Nolan’s Lancashire hotpot! – Preston 0 Newcastle 1
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 | 32 Comments |
Having committed my pocket money to the upcoming Barnsley and Sheff Wed encounters, I had to make do with a seat in front of the Sky cameras, and after an hour I was grateful for my decision-making. With Hughton initially opting for a 4-5-1 formation, Andy Carroll presumably being supported by the roaming Nolan, he was forced to make changes even before the kick-off as Ryan Taylor apparently pulled a calf muscle in the warm-up.
So Newcastle started with the same side that beat Peteborough, what seems almost months ago now after the international break. And of course with the more traditional 4-4-2, Newcastle fans were probably hopeful of a slightly more cavalier approach, compared to previous games away from St James’ this term. But in a first half that proved once again that this level is a million miles from the quality in the upper elechons of the top flight, we struggled to make an impression on an average looking Preston.
With ex-Wearside hobo, Chris Brown partnered upfront by Neil Mellor, former team-mate and lookalike of Steve Gerrard, Preston hustled and bustled but rarely threatened. We seemed to be playing our usual tight game at the back and in the middle of the park but the final balls were sorely lacking and Carroll and Harewood just didn’t gel. However, it was Nolan and Smith who went close for us in the quick sucession before Preston mustered their first real opportunities. Shots from Chaplow and Tonge that went just wide of Harper, before he had to beat away a stinging drive from Neil Mellor. While we struggled to get into any sort of flow, Preston at least looked fluid but we once again defended well as unit and snuffed out their advances, such that the blowing of the half time whistle was somewhat of a relief.
Unfortunately, the second half didn’t begin much better but having come on to replace Preston’s injured centre-half, Mawene, Chilvers was soon caught napping though Carroll couldn’t take advantage. That was about as much as Andy Carroll had to do as he was replaced on the hour by Nile Ranger, much to the disgust of some of the travelling contingent, who made their feelings known with a chorus of boos. To be fair, they had a point as Harewood comprehensively failed to illustrate just why Chris Hughton is persisting with him as a starter ahead of the young 18 year-old.
And within moments, Ranger had proved why he should be given more minutes on the pitch by once again putting himself about and making himself useful and he was unlucky after a smart turn and shot which he pulled wide of the goalkeeper’s post. Tamas Kadar was also given a runout as he replaced the injured Danny Simpson (though it wasn’t clear what the problem was), but the young Hungarian was found wanting within seconds of his arrival. However, after brushing his opponent aside, Mellor shot wastefully into the side-netting.
The only edge to the game really came with Alan Smith continuing to have Newcastle hearts in mouths with his committed and occasionally over zealous approach. Having picked up an early yellow card, he then inadvertently caught Brown with an elbow although TV replays showed he was unaware that Brown was there. As Brown received treatment Smith was involved in handbag gestures and what I presumre were exchanges of numbers and promises of a lovely night out with Callum Davidson.
Once that calmed down it was back to the football and it seemed like the game was heading for a goalless draw but with 15 minutes remaining, Guthrie picked up the ball on the right and as his cross was shielded by Harewood (about the only thing he seemed to do all night), the ball fell to Nolan. With his back to goal and at a seemingly impossible angle, Nolan showed his class as he spun and drove the ball with his left back across goal and into the bottom corner as the players and fans went crackers. Preston rallied half-heartedly but the three points never looked in danger from then on, and as we swapped Guthrie for Lovenkrands to run down the clock, it wasn’t long until the final whistle went to ensure we headed back to the top of the league.
Chris Hughton had this to say after the game:
“For me, it’s a massive result. What you’ve got to do, is to take it all into context and we lost Ryan Taylor in the warm-up before the game. Andy Carroll played, he was ill all day and had probably no right to be out there and he gave us a performance.”
“These are a quality side, I have absolutely no doubts these will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. So to come here and get a result I think it’s testament to that group of lads in there”
On Nolan :
“When we took him last season we knew he had goals in him, we’ve used him in a couple of positions breaking from midfield, he can play off the front, but what he is, he’s an experienced player, an eye for goal and you can always count on someone like Kevin for that moment”
On Smith and his ‘altercations’ and whether he was fortunate to stay on the pitch :
“No I didn’t, I think the yellow card was deserved at the time he got it but certainly in the second half, absolutely no.”
“He’s our captain on the day and what you want is, you want calm heads not just Alan Smith but you wanna make sure at the time of the game, the period of the game where tempers are getting a little bit flared that we manage to finish this games with eleven men, which is what we did.”
In the Preston camp, Alan Irvine seemed understandably disappointed to come away with nothing:
“I don’t think we shoulda lost the game, certainly I felt as if we matched Newcastle for many parts of the game. I felt as if we had some good chances to score ourselves but we didn’t take our chances and Kevin Nolan finished his chance which was maybe not even that much of a chance.”
“I’ve seen him do it many times before, he’s got that kind of quality. It was something we were aware of before the game and sure enough he’s popped up with a goal again for Newcastle.”
Pretty honest and accurate assessments there I would say. It’s been said that by winning the Championship, we’re going to have to go to places like Deepdale and take 1-0 wins, when frankly it was pretty undeserved and that we’re going to have to win it ugly at times. I hear that, but I’d also like to ask, when can we win a pretty one? Could it be anytime soon please lads?
I’ve given the lads some ratings for tonight’s game, so see what you think and don’t even get me started on Gutierrez…
Us – Harper 8, Simpson 6, S Taylor 7, Coloccini 7, Enrique 7, Guthrie 6, Nolan 8, Smith 7, Gutierrez 4, Harewood 4, Carroll 6.
Subs – Krul, Kadar 5, Geremi, Pancrate, Lovenkrands, Donaldson, Ranger 7.
Preston North End – Longeran, Jones, Mawene, Collins, Davidson; Sedgwick, Chaplow, Tonge, Parry, Brown, Mellor.
Subs – Henderson, Chilvers, Nolan, Shumulikoski, Carter, Elliott, Parkin.
Att – 16,000 approx (with about 3,000+ Mags)
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
Jonas 4? Carroll 6?
Dont agree with that BBM Jonas didnt have his best game but was lucky to have any legs left after being hoofed to bits all game. Our static centre forwards allowed them to double and treble up on him all game. Another hate figure BBM?