2. Perch & Williamson Coped Well
James Perch proved in the Spurs victory that he is a more than adequate deputy at centre-half for captain marvel Fabricio Coloccini, putting in an assured and intelligent performance alongside Steven Taylor to make Mike Williamson's position as third choice centre-back less of a certainty than it was last season. Perch has come a long way since the early days of his Newcastle career, where he looked like a fish out of water on occasion, and he may well even be rewarded with a new contract in the coming weeks. Last night he was assured again, keeping Atromitos' threats through the middle to a minimum and winning most of what was put in the air towards him, and alongside him Mike Williamson was similarly assured. Neither was particularly tested, but neither put much of a foot wrong, aside from one loss of head moment for Perch that was duly dealt with. Newcastle fans might be upset if Mike Ashley doesn't bring in another centre-half this window, but both perch and Williamson showed last night that they are more than capable of filling holes in the squad in the absence of Taylor or Coloccini.