Newcastle captain names his dressing room leaders after fighting Bournemouth win

Newcastle stalwart Coloccini believes the win can show his side how to win

NEWCASTLE captain Fabricio Coloccini spoke of his relief at finally seeing players fight for each other - to show their new foreign contingent what the Premier League is all about.

 

This was Newcastle's first away win of the season - and their first victory on the road since a 3-0 success at Hull on January 31 - but it was still not convincing or easy on the eye.

Steve McClaren's team had only a third of the possession, two of the 22 efforts on goal and none of the 16 corners, but they scored the only goal through Ayoze Perez - and in no small part to the performance of Rob Elliot, the third-choice goalkeeper, who shrugged off a thigh injury to play at the Vitality Stadium.

"It is good to see the team fighting today," said Coloccini. "We played like a football team. That is very important to see from outside the pitch.

 

"It is a massive thing for us because we have a lot of players who have come from other leagues and they don't really know how hard the Premier League is.

"We have strong characters in this team. Sometimes they are not loud or maybe you cannot see it from off the pitch but Rob Elliot is an example. He was injured but he said to the manager, 'I am ready to play'.

 

Ayoze Perez scored the only goal of the game

"That is the important thing. People like him we need in the changing room. He is an example for young players."

This was a fifth successive defeat for Bournemouth and manager Edde Howe said: "As long as your team give you everything you want on the pitch, I cannot ask anymore."

Striker Glenn Murray, although fit, was not even on the bench and Howe's explanation did little to dispel rumours of a dressing-room bust-up.

 

"When you are managing, picking squads and teams is the hardest part because you have to disappoint people and make difficult decisions," he said.

"Of course you have to judge people not just on a matchday, but also at training. Everybody has to earn the right to play."