Souness seeks patience

The 51-year-old Scot was the 1970s and 80s midfield enforcer for whom the term 'no-nonsense' was invented and, as a manager, it would appear that his patience with errant stars doesn't stretch too far.

But Souness knows a thing or two about football fans, especially the type who worship at St James' Park.

As both player and manager he experienced two of the most vocal sets of supporters at Liverpool and Rangers, and the St James' Park faithful rank right up with their Merseyside and Glaswegian counterparts.

But the downside of their passion is an impatience to see their heroes do well. As an opposing manager Souness knew that to beat Newcastle you had to first silence the fans.

Players thrive on the backing of the crowd and the new Newcastle boss has spotted where the fans can help the team - by being patient.

Souness hasn't had to be too patient to achieve his own mini-successes since taking charge this month. His first win came with his first official game as manager against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, and the Magpies first away win for 11 months arrived in his second at Southampton.

But it's patience he's asking for from the crowd, saying: "We've got a team of young players and St James' Park is as big as it gets.

"It's a real pressure cooker and that can work two ways.

"That's why I want our supporters to be patient - so that it works our way."

On Saturday there weren't too many grumblings before Newcastle went ahead in the 70th minute but the underlying tension was plainly there.

Fortunately that tension didn't transfer to the players in black and white and Souness maintained his 100 per cent record.

But his patience with the 4-3-1-2 formation he employed, with Patrick Kluivert playing in the hole behind Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy, lasted just 45 minutes.

In that time the Magpies' only clear-cut chances were both spurned by Lee Bowyer - a header just wide and a shot from eight yards that ended up rattling the side netting.

The main talking point appeared to be Newcastle's reluctance to wear black armbands in memory of Brian Clough, and no minute's silence for the legend born 40 miles down the A19.

But, that aside, the fans' concerns were more centred on the home side's inability to adapt to a system that plainly wan't working.

Kluivert was a far more dangerous proposition when playing up front in the second half - a fact Souness was brave enough to admit.

The new boss has identified Newcastle's main problem as their defence, but the willingness to play three of his strikers at once may prove to be another.

Souness said: "Patrick's a class act. We didn't see the best of Patrick in the first half - we didn't use him correctly.

"We're just very lucky to have at this club four strikers who are all very different and all capable of getting goals at this level.

"We will have a different striking formation at different times."

How long Souness can continue to play three of his four strikers - Shola Ameobi missed out of Saturday with a hip problem - is anyone's guess, but if his midfield continue to fail to find the target then he may have to persevere.

James Milner's goal against West Brom - his first since his summer move from Leeds - was the first by a Newcastle midfielder since Bowyer and Darren Ambrose were on target at Southampton last season and the £3.5m signing was playing as a substitute striker at the time.

The lack of firepower in midfield is not a worry to the manger.

"Every team's reliant on their strikers," said Souness. "If you're not scoring goals then you're going to be under pressure.

"There's no concern about a lack of goals from midfield. I guarantee that they will come with the type of players we have.

"Lee Bowyer could easily have scored a couple against West Brom.

"If Nicky Butt gets his head over the ball rather than looking at where it's going to end up, he might have got a goal.

"We'll get goals from midfield - I guarantee you we'll get goals from midfield."

Bowyer had around five efforts at goal, his best coming just before the hour when his chip from the edge of the area came back off the upright with Russell Hoult beaten.

Two incidents either side of that turned the game firmly in the Magpies' favour.

Firstly Laurent Robert's introduction provided the threat down the left that was conspicuous by its absence in the first half.

His second game on the bench has raised a few eyebrows about where he fits into Souness's grand scheme but the Scot is a fan.

He said: "You want people like Laurent. He's a threat. You want people who can open doors and create problems."

Then on 63 minutes Darren Purse received a second yellow card after bringing down Kluivert, and the Magpies ran riot for 20 minutes.

Hoult failed to deal with Robert's cross on 70 minutes and Kluivert buried his chance from eight yards.

His job seemingly done the Dutchman made way for Milner seven minutes later and he was barely on the pitch a minute before Jermaine Jenas set him up for his first Magpies goal, which he buried at the second attempt.

Shearer - after a very average 86 minutes - then gratefully accepted the chance created by another great run down the right from Jenas to make it 350 career League and cup goals (if he somehow manages to convince the powers that be that it was his goal at Southampton last weekend).

Substitute Geoff Horsfield then pulled one back with a deftly guided header from Andy Johnson's cross, but Gary Megson's side never really looked like mounting a sustained challenge.

For Mr Souness it was a case of all good things coming to those who wait - the honeymoon continues. . . .

* Kluivert (hamstring) and Bellamy (twisted ankle) are both expected to be fit to face Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin on Thursday.

* Nicky Butt has spoken of his UEFA Cup red-card shame and admitted he 'should have known better'.

Butt was sent-off just two minutes after coming on in the first leg against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin - the Magpies play the return game in Israel on Thursday - after raising his hands to Sakhnin skipper Abas Suan, who was also dismissed.

"I was disappointed. I let the fans down, I let myself down and I let my teammates down," said Butt, who misses this week's return leg as he starts a three-game European ban.

"Suan flicked his hand at me but I've played in Europe enough times to know that's what opponents do - I know it's my fault."

Result: Newcastle United 3 West Bromwich Albion 1.

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