Week 2 Recap: Newcastle United v. Reading

The Magpies marched onto their home pitch at St. James' Park for the first time this season with many things to prove.

Their relegation caused many departures, and the few strong players that remain are forced to begin the 2009 campaign in the Championship a bit hampered by the drama from earlier in the year.

Out of the gates, Newcastle dominated Reading, their opponent on Saturday. Alan Smith asserted a physical presence (albeit reckless) at center midfield and the tandem of Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez continued to challenge Reading keeper Adam Federici with effective passing and transition.

Strikers Andrew Carroll and Shola Ameobi were not to be outdone as their efforts were just as effective, and it was certainly Ameobi's day up front.

After a somewhat slow half hour of play, with both sides getting a few select scoring chances, the game was still knotted at 0-0.

Finally, in the 38st minute, a beautiful in-swinger from Jose Enrique found the head of Ameobi who sent the cross into the ground with authority, which proceeded to bounce over the Reading keeper Adam Federici and into the net.

The game had been broken open, and Ameobi was not finished.

It took another 30 minutes, but with a continued control of possession, Newcastle capitalized after a good second effort from Kevin Nolan, who gathered a loose ball at Reading's corner flag.

His pass to Barton, who set up Taylor for another far-post cross found the man of the day, Shola Ameobi, unmarked who punished the side netting for his second goal of the match.

It was the 61st minute, and the Magpies were up 2-0 and continued to pour the pressure on.

In the 74th minute, Ameobi almost found his hat trick on a well-struck corner, heading the cross into the outstretched hand of Federici who tipped it over the bar.

The ensuing corner granted Newcastle a bit of luck as a long corner struck Reading's Shang Long in the arm inside the penalty area.

The referee pointed to the mark. Penalty.

Fittingly, Ameobi stepped to the spot to attempt what would be his third goal of the match—a hat trick for the 27-year-old Nigerian.

His confident finish and a celebratory "smoking gun" impression left the ecstatic Toon Army in an uproar as the 3-0 score put the match away, and remained so until the final whistle.

Newcastle had proved themselves. All was not lost. They had put themselves near the top of the table after a respectable tie-win opening to their first two games of the campaign.

Despite the loss of veteran leadership and talent to a poor showing in the Premiership the previous season, the team gathered themselves and remained poised.

Once the club is purchased and the management secured, the team will gain balance and stability and hopefully can make a run to the top of the table this season.