Big Sam savors Arsenal reprieve
NEWCASTLE, England: Sam Allardyce has admitted that Newcastle's battling 1-1 draw with Premier League leader Arsenal has lifted the pressure on him.
Newcastle fought back from a goal down to thwart Arsene Wenger's unbeaten side, which had to be content with stretching its lead over its nearest rival Manchester United to four points.
Newcastle still has much rebuilding to do after claiming only its second point in six games thanks to Steven Taylor's second-half equalizer.
But manager Allardyce was understandably keen to accentuate the positive and said: "It was a huge result and under the circumstances, it's a weight lifted off us all.
"I don't want to see a crisis ever again, if that was a crisis, OK, but I never called it one. I'm always relieved when I get a result and the players have done all they can for me."
After issuing a public vote of confidence in Allardyce earlier this week, Newcastle's players backed their words with deeds in a bid to quell fears the manager was at loggerheads with his squad over tactics, team selection and his unpopular plans to take them away for a four-day bonding break over Christmas.
He added: "Whispers leak out when things aren't going so well and they get written into massive headlines, it's a fact of life at this club.
"They showed great commitment to get the fans behind them, that was there for all to see. We've got to make sure we build from this now starting with Birmingham on Saturday, make sure things don't turn again."
Newcastle fought back after a stunning early strike from Emmanuel Adebayor put Arsenal in command, and Allardyce added: "At the start I'd have settled for a draw, but in the end I thought we didn't get what we deserved.
"It's not often you get Arsenal on the back foot for so long, they were hanging on at the end. I love to hear the fans behind us like they were, that's what I took the job for and it's what you want to hear every week."
Arsenal remains unbeaten in the league since April, and Wenger was unsurprised by the battle his side faced as it ground out another point in its attempts to wrest the title from United's grasp.
The Frenchman, who admitted he is unlikely to see his lengthy injury list reduced before the weekend, added: "I could feel there was a crisis at Newcastle and because of that I'd anticipated it'd be very difficult.
"I don't know about the differences within the club but it looked like their players made a union to stick together and they fought like mad."
Wenger reiterated his offer to the Football Association to tap into his expertise in its efforts to fill the vacant England manager's job, but revealed he is yet to meet FA chief executive Brian Barwick.
The Frenchman remains keen for an Englishman to replace Steve McClaren, and he added: "I'll leave it to Brian Barwick to inform you of who he sees.
"I'm like a doctor, I have a confidentiality clause. I've not met him yet but if he wants to I will give him my opinion."
AFP
(China Daily 12/07/2007 page24)
