Newcastle United played their first Europa League game of the season last night against Greek side Atromitos and managed to get a crucial away goal.
The Magpies came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Greek club and will go into the second leg of the play off with a crucial away goal. Manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-c4244 Pardew was very content with his side’s performance against a tough opponent and hailed their character and
spirit.
He backed his team to progress through to the group stages of the competition and sees no reason why they can’t go further.
Newcastle fell behind courtesy of a goal by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Denis-Epstein-c10850 in the early stages of the game. The player beat Newcastle youngster James Tavernier on the left flank and slid a shot right past Magpie goalkeeper Steve Harper.
Atromitos were not able to hold on to their lead for long though, as Ryan Taylor equalized through a superb free-kick into the bottom corner right before the interval. The goal sent the travelling Newcastle fans into frenzy and Newcastle began to get back
into the game.
The match ended 1-1, but Newcastle take an away goal advantage back to Tyneside where they will face the Atromitos again for the second leg.
Speaking to the press after the game, Pardew couldn’t help hide his delight at the result and spoke about his team’s progress in Europe.
“If we are taking an away goal into the home leg, we would be favourites - but we are the favourites when we play at home whoever we are playing, in my opinion, so we have got to win the game.”
"In the second half, I was a little bit disappointed we didn't get the win - I thought there were good opportunities - but overall, I was very, very pleased with the performance.”
"They (Atromitos) have shown us tonight that it's not going to be a pushover and it's not going to be a foregone conclusion, so we have got to be right and we have got to make sure that the team is strong enough."
The Newcastle squad that travelled to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786
for their second league game this weekend, and will be going into the game full of confidence.
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