capable of retaining possession and dictating the tempo of the game.

Jonjo Shelvey should surely be filling that role given that he was an England international as recently as last November, but the 24-year-old failed to exert any kind of influence despite his lofty reputation, and Newcastle were hit with a sucker-punch on the stroke of half-time for the third game in succession.

It was a self-inflicted wound, with Clark recklessly lunging at Yann Kermorgant to concede a penalty, enabling McCleary to hammer home from the spot.

Five minutes after the break, however, and Newcastle were profiting from a penalty of their own. Ritchie swung over a corner from the left, and as players tumbled here, there and everywhere on the edge of the six-yard box, Chris Gunter was penalised for a foul on Gouffran.

Gayle had missed a spot-kick four days earlier, albeit converting from the rebound, so penalty-taking duties passed to Ritchie, who calmly stroked the ball past Al-Habsi’s right hand.

It would be wrong to say that Newcastle took complete control from that point – Reading caused a couple of scares from corners and the hosts continued to punt too many aimless long balls downfield – but the hosts were comfortably the better side throughout the second half.

Hayden, whose surges into the box were a key feature of the Magpies’ attacking play, came close with a first-time effort that was saved by Al-Habsi, and the midfielder was heavily involved again when Newcastle finally secured some breathing space.

Having linked up effectively with Perez, Hayden’s run towards the area was only halted when George Evans chopped him to the ground.

It didn’t look an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but Gayle produced a peach of a free-kick that curled up and over the wall. Al-Habsi got his right hand to the ball, but couldn’t keep it out.

Gayle added his second of the night with a minute left, tapping home from close range after Hayden delivered a low cross from the right.