ONSIDE: ‘Dyce could have rolled Newcastle United’s way

Published on 12/11/2012 16:49

SO former Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has masterminded another Newcastle United defeat.

That is three victories out of three over his former employers since he was dismissed by owner Mike Ashley after just six months at St James’s Park.

Mind, he also orchestrated some pitiful Magpie surrenders while he was in charge five years ago.

He certainly does not mention limp displays against the might of Portsmouth, Wigan, Reading and Derby County - officially the worst side ever to grace the Premier League - when he pontificates about how he was wrongly sacked.

Or that his Toon record was likely to get worse with trips to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool looming in the weeks after his departure.

That said, it would be wrong to get too churlish about West Ham’s 1-0 victory on Sunday.

Allardyce’s newly-promoted side may have ridden their luck with the ball repeatedly ricocheting around their penalty box.

But their central midfield pairing of Mark Noble and Mohamed Diame dominated their Newcastle counterparts while proving that their manager’s teams do not always resort to his preferred high ball.

As for Newcastle, I do not think their performance was as dire as some pundits or fans have made out.

They created far more chances than their visitors and have played worse this season and won.

Young Shane Ferguson, in particular, can take heart from his display and deserves another run-out on the left wing against Swansea City this weekend.

Knowing his injury record, however, he will be out again after someone sneezes in his general direction when he represents Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier.

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ONSIDE: ‘Dyce could have rolled Newcastle United’s way

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