|
NEWCASTLE AWAY 27-4-05
Final whistle: 2139 - Report online: 2143
Jones, Davies, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Zenden, Boateng, Doriva, Parlour, Nemeth, Hasselbaink
Knight, Downing, Davies, Graham, Wheater
The First Half
After the spectacular collapse of the Geordie's season, this was their last chance to salvage something from the campaign. With nothing left to play for, other than avoiding the remote but possible chance of relegation, defeat to the Boro tonight would really put the cap on a Tyneside annus horribillus.
Boro started with Ray Parlour on the left side of midfield and Stewey Downing on the bench. Obviously Steve McClaren had his tactics worked out and hopefully, they would pay dividends.
The first five minutes were played out a frantic and typically frenzied derby match pace. Kieron Dyer was the stand-out player in the early stages and he was looking like he might cause us all sorts of problems tonight.
As the game settled, Newcastle began to enjoy a lot of possession, although the only threat up front seemed to be coming from Dyer who was running Andy Davies ragged.
Despite the frantic pace, there were barely any the talking points after twenty-five minutes and only two shots, one from each side. Neither really merited a paragraph.
On thirty-three minutes and after his impressive start, Dyer was withdrawn with what appeared to be a problem with his hamstring. Andy Davies must have been relieved.
With Newcastle's biggest threat gone, Boro gained a little confidence but the game needed a boost. Or perhaps this was what we were aiming for. Contain them in the first half and go for the throat after the break?
In the final minute of the half, Ehiogu played in a brilliant cross which JFH got on the end of. The shot was deflected though and although nothing resulted from the corner, it was a warning to the Geordies of what may come in the second half.
Fan Reaction
"Not the most inspiring performance but at least it's still even. I think he has a second half plan, because he knows they tend to run out of steam..."
Datsun
The Second Half
Three minutes into the half, Boro were temporarily reduced to ten men when The Boat fell awkwardly after going for an early cross. Stewart Downing warmed up but was not required as The Boat was not going to leave the action that easily. He deserved a bravery award for carrying on.
Very shortly afterwards, The Lizard latched onto a cross from Ray Parlour and it has to be said, he missed an absolute sitter. We should have gone one up with that chance and we could only hope at this stage that The Lizard would not be heading home with a huge regret.
Another great chance fell to Boro a few minutes later as JFH created a wonderful chance for himself out of nothing. But his finish was poor and as the ball sailed into the arms of Given, we were once again left thinking about what might have been.
The Geordies had a great chance themselves in the early stages as James Millner, who was imposing himself on the game more and more, sent the ball across our penalty area. All it needed was the missing final touch and we would have been in trouble.
Stewey Downing started to warm up on sixty-two minutes and that must have worried Newcastle. Surprisingly, Bolo Zenden was taken off in a straightforward right wing changeover.
Doriva was given instructions to get forward more often and Boro's formation looked a little more positive for the substitution.
It was difficult not to feel sympathy for Alan Shearer who was becoming increasingly more lonely up front. Shearer had not scored for eight games and tonight, more than one Boro defender was consistently marking him out of the match. It was to be hoped that with neither keeper having really being tested so far, we didn't forget that Newcastle are not a one man team.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Brad Jones made an absolutely superb save from a James Millner strike which looked like it had him beaten all the way. Millner was the biggest threat to us at this stage of the game. a potent force that required containing.
Into The Red Zone
With ten minutes to the final whistle, Captain Gareth challenged Alan Shearer for a long cross and neither player reached the ball. Shearer caught accidentally Southgate in the challenge and the blood flowed from a bad cut over his left eye.
Whilst a new shirt was being prepared for our skipper, The Lizard was taken off and Danny Graham entered the fray. After a near hat-trick on Saturday, The Lizard had rediscovered his recent poor form and the only surprise was that this substitution did not take place earlier.
Southgate was bandaged up and like The Boat before him, he continued with the battle.
The Red Zone was extended by a whole five minutes because of the Boro injuries, enough time for either side to give the fifty-two thousand strong crowd something to cheer about.
But a poor quality derby match was played out to a lack of crescendo and ended goalless with neither team having really done anything spectacular enough to warrant victory.
Fan Reaction
"I'm happy with that. All we have to do now is beat Spurs and we're laughing."
Lillibet M
BACK TO 2004/05 REPORTS INDEX
|
|
|
|
