JOHNGIBSON Flourishing finish must not be end of United’s Rafa dream
REAL TEST IS YET TO COME
THEY think it’s all over. It is now!
And what a glorious way to say goodbye. United banished the bad taste of four successive defeats since safety was confirmed to put a bunch of poor Pensioners to the buck.
So a season of immense satisfaction has finished with Newcastle in 10th, having beaten Manchester United, Arsenal, and now Chelsea up here and drawn with Champions League finalists Liverpool.
It was all so comprehensive on the final day that United’s two top scorers were able to add to their meagre totals.
Ayoze Perez actually made it into double figures, with his brace bringing up 10 bullseyes after Dwight Gayle had notched his sixth in first opening up the disillusioned visitors.
Chelsea haven’t won up here since December 2011 and they were never going to do it here – not with United playing with great intensity and spirit, and on-loan Martin Dubravka in superb reflex form, denying both Olivier Giroud and Ross Barkley in the second half.
I said in my Friday match preview that I expected United to finish with a flourish but even I didn’t foresee a final-day gulf like the one two seasons ago when Rafa saw his relegated players rip apart Spurs.
Now comes the real test – keeping Benitez, as absent owner Mike Ashley simply must.
However, that’s for another day. For now, let us rejoice in what United’s manager and his heroes have achieved on their return to football’s top table.
Their season cried out for a finish like this and, boy, did we get it. Never mind that Chelsea were a disgrace to the shirt. I doubt if they could have lived with Newcastle even if they had cared.
There were so many top performances: Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame dominated the first half when the pattern of play was established; Matt Ritchie was a bundle of energy as always; Perez looked the player we always suspected he could be; Dubravka showed why he simply must be signed permanently; and Florian Lejeune confirmed his arrival as the rightful partner for majestic skipper Jamaal Lascelles. United’s opener came after 22 minutes. A deep right-wing cross from Ritchie saw Jacob Murphy attack the ball for Thibaut Courtois to push it out, only for an alert Gayle, on the move, to head home.
Courtois stood alone between United and a cricket score but two strikes in five minutes beat him and Chelsea.
Perez got them both, his first on 58 minutes came with him flicking in a Shelvey shot, and then he converted a sweeping low cross from Lejeune, who had been put in possession by a typical raking Shelvey pass.
United have conceded just six goals in their last 11 matches at SJP, such is the discipline Rafa has installed in his team – defending from the front – but even when teams do get through, Dubravka stands like a giant.
His twisting save from an outrageous Giroud flick was breathtaking and his save with his feet from Barkley just as crucial, if less spectacular.
We have enjoyed Newcastle’s return to the PL even if there were dark times, like around Christmas when only one point was gained from 27. That seems an awful long time ago now.
Can everyone – Rafa, players, and fans – be rewarded by an absent landlord? Yes they can if he wants to. We will see.