Archive
Clark's Praise For Set-Piece Supremos
Written by Newcastle Utd
Ciaran Clark was full of praise for United's set-piece supremos, as the Magpies thumped QPR
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Ciaran Clark was full of praise for Newcastle United's set-piece supremos, as the Magpies recorded a 6-0 thumping of Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.
Free-kicks and corners have been a regular supply of goals for Rafa Benitez's high-flying side so far this term, and so it proved again at Loftus Road.
Two of United's goals came from dead ball routines - including one for Clark, his first for the Club - and the summer signing is not surprised given the quality they possess.
"I was buzzing to score," explained the Republic of Ireland international.
"I wasn't too worried about Mitro in front of me. I just tried to keep my eye on the ball and make sure I got a good connection, and thankfully it went in
"With the quality of the set-pieces coming in, we've always got a chance of getting on the end of them.
"Jonjo and Matty are brilliant with corners and free-kicks and we are a real threat from them now.
"We practice it in training and thankfully it came off out there and I managed to get my head on one."
As well as Clark's second-half effort, Jonjo Shelvey was on target twice, while there were also goals for Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Grant Hanley on a rampant night in West London.
But while the former Aston Villa man was delighted with his teammates' performance going forward, he was just as happy with a fifth successive clean sheet.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game but we managed to get off to a good start and it just went from there," continued Clark.
"We looked dangerous, we created a lot of chances and we could have scored more, but more importantly, we managed to keep another clean sheet, which is something we really wanted to do.
"We knew that at 2-0, if QPR had got one back it would have been a totally different game. Thankfully we came out after half-time and got a couple more which did seal the game and then it was all about concentration and making the right decisions, which I felt we did.
"Keeping a clean sheet was massive. It's something we have been working on and something we want to continue to do.
"That's your foundations to build from, as if you can keep a clean sheet then you've got a chance in any game.
"We are just as happy with the clean sheet as we are with all the goals."