Roeder hopes for no more Magpies sorrow
Glenn Roeder is hoping Newcastle’s latest cup success will kick-start their sorry Premiership campaign, even though the previous five attempts all ended in disappointment.
The Magpies squeezed into the last eight of the Carling Cup via a penalty shoot-out victory over Watford after the tie at Vicarage Road had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time.
It is a curious fact that Newcastle are unbeaten in no fewer than 10 cup ties this season, in the InterToto, UEFA and Carling Cup competitions, yet can be found in the Premiership drop zone following a dismal winless run since September.
On only two occasions have they followed a cup win with a league success and just one Premiership point has been taken from the last five such fixtures.
Roeder admitted he was unable to explain why his side could win at Palermo and then lose at home to Sheffield United straight after, but knows this habit must be cured if he is to remain in a job.
He said: “It is amazing. Football is not an exact science and I can’t give an explanation for that because we have played well enough to win Premiership matches but it hasn’t gone for us on the day.
“The result last Thursday against the team that is top of Serie A and who came out at the weekend and beat Sampdoria 2-0 was fantastic because English clubs just don’t win in Italy.
“But we came back and had the most disappointing performance. We keep hoping that when we have a good cup result it will kick the Premiership season into a start for us.
“It hasn’t happened yet but hopefully this weekend it will turn our way.”
Newcastle travel to Manchester City on Saturday to complete a hectic spell of fixtures in the past fortnight.
The Sheffield United game had been played less than 48 hours after returning from Italy and the extra time at Vicarage Road will have made Roeder’s players even wearier.
But the Magpies boss was confident there would be enough time to recharge batteries before heading to Manchester.
He said: “Thankfully it was Tuesday night and not Wednesday so we have got the extra day.
"Because we have played so many games in a mad fixture list the boys are fit at the moment.
“Three full days before lunchtime on Saturday should have the boys back in shape.”
Roeder’s cause has not been helped by injuries to key players, with big-money summer signing Obafemi Martins the most high-profile absentee.
Reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul is the latest to be sidelined and was taken to hospital after aggravating a knee injury in the warm-up, although the Dutchman had not been due to play against Watford.
Roeder said: “He dived and the knee locked up. He was in a lot of pain but has been very well looked after by the medical staff at Watford.”
The night was a big disappointment for Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd, who was critical of his players for not holding on to a 2-1 lead as extra time drew to a close.
One consolation was that his side has now been beaten just once over 90 minutes in the last 10 games, a run that will be severely tested at Chelsea on Saturday.
Boothroyd was his usual upbeat self about the trip to Stamford Bridge.
He said: “It will be a very difficult game but it is one that we will relish and one we’re looking forward to.
“We’ve got to make sure we maintain that difficult-to-beat ethic and character that we’ve got. It’s a great game to bounce back in and, who knows, we might surprise a few people.”
