Newcastle United 2-0 Huddersfield

A day for setting the record straight on a number of fronts. A day when Newcastle United could, and probably should, have won by a cricket score. One that did however yield three points and a thoroughly enjoyable experience for most of the 52,174 crammed into St James Park.

This was, of course, a day that Newcastle fans had been desperate to see for too many years. A new record signing making his home debut. That man, Almirón, wouldn’t disappoint.

The game can be summed up by heaping praise on the debutant’s 81 minute performance, and on Rondon (immense once more) and excellent games from Longstaff, Yedlin, Lejeune and Perez. The latter joining Rondon on the score sheet.

A 2-0 win that also say Kevin Friend produce the ‘lesser spotted’ red card. 155 games and 5 years it has been since an opposing player had been dismissed against Newcastle. A disgusting studs up lunge from captain Tommy Smith earning him a place on the very short list of those who have received fair punishment for such actions over the years.

STARTING XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie (Kenedy 68), Hayden, Longstaff, Perez, Almirón (Atsu, 81), Rondon (Joselu, 84)

To their credit, Huddersfield had flown out of the traps. In fact for the first 10 minutes it looked like Town were going to make it an extremely uncomfortable afternoon for those in black and white.

The Magpies needed a spark. And they would find it through their Paraguayan.

With 12 minutes on the clock Newcastle broke from the back, with a slick passage of play that Manchester City would have been proud of. And when Isaac Hayden set Miggy away with a defence splitting pass it looked for all the world like the new man was about to make the perfect start to his career on Tyneside. But whilst his chip form the edge of the box did manage to take keeper Lossl completely out of the game, his effort would agonisingly hit the foot of the keepers right hand post and bounce back into play. The rebound was picked up by Rondon who’s powerful effort from a more difficult angle would then also smash against the same upright.