Toon’s ‘Boxing Day Jinx’ continues!
Posted on December 27th, 2009 | 65 Comments |
After arriving in Sheffield and quickly finding a car parking space, me and my mate set off for the pre-match ritual pint. After a half-mile walk up an icy hill, The White Horse beckoned. Honestly, it was just like old times when we used to take over pubs and city centres, with toon flags outside and toon fans only inside.
Feeling refreshed, we walked to the ground taking our seats (second row, directly behind the goal), and sat down to enjoy the warm-up. I experienced that heart-sinking feeling as I watched our boys warming up, and quickly worked out that there was no Alan Smith, and that Nicky Butt was warming up with the starting XI. That left both line-ups looking like this:
Newcastle United
Harper, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Guthrie, Butt (c), Nolan, Gutierez, Ameobi, Harewood.
Subs: Krul, Kadar, R Taylor, Pancrate, Ranger, Carroll, Lovenkrands.
Sheffield Wednesday
Grant, Spurr, Purse (c), Beevers, Simek, Johnson, Potter, O’Connor, Soares, Varney, Tudgay
Subs: Buxton, O’Donnell, Hinds, Esajas, Jeffers, Clarke, Gray.
After a good old lung busting sing-song before the match, referee Stuart Atwell got the early kick-off under way. The hosts immediately took control of the game, dominating possesion and having a number of corners. Our first half chance came on 9 minutes, Danny Guthrie sweeping a right wing free kick over everyone waiting in the box.
Things got worse for the toon on 14 minutes and our vocal following was silenced briefly as Sheffield Wednesday took a deserved lead. Darren Potter sending a corner into the penalty which we only half cleared. James O’Connor quickly chipped the ball back into the box and onto the head of Luke Varney’s head to nod the ball – seemingly unchallenged – into the Newcastle net.
Just three minutes later, Danny Simpson did well to nick the ball off Jermaine Johnson’s foot, six yards out. We really hadn’t turned up until 19 minutes into the game. With our first meaningful attack and totally against the run of play, the ball came to Danny Guthrie who chipped the ball into the box to find Kevin Nolan who guided a beautiful header back from the penalty-spot across the goal to equalise. The toon army were in fine voice again, and that was raised further when Shola Ameobi gave us an unlikely lead on 22 minutes. In an offside position, Ameobi recieved the ball, turned Darren Purse and blasted into the bottom corner of the Sheffield Wednesday net.
After a frantic 25 minutes at the start, the rest of the half played out relatively uneventfully apart from a Jermaine Johnson snap-shot from the corner of the area that hit the post before going behind for a goal-kick. The Wednesday fans were subdued and were no doubt left wondering how their team started so dominantly and yet still found themselves losing at home – to much joy from the following toon army!
Some heart-warming half time entertainment from the Sheffield Wednesday cheerleaders lifted my spirits, and some bloke who sang but couldn’t sing aroused a chorus of booing and jeering from the travelling fans.
The 2nd half started much like the previous one, with the hosts firmly on top, our defence looking vulnerable to high balls, unable to claim any second balls and continually gifting both possesion and corners to the home team. This came to a head on the hour-mark as the hosts, deservedly and controversially, equalised. Tommy Spurr’s cross seemed to be heading harmlessly into Steve Harper’s hands only for Luke Varney – who appeared to tug at Harper’s arms – to nod the ball out of the goalkeepers grasp and into the path of James O’Connor who prodded the ball home. Harpers vociferous protests fell on deaf ears as the referee and his assistants let the goal stand.
Looking for a change, Chris Hughton brought off the anonymous Jonas Gutierrez and replaced him with Fabrice Pancrate. Nothing changed however as it was Sheffield Wednesday who went close again – Marcus Tudgay forcing a quality save from Harper who turned his header around the post.
Looking to shake things up, Andy Carroll came on for Shola Ameobi for the last 15 minutes. Both sides had fiurther chances to win the game, and as Peter Lovenkrands replaced Marlon Harewood with five minutes remaining, we pushed on searching for a winner. Despite a goal-mouth scramble after the Wednesday ‘keeper fumbled a corner, neither side could capitalise and the final whistle blew with a fair 2-2 draw.
Manager Chris Hughton felt the equaliser for Sheffield Wednesday should not have stood, adding:
“On first viewing I thought it must have been a foul because I wouldn’t expect Steve Harper to lose the ball in that situation”
“And, having now seen the replay, the player certainly impedes Steve”
“Steve knew himself right away and you can always tell by a player’s reaction if he’s been fouled”
“You expect a referee to give a free-kick in those situations”
“We’re disappointed becasue that’s a big turning point and, in the end, it has won them a point”
All in all, it’s a point away from home and, on reflection, I’m happy with that and think its a fair result. Obviously the performance wasn’t as it could be and some people will point to Chris Hughton giving the players Christmas Day off. For me though, the most important thing is that we didn’t lose, and the bonus of Cardiff and Nottingham Forest being unable to captalise. We really need to bounce back to winning ways on Monday night at home to Derby and not allow this to develop into another blip.
My own personal ratings:
Harper – 6
Simpson – 6
S Taylor – 7
Coloccini – 7
Enrique – 6
Guthrie – 6
Butt – 6
Nolan – 6
Gutierrez – 5 /Pancrate -5
Ameobi – 5 / Carroll – 6
Harewood – 5 / Lovenkrands 5
Howay the lads.
NUFCBlog Author: toonsy
toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.
I personally think that with the players we have and the more than obvious class difference between our players and the rest of the league we really should be playing better than we are.
Why are we scrapping our way to wins and not playing any good football?
Should we really expect better from these players at this standard?
Just a thought.