Kevin Nolan feels like chicken tonight once again!As Newcastle United got the game underway, accompanied by a chorus of boos from the bitter residents of the more underdeveloped side of the North East, I have to admit that I had some slight trepidation about this game. The Mackems were deperate for revenge after their comprehensive 5-1 humiliation at St James’s Park, and have had a more than decent run of form since that day, lying at sixth in the table.
As the game progressed, Newcastle started brightly enough, but it was proving to be something of a scrappy affair in the first half. But there was to be some, if not alot of excitement at both ends of the pitch. The first event of any note was when Ameobi, usually something of a talisman against Sunderland, missed a very good chance after around three or four minutes of the game to put the Magpies ahead. While he showed some endeavour to get on the end of a very good delivery by Joey Barton, his finish wasn’t great, and his effort was just wide of the post. Shortly after that, Sunderland’s Darren Bent was to return the favour at the other end, however he fired his fairly close range effort firmly at the legs of Steve Harper. (more…)
Highlights now updated to extended 13 minute version.
The game started off as a fairly scrappy affair in the first half. Newcastle gradually appeared to achieve some dominance in the game however, with Barton floating in some good crosses and corners into the box. After around 50 minutes, a great Barton corner found the head of Shola Ameobi, Shola’s header found the boot of an ever opportunistic Kevin Nolan for a real poacher’s effort. (more…)
Stacey Long celebrates Stevenage's first goalIt is hard to write a match report when you are a fan who is almost lost for words at the dire performance of your own team. But that is what I am. I think that it is safe to say that this was the worst Newcastle performance I have witnessed since I travelled to East London to witness the Magpies’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of another League 2 side, Leyton Orient.
Stevenage manager, Graham Westley, was once quoted as saying “Attitude is better than ability”, or something similar. However, Newcastle were so poor, and so primitive in their tactics that it could be said that on the day, Stevenage were the ones with the ability as well as the attitude.
The Magpies started poorly, then proceeded to get worse as the game progressed, especially so in the second half when all of the real damage was done. Newcastle’s approach seemed to consist largely of lots of long balls punted into the box but with hardly any real chances created, except, perhaps, for a Barton effort just before half time which was saved by Stevenage keeper, Chris Day. They seemed to find it very hard to get going, and their tactics were so poor that one could be forgiven for thinking that Stevenage were the Premiership side, and Newcastle the League Two battlers. They certainly had the lion’s share of the chances and played a more passing game. (more…)
Aaron Lennon opens the scoring.First off, I would like to apologise. Usually I write the match reports pretty much straight after the game, but yesterday was different.
The 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane may have been expected, but the level of performance was so low that it left me lost for words.
Newcastle rarely threatened the Tottenham goal throughout the match, even when the home side were reduced to ten men.
More often than not I try to find the positives and adopt a ‘glass half full’ approach, but it is something that is proving to be very hard after yesterday’s defeat. One win in eight games is relegation form, and makes our upcoming games against Wigan and West Ham vitally important.
The hosts started brightly and had the first shot at goal just two minutes into game through Aaron Lennon. Rafael Van Der Vaart and Luka Modric were moving the ball around well for Tottenham, but despite the inventiveness of those two players, Newcastle survived and forced their way into the game. (more…)
Tevez makes it two!Newcastle succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at St James’ Park this afternoon, but it wasn’t as straight forward as the scoreline may suggest.
It may well be a cliche in footballing circles, but there was certainly enough about the performance to give me hope despite the defeat.
It’s a strange feeling really, as usually I would be pulling what is left of my hair out after a 3-1 defeat, but I feel strangely mellow after witnessing a performance which saw us have the bulk of possesion and create many more chances than our rich, title-chasing visitors. Another heartening factor was the effort and determination on show from the players today. They didn’t give up, despite being behind for 88 minutes of the game.
Fabricio Coloccini returned to the starting line up in place of the poorly Sol Campbell. Wayne Routledge was recalled to play out wide with Joey Barton pushed into his favoured central midfield role whilst Kevin Nolan effectively took the place of the injured Shola Ameobi meaning that Newcastle lined up in a kind of 4-4-1-1 formation. (more…)
