Newcastle United Vs Blackburn Rovers |
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Date:
Saturday 11th September 2004
Kick Off: 3.00pm UK
Venue: St. James' Park
Ref: Dermot Gallagher
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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The Dawn Of A New Era
It's been nearly two weeks since we lost 4-2 at Villa Park. A lot
has happened since then. No new central defenders to replace Jonathan
Woodgate, predictably no Wayne Rooney either and of course no Sir
Bobby Robson who was sacked, replaced by one Graeme Souness. Who resigned
as Blackburn manager the day he was confirmed as Newcastle's new boss.
Leaving two caretaker managers in charge of this game. John Carver
in the home dugout and Tony Parkes in the away section.
Newcastle need a win, badly, as do Blackburn. Both teams are looking
for their first win of the Season and both lie in the bottom 6. Games
against Blackburn don't usually conjure up a football feast so don't
expect scintillating football, especially from the away team. How
the departure of Souness will effect them remains to be seen, as does
his arrival in Bobby's seat with our lot.
One thing is certain our lads should be up for it and out to impress
- they are now fighting for their place in the team and Souness, with
his reputation, will have already put the fear into one or two.
Who Carver picks is anyone's guess. He's had a spat with Bellamy and
if rumours are to be believed, just about everyone else too. Either
way I'm sure he will enjoy his day and come away as a victorious (temporary)
manager of Newcastle United. Lets get behind him and the lads and
show our new man, who will no doubt be watching somewhere that he
can bank on our support.
Jonathan Stead (ST)
Signed from the then 3rd Division Huddersfield in February for £1.25m
and has proved a revelation in the No.9 shirt that Shearer once wore
at Blackburn. Indeed Stead has a Shearer like presence on the field
and many around Ewood Park, including Graeme Souness, have likened
him to our Captain. He's made the step up to the Premiership with
ease and looks a real prospect. Tall, good in the air, strong, prepared
to shoot with either foot, deceptively quick and already a decent
finisher - as his 6 goals in 17 games prove.
Certainly one for the future and one to watch out for. He will be
a real handful for our back four. He almost single handedly kept Blackburn
in the Premiership at the tail end of last Season. Keep an eye out
on his progress - a long term replacement for Big Al?
Mickey Gray
You don't need me to tell you he used to play for Sunderland, in fact
he was their Captain once. You know the drill lads and lasses...give
him what for :)
| NUFC Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Caretaker Manager John Carver on the match:
"Tomorrow's game is not about me but about the players of Newcastle
United and the need for them to pick up three points.
"But I have to say that it will be the proudest and biggest day of
my life. I don't know what the future holds but whatever I do and
wherever I go tomorrow's occasion will stay with me for the rest of
the life.
"It has been a very difficult couple of weeks for the staff of United
with all the talk of new people coming in and none of us really knowing
what is going to happen after tomorrow.
"However, like the rest of them, I have stayed professional and focused
on the job in hand and all I can do is hope we get the right result
against Rovers.
"I have always wanted to manage Newcastle United, and while I am not
the real manager tomorrow, I'm in charge and that is the next best
thing.
"It will be a dream come true for me when I take my seat in the dug-out.
I know there are millions of Geordies out there who would love to
be in my position tomorrow.
"In the past week my family have been with me all the way and they
will be rooting for me at the game and so too will all my Geordie
mates.
"The chairman, Freddy Shepherd, has been fantastic and the fans have
been marvellous to me - I am very grateful for this opportunity.
"We haven't had the best of starts to our season and I am hurt as
much as the fans because I'm one them.
"All I want to do now is to win them the three points against Rovers
and get the club going in the right direction for the rest of the
season."
United squad:
Given, Harper, Carr, Hughes, O'Brien, Elliott, Bernard, Butt, Ramage,
Brittain, Dyer, Jenas, Milner, Robert, Bowyer, N'Zogbia, Shearer,
Bellamy, Kluivert, Ameobi.
| Blackburn Squad News &
Pre-Match Reaction |
Blackburn squad:
Friedel, Enckelman, Dickov, Douglas, Tugay, Emerton, Ferguson, Flitcroft,
Gresko, Gray, Jansen, Johansson, Matteo, Neill, Short, Stead, Pedersen,
Bothroyd.
