Newcastle United - WhatCulture End-Of-Season Awards

22. Excuse Of The Season Award

Chris' Winner: The "mad" Newcastle United fans - Alan Pardew. When Newcastle threw away a 3-2 lead in injury-time against Crystal Palace to draw 3-3 back on August 30th, Pardew incredibly tried to blame the loyal Magpies supporters for his side's surrender. He said after the game:

"Perhaps we got wrapped up in the crowd trying to get a fourth and it is frustrating to concede. Our fans went mad and we got dragged along a little bit with it."

Ross' Winner: The "hot, warm climate" (at QPR) - John Carver. When the Magpies let slip a one-goal lead at already-relegated Queens Park Rangers to lose 2-1 in the penultimate game of the season, Carver blamed the conditions. The practically Saharan temperature of 18 degrees celsius was apparently far too warm for the likes of Senegalese-born Papiss Cisse or Tenerife-born Ayoze Perez to be able to perform. Following the match, Carver said:

"We didn't give up on it, we had a go and I can't fault the lads for their effort again in a hot, warm climate. They were hot conditions and we kept going and going and going, but it wasn't good enough."