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Colo Hails "Fantastic" Elliot
Written by Newcastle Utd
Fabricio Coloccini hailed the "strong character" of Rob Elliot, who earned the Magpies victory at Bournemouth
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Fabricio Coloccini hailed the "strong character" of Rob Elliot, after Newcastle United's goalkeeper single-handedly earned them all three points at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland international stopper made a string of oustanding saves to keep the dominant Cherries at bay time and time again at the Vitality Stadium.
It was a second successive clean sheet for Elliot, who is currently playing through the pain of a thigh injury, and Coloccini believes that sort of team-first mentality is exactly what Newcastle need right now as they bid to climb away from the wrong end of the Barclays Premier League table.
"I'm really glad to see Robbie back and to play the game he played. He is a fantastic man and deserves this," the captain told nufc.co.uk.
"Last week (against Stoke) he played with an injury and was strong and played for the team.
"He is always ready to play and puts the team first, so he deserves a performance like this.
"We need people like Robbie, with his strong character, in this dressing room. He never lets us down and when things are not going well he will not hide. He steps up, wants to play and wants to help the team."
While Elliot was superb at one end, chances were few and far between at the other.
United were far from at their cohesive best but snatched the victory thanks to a rare foray forward just before the half-hour mark, which was finished off by a clinical Ayoze Perez strike - his third of the season.
Coloccini was well aware that the Magpies have produced much more polished performances this term, but admitted: "The three points was all that mattered.
"It was a very important win for us. In the game, we didn't play well and maybe didn't deserve to win, because they created a lot of situations.
"But this is football. We played really well against Sunderland and Stoke recently and could only get one point from those two games.
"(Against Bournemouth) we defended well, like a team, and kept a clean sheet. At the other end we took our chance, so it was very positive.
"This result gives us even more confidence and trust in the way we are going. We know we are going in the right way and the results are starting to show that."