Caretaker Manager Tony Parkes on the match:
"First of all, I want to say how much I have enjoyed this week.
"Footballers are a resilient bunch and they have been excellent and
are really looking forward to the next game.
"It was a big shock this week, not only to lose Graeme Souness, but
for three other members of the backroom staff to join him on the same
day - it left a big hole.
"In situations like this, it's always difficult to know how things
will pan out. Supported by Rob Kelly and Terry Darracott, the players
have responded very well to training this week. You can sense they
want to go out and show all's well at Blackburn Rovers.
"Tomorrow, we are playing one of the top five teams in one of the
top stadiums. It's a game that will excite everybody involved, including
the people in our squad. We have a lot of internationals to choose
from, players who like the big occasions."
Dermot Gallagher: Last officiated a Toon game in our 4-2
win over Everton back in April. No major gaffes that day in what was
quite an easy game for the Banbury official to referee.
| Last Meeting (at the St.
James' Park) |
NUFC 0-1 Blackburn Rovers(Premiership: 28th of December 2003)
A bitter ugly game was won 1-0 by Blackburn as United lost their final
game of 2003. Rovers Paul Gallagher scored the winning goal, a controversial
one too, punching the ball into the back of the net. Michael Chopra
made his full debut for the Toon and had the ball in the back of the
net but his effort was ruled off-side to spoil a dream day for the
Gosforth born striker. There wasn't much football played as Blackburn
came to defend and a sloppy, passionless Newcastle just went through
the motions - angering the Toon Army who booed the lads off. Barry
Ferguson was also stretchered off after breaking his leg. Not a game
to remember. Awful day, awful game, awful results.
The teams that day:
Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard,
Solano (Ambrose 71), Jenas, Speed (Viana 81), Robert, Shearer, Chopra
(LuaLua 71). Subs not used: Harper, Woodgate.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Gresko,
Emerton, Ferguson (Flitcroft 28), Tugay, Mahon, Gallagher (Jansen
89), Cole (Yorke 87). Subs not used: Enckelman, Martin Taylor.
Attendance: 51,648
| Last 5 Meetings (at St. James'
Park - all competitions) |
| Date |
Score |
Comp |
Toon Scorers |
| 22/3/2002 |
Won 5-1 |
Premiership |
Solano, Robert, Jenas, Gresko (og), Bellamy |
| 15/12/2001 |
Won 2-1 |
Premiership |
Bernard, Speed |
| 16/5/1999 |
Drew 1-1 |
Premiership |
Hamman |
| 14/2/1999 |
Drew 0-0 |
Premiership |
None |
| 11/11/1998 |
Drew 1-1 |
Premiership |
Shearer |
| |
Newcastle United wins |
Draws |
Blackburn
Wins |
| League |
47 |
24 |
42 |
| FA Cup |
5 |
3 |
2 |
| League Cup |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Other |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Total |
58 |
28 |
45 |
| Form Guide (League &
Cups) |
| Newcastle |
Blackburn |
| Opposition |
V |
Result |
Opposition |
V |
Result |
| Aston Villa |
A |
L 4-2 |
Manchester United |
H |
D 1-1 |
| Norwich City |
H |
D 2-2 |
Arsenal |
A |
L 3-0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur |
H |
L 1-0 |
Southampton |
A |
L 3-2 |
| Middlesbrough |
A |
D 2-2 |
Westbromich Albion |
H |
D 1-1 |
| Liverpool |
A |
D 1-1 |
Birmingham City |
H |
D 1-1 |
| Southampton |
A |
D 3-3 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
A |
L 1-0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
H |
D 1-1 |
Manchester United |
H |
W 1-0 |
| Marseille |
A |
L 2-0 |
Everton |
A |
W 1-0 |
| Manchester City |
A |
L 1-0 |
Leicester City |
H |
W 1-0 |
| Chelsea |
H |
W 2-1 |
Fulham |
A |
W 4-3 |
| *Last
10 matches in all competitions. Keys: V
= Venue L = Loss W
= Win D = Draw |
I can't see anything but a Newcastle win. Blackburn will be hit harder
having lost Souness than we will having lost Sir Bobby. A comfortable
home win to kick start our Season and the heralding of a new era. |
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