Rosler laments 'other elements'

Rosler laments 'other elements'

Published Jan. 23, 2013 7:16 a.m. ET

Yoan Gouffran and Massadio Haidara are a step closer to completing moves to Newcastle, with the duo currently undergoing medicals.

Gouffran confirmed via Twitter on Tuesday evening that he was heading out of Bordeaux and into St James' Park.

The 26-year-old forward has now arrived in the North East and made his way to Newcastle's training ground.

Should he sail through medical tests, Gouffran will then be clear to put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

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Haidara will also be hoping that his examinations pick up no problems, with the 20-year-old defender looking forward to testing himself in the Premier League.

Should the pair make a move to England they will strengthen the French influence at St James' Park, with Alan Pardew having dipped into the Ligue 1 ranks on a regular basis of late.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa made a move from Montpellier on Tuesday and has joined the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux and Mathieu Debuchy on Tyneside.

With snow falling throughout Tuesday night's League Two encounter at The Rec, Daniel Lopez swept the Shots ahead from close range in the second minute but Chris Hackett levelled from the spot before Clarke Carlisle headed the Cobblers in front before the break.

It was enough to secure Northampton only their third away win this season, and Boothroyd knows his side need to keep taking points away from Sixfields.

"This was a step in the right direction but we have to keep improving our away form," said Boothroyd.

"I just think we've let ourselves down away from home. Five of our next six games are away so we'll need to step it up.

"This was a great victory for us in difficult conditions. But nothing gets won in the winter. It's all about the last day, that's when the prizes are given out.

"We've got a long way to go and we're nowhere near as good as we can be, but I thought we deserved it. We took our chances but we maybe should have got another goal.

"I've played games on icy pitches before and in foreign countries when the heat is stifling, but never with so much snow on the pitch. But the players got on with it."

The Bees led 2-1 in Tuesday night's League One clash at Griffin Park until referee Paul Tierney changed the game when he showed on-loan Everton defender Jake Bidwell a second yellow for an innocuous challenge.

Brentford, who face FA Cup holders Chelsea on Sunday, had a let-off when Simon Moore saved David Mooney's penalty but eventually let the lead slip with four minutes remaining when Lee Cook lashed home an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box.

Goals either side of the break from Paul Hayes and Clayton Donaldson had given them the advantage after ex-Bee Martin Rowlands fired home a 30-yard free-kick eight minutes in.

Bidwell will miss the clash with the European champions, but Rosler was quick to praise his contribution.

"Jake has been fantastic for us this season but as soon as I saw the ref blow and look at him I knew what he was going to do," said Rosler.

The German was also disappointed with the official's failure to spot a clear Mathieu Baudry handball in the box and tried in vain to show him the footage.

He said: "Once we were down to 10 men the course of the game changed, but we fought like heroes and didn't want to get beaten. In the end we didn't get what we wanted but my players were fantastic.

"We didn't get what we wanted and we are gutted about that but we had to fight against other elements, and I know we can play better than that."

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