Archive for tag: Newcastle v Stevenage FA Cup.

Hereford all over again! Stevenage v Newcastle F.A. Cup match report.

January 8th, 2011 | 52 Comments |

Stacey Long celebrates Stevenage's first goal
Stacey Long celebrates Stevenage's first goal
It 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…)