West Ham’s Michail Antonio has now shared what he really thought about Newcastle United’s decision to take a team photo on the pitch after their win against Sunderland.
Jason Tindall came up with the idea to take the team’s traditional dressing room out on the pitch for the first time to really wind up the Sunderland fans after a 3-0 win in the FA Cup.
Speaking on The Footballer’s Podcast, Antonio claimed that he actually was a big fan of the decision after Callum Wilson had suggested that there was no better place to do it.
Antonio says Newcastle’s team photo was a great decision
Although it didn’t go down well with some pundits and fans, Newcastle supporters certainly saw the funny side in trying to wind up the opposition fans, if they weren’t already by their team’s poor performance.
It was a day to remember for everyone involved at the club for getting their first win over Sunderland in eight years, albeit they hadn’t actually played each other since 2016.
There was no better way to top off a brilliant day with a photo in front of the those travelling supporters who had made the very short and yet somewhat awkward journey to the Stadium of Light.
Antonio, who has often been a bit of a character in the Premier League who likes to wind up his opponents, was a big fan of the Newcastle photo.
On the podcast, Wilson said: “We always have a winning team photo but I guess no better place to do it than in front of all our travelling fans and get them involved in it, in the Stadium of Light.”
“I weren’t there so I was just enjoying the moment from afar. I thought it was brilliant.”
Antonio added: “Not going to lie, I rated it too!”
Newcastle back to winning ways finally
Although the 3-0 win against Fulham was less than a month ago, it feels like an absolute age since Newcastle had a really positive result that meant something, with the last one being that 1-0 win over Man United at the start of December.
It felt like everything rested on that derby, beating Sunderland was absolute must for the club but Eddie Howe especially who was facing a lot of pressure having been knocked out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup in heart-breaking fashion.
A win saw that air of calmness and confidence restored on Tyneside, but with games against Manchester City and Aston Villa coming up it could well be short lived.
Regardless, it was important that these players and supporters enjoyed that moment on the pitch that they had waited so long for.
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