As Alan Pardew tries to wait out the storm regarding his job status at St. James Park, it seems players are coming out of the woodwork to bail him out.
Oft-unused French winger Gabriel Obertan struck in the 71st minute to give Newcastle United its first win of the season, a 1-0 win over visiting Leicester City.
The win pulls Newcastle up to 7 points, but the Magpies are still in the drop zone. They are a point behind four teams and two points behind two (one of those being Leicester).
The game was delayed an hour after wind meddled with a giant hanging LED screen at the stadium.
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Workmen start work on fixing The new TV Screen which flaps in the wind delaying the opening of the turnstilles before the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St James’ Park on October 18, 2014 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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Fabricio Coloccini should’ve converted in the first half, pushing a left-footed shot wide of the goal, and the Magpies were by far the more dangerous team over the first hour and more.
Papiss Cisse continued to be a man of danger, but missed a vital chance in the 52nd minute. He made a tremendous run to touch around Kasper Schmeichel, but popped a close-range shot off the side of the empty net.
And then came Obertan, getting a feed from Cisse and racing to the 18 before tracing its top to hit a low shot past a diving Schmeichel.
The win wouldn’t come without drama, as Tim Krul showd no ill effects from his elbow ligament scare. He made some key saves later to preserve the game.
Ayoze Perez made highlight-reel dribble in the 86th minute, and his ensuing cross to Cisse was headed down by pushed over by Schmeichel.
Lineups
Newcastle United: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, S.Taylor, Dummett (Haidara, 72'); Sissoko, Colback, Anita (Perez, 60'); Obertan, Cisse, Gouffran (Cabella, 90+2')
Goal: Obertan (71')
Leicester City: Schmeichel, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater, Morgan, James, Albrighton (Vardy, 56'), Schlupp (Nugent, 56'), Moore, Cambiasso (Knockaert, 79'), Ulloa