|
|
BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS - NEWCASTLE AND CHARLTON HOME 12-4-06
As expected Steve McClaren rang the changes with the Charlton FA Cup
game
in midweek at the forefront of his mind. We lined up in a 4-5-1
formation.
Newcastle had the first goal scoring chance of the afternoon after just
three minutes but Ameobi could only direct his shot into the side
netting
from six yards. Ameobi again evaded the Boro backline but his shot went
high
and wide, much to the delight of the Boro fans.
Newcastle took the lead on twenty eight minutes. A Lee Bowyer
effort was helped along by George Boateng and this sent the Toon fans into
raptures. They were in good voice, this much was true, but let's face it- this
was their cup final.
It was a fairly flat derby game with neither team
playing 'edge of the seat' football.
Newcastle doubled their lead just before the break. After a mix-up in
the
Boro box the ball fell to Ameobi, he composed himself and slotted the
ball
home to make it 2-0.
Steve McClaren tried to instil some extra quality into the team at half
time by bringing Viduka on. But Newcastle continued to press and could easily
have
had a third through a Solano free kick.
On the hour mark Davies was taken off after a challenge by Lee
Bowyer and Massimo Maccarone replaced him. With that came the biggest cheer of the
day.
We were given a lifeline with ten minutes to go. A deflected Boateng
volley
gave Shay Given no chance. But sadly this time there was going to be no
heroic comeback and the game ended 2-1 to the Toon. It was a fairly
poor
game for both teams, with Newcastle deserving the win.
FA Cup Middlesbrough v Charlton
We went into the game knowing victory would put us in two major cup
semi-finals. We gave ourselves the best opportunity we could by naming
a
very strong and fresh team, thanks to the squad rotation policy adopted
by
Steve McClaren.
We lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Schwarzer, Parnaby, Riggott, Southgate,
Taylor, Morrison, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Hasselbaink and Viduka.
The atmosphere before the game was fantastic and credit to Charlton for
bringing a good following. I felt deep down that we had a classic FA Cup
encounter in store.
Charlton started the brighter and nearly took the lead with barely a
minute
gone. A cross wide right from Rommedahl was met by Bartlett but
Schwarzer
reacted well. Minutes later Bent had a great chance to opening the
scoring,
but he was denied by the big Aussie.
The opening goal came after ten minutes. A Rochemback twenty-five yard free kick
was
misjudged by Myhre and flew into the back of the net. The goal came
against
the run of play, but there were no complaints from the Boro faithful.
The lead only lasted two minutes. A Bartlett flick on header found an
unmarked
Bryan Hughes who volleyed past Mark Schwarzer. Terrible defending.
Charlton
nearly took the lead minutes later. Bent took advantage from a Riggott
slip
and had a free shot at goal, but Schwarzer was on fine form and denied
Bent.
It was a free flowing game, flowing from end to end. This was proving
to be
a classic English cup tie.
Our lead was restored after twenty-six minutes. Viduka held up the ball
well
and played in Morrison. The young winger picked up the ball and shot
well
past Myhre. We almost had another two minutes later. An excellent cross
from
Stuey Downing found Hasselbaink and his header look destined for the
bottom
left hand corner but Myhre made a fantastic save.
Two more chances for either team before the break brought an end to a
very
good half. Both teams were very obviously up for it.
Hasselbaink had a great chance to put daylight between the sides just minutes
after the break. Jimmy out thought Perry and fired a shot goal bound,
but
again Myhre was on hand to deny him.
Both sets of fans were trying their up most to inspire their team on
and it
worked. On seventy-three minutes good link up play between Morrison and
Hasselbaink presented Hasselbaink with a great chance. Hasselbaink fired a return ball from Morrison which
flew
into the back of the net. What a goal. Surely that was game over? But
no.
Charlton went straight down the other end and were given a free kick.
Rommedahl lofted the ball into the danger zone and a muddle up between the
defence and Schwarzer saw Charlton equalise. The ball was directed in
by none
other than Gareth Southgate.
But Southgate's blushers were spared when Viduka produced something
special
down the other end. The Aussie received the ball from Parnaby then
dinked in
and out of the helpless Charlton defenders before firing home. What a
goal and it turned out to be the winner.
A quality FA Cup encounter, full of drama and intrigue. I thought we fully
deserved the win and we gave a very good team performance. Every single
member of the team did well.
We're in our second major cup semi-final of the season. Great
achievement,
but lets not stop here. We've a very good chance of getting to the
final and
doing the double. There's no reason why not.
And we're just one win away from securing European football for the third consecutive season. That, again, would be
progress.
One Steve McClaren, there's only one Steve McClaren.
NOW HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
BACK TO BRIGGSY INDEX
|
|
|
|
