Timmy Krul Reflects On Unbelievable Game

talking to nufcTV

"It was unbelievable, I saw Steve get the kick to his head and I knew straight away I could be coming on. Luckily I had a save to make in the first minute and that is always good - it got my confidence right up. There were about three of four after that and I was delighted to keep them all out and help to earn us a point. I think the best save was the volley from close range which I tipped over the bar - all I was doing was protecting my face though! But that is what I've been waiting a long time for. It's nearly three years since my debut in Palermo and I haven't played since. To get on and then have a game like I did is again - unbelievable.

To go over at the end and hear your name from 2,500 Geordies, there is no better feeling, I've been waiting for it and I just hope it continues now."

Kevin Nolan Pleased With First Game

talking to The Journal

“The first game was always going to be tough, all eyes were on us, not just in Newcastle but across the country, hoping for another slip-up. But I thought the lads handled that really well. If we play like that for the rest of the season I don’t think we will be far off. Ever since I’ve come to this club, I’ve realised a lot of people are out to get us. If there is anything strange or bad that happens at this club it seems to go everywhere. That doesn’t happen at other clubs, but it certainly happens here. It’s been tough, some of the things said and written have been hard to take. You read things about the lads you know aren’t true, but we have stuck together and tried to focus on what we can do on the pitch. We’ve shown with this display that we have a real togetherness and a respect for Chris (Hughton) and Colin (Calderwood). We also have so much respect for each other as a group of lads now. I think if we can keep that and stick together what ever happens to the club we won’t be far off at the end of the season.

You’ve got to stay strong through adversity. Other people might have crumbled or tried to hide, but we haven’t done that. We’ve been stronger than that. We’re professional footballers and we accept we deserve a bit of flak when we don’t produce, but it’s about sticking together. The fans have stuck by us and they were absolutely brilliant against West Brom. The main thing is to get this club back into the Premier League where it belongs. How we do that doesn’t matter, we just need to do it. It was important to start well and this was always going to be a tough place to come. I don’t think many teams will come here and get a result. West Brom have been in and out of the Premier League for the last six years. They are no strangers as to what they need to do, but I think we produced a good performance. There are things we are going to have tighten up on and we will have to address that in the week. Overall it was a positive performance which we can only improve on.”

Why Joey Barton was left out:

Chris Hughton talking to The Chronicle

“What we had was a squad of players that travelled to West Brom for what was going to be a very tough game.

The decision that I made on the team was based on tactical reasons. I made a decision to go with the two big lads up front. I thought for periods of the game it worked very well, and we were able to bring Joey on to just solidify things in that last period. He was part of what was a good team performance. What we are going to hear are lots of rumours and stories, but all I can say was he was part of the squad that deserved to get what we got.”

Alan Shearer Still Wants the Job

talking following the WBA Game

“I could be the manager if someone comes in, buys the club and wants me as manager. If they want to get the club back up to the Premier League I’d dearly love the chance to finish what I started last season, which was very disappointing. As far as I'm aware the club's up for sale, they haven’t got a buyer. My last conversation with Mike Ashley was on the Tuesday after we'd been relegated. I told him the players I wanted to keep, the players I thought had to be moved on, and the players I wanted to bring in. He said he wasn't going to put any more money into the club, and that is it as far as I'm aware.

Newcastle's squad was thin last season, and when you consider the players who have gone out, that tells a story They need players quickly and it could be a long, hard season if that doesn't happen.

I’ve spoken to one or two consortiums but for confidentiality reasons they can’t be named. I would love the chance to take the manager’s position. What’s most important is the football club. I loved being the manager despite the problems that were thrown at me and the threat of relegation - I loved the challenge and the situation. There are obvious concerns though and it doesn’t look at healthy place at the moment.”