Oh Coloccini....This match saw the welcome return of Captain Coloccini, and also the absence of Yohan Cabaye – a victim of trial by television and the London FA earlier in the day. Chris Samba was missing from the Blackburn Rovers line-up following the club’s failure to release him during the January transfer window – clearly fit but not happy and therefore not risked by Steve Kean. The Referee was Phil “Yellow Card” Dowd.
First Half
The game kicked off with empty seats all over the ground – it was like a blue “Stadium of Light”. The crowd was given as 20,817. The first bit of excitement came after five minutes when Ameobi was put through by Best but strangely, didn’t have the pace to take advantage of the opportunity. A couple of minutes after that, Ryan Taylor put a great ball through for Ameobi who failed to trap it as it bounced past him unchallenged but luckily for him he was adjudged to be offside.
Things got much better a few minutes later however when United took the lead. Following good passing around the box a shot from Ryan Taylor, which was actually going wide, deflected off Scott Dann and into the net with the keeper going the other way. Blackburn Rovers 0 Newcastle United 1(more…)
Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn Date: 1st February 2012 Kick Off: 8.00pm Referee: Phil Dowd.
Don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick of the sight of Blackburn Rovers! We’ve played them three times already this season and of course they were never off the TV screens during the really vicious fan protests against their manager Steve Kean and owners, the Venky chicken moguls of Pune in India.
Having said that, after the weird loss to them earlier in the season in the League Cup, we’ve since beaten them at St James’ Park in Premier League and the FA Cup so it would appear we have the measure of them. Let’s hope so, because Liverpool’s win last night sees them temporarily occupying the 5th spot that is rightfully ours.
I sympathise with Steve Kean, who I think has conducted himself professionally and with dignity during the period of nasty personal attacks he has had to endure. I feel for his family and friends too. I wish him well for the future and hope he justifies his position as Blackburn Manager and has a run of success. But Steve, if you’re reading this – can you start all that after tonight mate? (more…)
I hope they aren't the player's wives and girlfriends Alan!A report in yesterday’s “People” newspaper contains pictures and an account of Newcastle United’s Tenerife trip last week, as Alan Pardew and his squad prepared for last Saturday’s ill fated FA Cup clash with Brighton.
It contains a bawdy tale of late night binge drinking and €20 lap dancers as Pardew and the players celebrated Steven Taylor’s 26th birthday party at “Lineker’s Bar” on the island.
Before embarking on the trip, Pardew told the media:
“If I am honest it is not a work situation and a case of making the players work hard and run. It’s a breather. We will have a rest and a chat and socialise a little bit.
“We will obviously do some training and hopefully be refreshed for Brighton. Don’t get me wrong, we won’t be drinking but it is a kind of ‘let’s see where we are’ and analyse everything. We will enjoy each other’s company and hopefully stay tight until the end.”(more…)
Brighton's Amex Stadium.Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton Date: 28th January 2012 Kick Off: 5.15pm Referee: Lee Probert
It’s the 4th Round of the FA Cup and we’re still in it! Added to that some notable teams such as Manchester City have already left the competition, and the so-called “big boys” keep getting drawn against each other for a change which can’t be bad. Could this be our year? I would love it, just love it if we went all the way (and beat Tottenham in the final, but that’s just a personal wish…). At least six Premier League sides will go out in this round so there’s everything to play for!
But first there’s the small matter of facing a rather good Brighton and Hove Albion for a place in the last 16 at the 22,500 capacity American Express Community Stadium in East Sussex. Brighton needed a replay to knock out non-league club Wrexham, in the last round. They also reached the fifth round for the first time in 25 years last season, and have lost only one of their last 11 home FA Cup matches over six years.
Brighton play a style of football which has been likened to that of Swansea City, technically very good keeping the ball and passing it well. They come into the game on the back of three straight wins in the Championship and can be expected to be confident and present a really stiff challenge for United. (more…)
"I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind"I think it’s fair to say that yesterday’s win against QPR at Saint James’ Park wasn’t the prettiest game to watch, though it was still a very welcome and grinding win.
While the Toon faithful may not like seeing such meagre fare, I feel it’s a very satisfying way to collect three very important points sometimes. Of course, we can point to the players that have gone to seek their fortune in Africa Cup of Nations, not being here.
There’s also the little matter of QPR kicking one our best players (Cabaye) off the pitch with only 20 minutes on the clock.
It was good for us that their midfield schemer one Joey Barton was prevented from rocking up to SJP with his new club and manager because of suspension for a red card. They also lacked the skill of Taarabt and the power of Troare, also in Africa. It maybe would have been a very different game with them playing. Not to mention Demba Ba and Cheik Tiote.
Oh! I mentioned them!
I think I’m right in saying that Mark Highes has never lost as a manager at Saint James’ with all of his former charges? So it was always going to be a bit of a war of atrition, and so it proved! (more…)
