United held by Manchester! Match report, highlights and post match interviews.
Posted on April 20th, 2011 | 41 Comments |
It was pretty much excitement from the kick off. Newcastle had to start with Tim Krul replacing the injured Steve Harper in goal, but also welcomed back Cheik Tiote from his two game suspension. Steven Ireland started on the bench and Danny Guthrie had a start in central midfield.
Within 2 minutes of kick off, Rooney out burned Tiote down our right and slotted a square centre to the on rushing Hernandez. It looked like he was in, as he got to the ball first, but Krul dived bravely at his feet to make a great stop to christen his fresh gloves. That was perhaps a sign that Newcastle were gonna get stuck right into this fixture.
Almost immediately Newcastle’s midfield started to get a grip on the play, creating chance after chance. Albeit nothing that was as clear cut as we would have liked. Barton found himself with the ball in a great position after some good play but couldn’t find the finsh it deserved.
We then had a whole host of corners and it must be said that Man U’s defence looked decidedly rattled on a number of occasions. Jonas was making a right nuisance of himself and drawing fouls galore. He went on one mazy run, dribbling round 3 Manchester players only for his shot to be blocked by a fourth in the shape of Smalling for yet another corner. Jose Enrique was also in marauding mode, linking up well with team mates all over the place.
At this point Newcastle were in control of the game and really pressuring the champions elect. Ameobi was getting a bit of ‘extra attention’ from their back four and popped up at the back post to connect with a great Joey Barton cross field ball. Unfortunately he could only just get it on target from what had become a very tight angle.
We won a few free kicks in decent places around their box, but alas, Joey Barton couldn’t find the killer ball with any of them. By the time we approached the half hour point, it had been all Toon. Man U were still dangerous on the break and Rooney fluffed his lines with only Krul to beat when put in over the top of our defense. They had a couple of other half chances where they looked too tense in front of goal.
As the clock ticked down towards half time, Tiote had a straight 25 yarder comfortably saved by Van Der Saar. But there was still time for probably Newcastle’s best and most clear cut chance of a pulsating first half. It fell directly on to Peter Lovenkrands head from a diagonal cross from the right. It cleared a leaping Ameobi and a Man U defender and it looked like Lovenkrands wasn’t really expecting it to make it through to him and put it wide.
Half time: 0 – 0.
The second half started a little differently with Man U attacking from the get go. Winning a series of corners and putting us under some constant early pressure. It must be said though that Newcastle as a team, and particularly our defence, kept their cool and got through the pressure without too much in the way of scares. We started to get back into the game again and played some controlled football.
By this point it was a cut and thrust game, with end to end entertainment. Wave after wave of attack and counter attack, with neither team really carving out a clear cut opening. You could tell that they were aware of our threat and tried to man handle Ameobi out of the game. They continued their clampdown on Jonas too.
As we edged towards the hour mark, Lovenkrands won the ball out right in the final third and cut into the box. He was surrounded by two or three Man U defenders as he made his way across the front of their box trying to create an opening. In came the leg of Anderson taking Lovenkrands legs away. It looked like a ‘nailed on’ penalty to everyone, including the usually anti Toon commentators. The ref inextricably decided to give nothing as he stood with a Toon player down on the ground next to him and another fouled in the box.
What followed was a rash of yellow cards as the game entered it’s scrappiest phase for a few minutes. It was obvious that the effort put in by both teams was starting to slow things down and stretch the game out.
Next came the substitutions. On came Steven Ireland for a tiring Lovenkrands and within 2 minutes of his arrival he had his first shot on goal in a Toon shirt. A great trap and early shot that was just off target. He did show some nice touches in his 20 minutes on the pitch. Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs had a great opportunity when they carved a good chance from some quick opportunist play, only to stab wide.
We were now in the tense final minutes and with 4 minutes of overtime it was all hands to the pump. Man U were trying to turn the screw and find a late winner but Newcastle were still worrying them on the break. As the clock ticked down the final minute of added time it looked like Ranger (on for Ameobi) was in, but he had the ball taken just off his toe at the last second.
There was still chance for the last bit of controversy to be squeezed out of what had been a rousing affair when Hernandez wriggled into the Toon box after some quick interchanges. As he came towards Danny Simpson, who stuck out an inviting leg, Hernandez decided to take him up on the invite and went down. The whistle went and 50 thousand breaths were held. To his credit, referee, Lee Probert, had blown up for a simulation and rightly so. Handing a yellow to Hernandez for his last gasp attempt at drama.
The final whistle blew and it was a point apiece. A very well earned one at that. One that most hadn’t bargained for. It also gave us a point that takes us to 40 for the season so far and back to 9th place in the league, above Villa on goal difference.
Every player put another proper shift in and deserves full credit for the performance level achieved.
It’s really difficult to call MotM but i’d go with Tiote in his comeback game. But no one disgraced themselves and all deserve praise.
A massive shout has to go out to the SJP crowd who showed what a proper Premiership game atmosphere should be like – Amazing, crackling atmosphere.
Full time: 0 – 0.
Great game, great performance, great point!
Howay the Lads!
Teams and stats.
Newcastle United: Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini, MIke Williamson, Danny Simpson, Sanchez Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Cheick Tiote, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierez, Shola Ameobi (Nile Ranger – 73), Peter Lovenkrands (Stephen Ireland – 70).
Subs: Ole Soderberg, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, James Perch, Stephen Ireland, Shefki Kuqi, Nile Ranger.
Manchester United: Edwin van der Saar, John O’Shea, Patrice Evra, Chris Smalling, Nemania Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Anderson (Antonio Valencia – 71), Nani (Michael Owen – 81), Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez.
Subs: Tomasz Kuszczak, Jonny Evans, Fabio da Silva, Ji-Sung Park, Darron Gibson, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia.
Referee: Lee Probert.
Yellow cards: Michael Carrick (45+1), Tiote (65), Williamson (77), Hernandez (90+1).
Match highlights and post match interviews.
Match highlights of what was an very good game overall for a 0-0 draw.
Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, congratulates hais players on what he describes as an “outstanding” performance in the opening thity minutes. Acknowledging that Manchester United had the better of the second half generally, he also congratulates his lads’ for defending “superbly and heroically at times”. He also comments that Lovenkrands had a “definite penalty”, which I’m sure many fans would agree with!
NUFCBlog Author: CLiNT FLiCK
Cut me in half & it'll say Newcastle United F.C. just like a stick of Black 'n' White rock!
CLiNT FLiCK has written 42 articles on this blog.
Really good match report, Clint.