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Elliot's Debut Delight
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rob Elliot believes Newcastle fully deserve their place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup after victory at Nottingham Forest
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Journalist
Rob Elliot was delighted to taste victory on his Newcastle debut, as he helped the Magpies into the fourth round of the Carling Cup.
The goalkeeper was selected to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, exactly three weeks after signing from Charlton, and made a promising start to United life with an assured display as they triumphed 4-3 after extra-time.
The tie was probably a bit more eventful than Elliot would have hoped for, as he found himself picking the ball out of the back of the net three times, but the 25-year-old was largely pleased with his evening's work.
"It wasn't your run-of-the-mill game, was it?" he told nufc.co.uk after the final whistle.
"The manager made some changes and gave the squad players a chance. He said there is very little between all the players in the squad and that this was our chance to impress, and I think we did that.
"We conceded a couple of sloppy goals, but I think all-in-all we were the better team, especially when we passed and moved it.
"I was pleased with my performance. I didn't see the first goal until after it was hit, and maybe if I had been sighted then I would have saved it, but you can't have everything perfect. I am always striving to improve, and I want to do that when I next get a chance.
"But generally I was quite pleased with my kicking, crosses and everything else, and the conditions weren't easy."
The game looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out until Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini nodded home the winner with seconds remaining, and Elliot said he wouldn't have been daunted by the prospect of facing spot kicks on his debut.
"The biggest thing is that we wanted to win, so as long as we won, that was all that mattered, and it didn't matter if it was by extra-time, penalties or whatever," he explained.
"I was just pleased with the win and when Colo scored at the end it was a huge relief. The celebrations were huge. I was trying to stay calm as anything can happen in football, and then you celebrate after once the final whistle has gone."