Newcastle vs Cardiff: Fabian Schar goals in home win fails to silence supporter anger at Mike Ashley

It was the 93rd minute and Ayoze Perez had just sealed a vital victory for Newcastle United. Supporters were still standing, and celebrating had not subsided, when a chant, another one swirled around St James’ Park. ‘We want Ashley out, we want Ashley out.’

Victory might have moved Newcastle out of the relegation zone, but the depth of contention, inflamed by stories of alleged renewed involvement in the club by Dennis Wise, ensured Mike Ashley, retaking his seat at the stadium for the first time since November, was never far from people’s thoughts.

That two of his bargain buys ensured a vital win, to move above opponents Cardiff, will not have been lost on the Sports Direct owner.

Fabian Schar was signed for £3m in the summer. He scored twice to send Newcastle on their way, and in injury-time, Perez tapped in a third. It was a priceless win, but the anger at Ashley’s ownership of the football club lies deep.

His appearance, for the first time since November 10, was not well received.

Another transfer window is ticking down and Rafa Benitez is still to add to his squad. There was enough for a rare win, however, and it was a fine goal from Schar that set Newcastle on their way, fashioned from very little, a lay off from Christian Atsu, under pressure, back to Isaac Hayden, also under pressure, who went back again to the Newcastle defender.

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Scar was around 50 yards from the Cardiff goal, but the Swiss international is comfortable on the ball, both in terms of being prepared to travel with and in terms of shooting for glory. This time he sent off on a run, and once he had got inside of Oumar Niasse, the visitors looked in trouble.

Perez made a clever movement as Schar approached the penalty area that distracted Joe Bennett and from there the centre half showed a level of composure rarely seen by his striking team-mates this season, waiting and waiting before slipping a left footed shot into the far corner of Neil Etherdige’s goal.

Schar deservedly took a fair bit of acclaim, not least because is was only Newcastle’s eighth league goal in front of their own supporters.

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Etheridge had done well in the 13th minute, when a Matt Ritchie corner was headed goalwards. The Philippine international did well with an instinctive save to his right to tip the header over.

Perez had led a loud penalty appeal in the 18th minute, when he flicked the ball up and it struck the arm of Bennett. Benitez argued profusely but Stuart Attwell ignored prolonged appeals.

It was a half played to a backdrop of singing against Ashley, who was at the game. Cardiff offered little, and only a rising 25 yard shot from Victor Camarasa that flew over Martin Dubravka’s crossbar was a sign of a fading attacking intent.

There is reason Cardiff had not scored in their previous three games, and the debut of striker Niasse, on-loan from Everton, ended in the 63rd minute with little acclaim. Neil Warnock will hope there is more to come.

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Instead, it was always Newcastle who looked more likely to add to their lead. In the 57th minute it almost came, Salomon Rondon flicking a header to Atsu, who flicked on to Perez, and this time Perez went past Bennett but saw Etheridge block his shot with his body.

The second was on its way, however. Six minutes later Ritchie’s right wing corner was met by Jamaal Lascelles, and his downward header was directed goalwards by the thigh of Schar. That was enough. The centre half ran in celebration for the second time of the afternoon.

Rondon shot wide as the home side finished strongly. Schar went wide with his hat-trick header. It did not matter. Cardiff slipped into the relegation zone. Newcastle eased out of it. In injury-time Rondon fired over a low cross that Perez steered home.

It was a stadium filled with relief, and then anger.