Gabriel Obertan: “I was surprised we fell behind, but you know that’s what happens sometimes – you feel like you’re in control but the team in transition is pretty good and they end up scoring and we knew Pelle is quite good in the air.
“So we were surprised but we got back in the game quite good too and we managed to score the second one. Overall we’re quite happy with the performance but we’ve got to concentrate on improving and not conceding so we can win the game.
“It’s not surprising to us (that Newcastle fought back). Last year we had trouble coming back into games, conceding goals and we let (ourselves) down sometimes but I think this year is totally different.
“The way the staff have got us working and the spirit we’ve got is totally different and I think we saw that today and it’s something we can be proud of.
“It was a good game overall. I think we controlled the game (until) around the 75th minute but then got a bit crazy – we conceded the second goal – and then it got a bit crazy. They had good chances after that but I think a point is well deserved today.
“I just went for it (the cross for Wijnaldum’s goal). When Papiss (Cisse) gave me the ball, he knows I’m pretty quick so that’s what I expect from my teammates to play on my qualities.
“He put the ball quite far away from me, I won the race from my defender and then I just tried to put it in as best as I could into the box and Gini was there just at the right time.”
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2
There was a marked improvement from our last league fixture here at St James' Park when we avoided relegation with a narrow win over West Ham.
There was a system - at least! A purpose and a group of players trying to keep their shape.
Under John Carver it was a mess - and the players knew it.
New boy Georginio Wijnaldum netted on his Newcastle United debut on Sunday – but his goal wasn’t enough for his team to take all three points.
Substitute Shane Long claimed a point for Southampton at St James’s Park, where the two sides played out a season-opening 2-2 draw.
While United played well for spells, they struggled to defend aerial balls into the box - and both Southampton’s goals came from far-post headers.
An unchallenged Graziano Pelle gave the visitors a 24th-minute lead with a header from a right-wing Cedric Soares cross.
Papiss Demba Cisse levelled from close range before the break – he chested a Massadio Haidara ball over the line – and midfielder Wijnaldum, signed from PSV Eindhoven last month, put United ahead early in the second half with a fine header from a well-delivered Gabriel Obertan cross.
Newcastle, however, were pegged back in the 79th minute.
Long’s headed strike was remarkably similar to that from Pelle in the first half.
Dusan Tadic crossed from the right for him at the far post, and the striker beat Daryl Janmaat to head past goalkeeper Tim Krul.
United, captained by Fabricio Coloccini, had two strong first-half penalty appeals in the game, which also saw defender Chancel Mbemba and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, both signed from Anderlecht, make their Premier League debuts.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
SOUTHAMPTON: Stekelenburg, Soares (Martina, 46), Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, S Davis, Tadic, Mane, Rodriguez (Long, 65), Pelle. Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, Caulker.
THE TOON'S GREATEST 100 PLAYERS ... EVER!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Toons-Greatest-Players-EVER/dp/132629685X
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website. The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for YOU (the reader) to decide who goes where. The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" ... no two people have exactly the same opinion. There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not. Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of NUFC's Greatest is up to you. Because YOU have the final word.
Otherwise ... if you want a signed copy (for a birthday, etc) for £9.95 and no postage ... you can meet me before a match and I will bring a copy along.
Get in touch: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Fri 10th July (8pm BST)
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July (8pm CT)
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July (8pm UTC)
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July (7.30pm UTC)
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July (1pm BST)
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July (7.45pm BST)
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August (3pm BST)
Newcastle Utd 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
Krul, Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haïdara, Anita (De Jong 75), Colback, Sissoko (Perez 81), Obertan (Aarons 62), Wijnaldum, Cissé (Mitrovic 62).
PREMIER LEAGUE
Sunday August 9
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Cisse, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
Saturday August 15
15:00 Swansea City v Newcastle United
Saturday August 22
12:45 Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday August 29
12:45 Newcastle United v Arsenal
Monday September 14
20:00 West Ham United v Newcastle United
Saturday September 19
15:00 Newcastle United v Watford
Saturday September 26
17:30 Newcastle United v Chelsea