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Skipper salutes 'overpowering' Magpies
Written by Rory Mitchinson
Captain Jamaal Lascelles praised Newcastle United for an “overpowering” display as the Magpies saw off Aston Villa to return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
Though United created little in the opening half, they still headed into the break in the ascendancy after Yoan Gouffran poked the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, another three-point haul was all but wrapped up thanks to former Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury, who bundled the ball into his own net just before the hour-mark after the Magpies’ skipper had flicked on Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.
Though they took their time to impose themselves in the final third, Lascelles felt that United were much the better side after making the breakthrough, Rafa Benitez’s side now a point clear of Brighton & Hove Albion once more.
“People have been saying that we needed to up our home record – they are right – and this game just shows how well we can play at home,” he told nufc.co.uk. “On paper, Villa are excellent, and they have a good manager. But, we showed how our team chemistry and work ethic can overpower teams – and that’s exactly what we did tonight.
“We knew Villa would turn up against us, and to be fair, they made it hard for us early on. But, we got the first goal, and – at home – if we get the second goal, we’ll see teams off. We controlled the game and managed it excellently.”
Lascelles also had a hand in Newcastle’s opening goal, nodding Matt Ritchie’s cross into the six-yard area, a position from which the Villa rearguard were unable to clear.
Having netted in last week’s 2-2 draw at Carrow Road, the 23-year-old admitted he thought he had taken his tally for the season to three after turning Shelvey’s corner goalbound – only to discover that Lansbury had provided the finishing touch.
“It’s quite embarrassing, actually! I was celebrating, going nuts, thinking I’ve just scored a second, and two minutes later they said that it was an own-goal from Lansbury,” he chuckled. “But, I was obviously in the right place at the right time to flick it, which was all I could do.
“The three points is the most important thing. It was a great performance, and we’ll look forward to the Bristol City game now.”
“On paper, Villa are excellent, and they have a good manager. But, we showed how our team chemistry and work ethic can overpower teams – and that’s exactly what we did tonight."