Everton 2-0 Newcastle United |
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Date:
Saturday 7th May 2005
Kick Off: 3.00pm BST
Venue: Goodison Park
Att: 40,438
Ref: Barry Knight (Orpington)
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Newcastle were beaten 2-0 By Everton at Goodison Park Saturday afternoon
with two goals either side of half-time enough to virtually clinch
a Champions League place for the Toffees while condemning United and
the traveling fans to yet another miserable day on the road. Thankfully,
our last of the season.
Graeme Souness made two changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-1 in
midweek - bringing back Celestine Babayaro in place of Steven Taylor
at left-back, while Jermaine Jenas came in for Amdy Faye in the centre
of midfield with the formation once again 4-5-1 when off the ball
and 4-3-3 when on it.
And Newcastle were on the ball from the off, playing neat and tidy
football (arguably our best all season) where as Everton, with two
former Mags in their lineup Duncan Ferguson and Steve Watson, were
content to hit it long to their 'talisman' Scot in the hope of picking
up any scraps that came their way.
Souness' side dominated the first-half and should have went in at
the break a few goals to the good but Patrick Kluivert, James Milner
and Darren Ambrose in particular were all guilty of squandering gilt
edged chances while Everton rarely threatened. Although Shay Given
had to tip away a Mikel Arteta free-kick that looked destined for
the top corner earlier on in the game.
Other than that it was a comfortable half for the away side and you
wouldn't guess David Moyes' team were Champions League contenders.
On this showing, they'll struggle badly in Europe next season.
Then enter referee Barry Knight. The man in the middle in that now
infamous 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa at St. James' Park a few weeks
back where he sent off 3 Toon players and turned down numerous hand-ball
appeals.
On the stroke of half-time Knight awarded Marcus Bent a free-kick
near the left-hand corner flag after a tangle with Toon Skipper Jean-Alain
Boumsong. It was never a foul but there is no excuse for what happened
next.
Arteta subsequently swung in the set-piece and David Weir rose unchallenged
at the back post to head home his first goal in 3 years. Once again
sloppy marking cost United a goal. If you need a goal, give the Toon
a call. They'll only be too happy to assist.
After the break, 1-0 down and with the home crowd in full voice, Knight
added to United's woes by sending off Shola Ameobi for pushing Tim
Cahill after the Australian had been tugging at his shirt. Lacking
fight all season, it's typical that he would finally show some but
in this fashion. He was having a very good game too...
Shola's actions cost his team-mates any chance of a comeback and not
long after, his tormentor Cahil put the home side 2-0 up - firing
home from close range after a misshit somehow found it's way to his
feet inside the box. Sloppy marking again.
Game over!
After that Newcastle simply gave up with Everton content to see the
game out. Not even the late introduction of Alan Shearer could save
our sorry arses.
And while Souness bemoans "lady luck" and "poor refereeing decisions"
- venting his anger in that direction, United fans are growing increasingly
concerned about the direction of the club under the Scot and should
his side be on the end of a right royal hammering from the new kings
of the Premiership in our final game of the season next week, it will
be the thousands of fans on the stands doing the blaming and it will
be him on the receiving end.
| Everton |
Newcastle
4-5-1 |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 1-0
Full-Time: 2-0
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 1
Goalscorers: Weir (43), Cahil (59)
Yellow Cards: Carsley, Cahill, Arteta
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Beattie (Ferguson 63), McFadden (Bent 74), Stubbs
(Cahil 89)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: None
Yellow Cards: Kluivert
Red Cards: Ameobi (56)
Substitutions: 2
Ramage (Carr 45), Shearer (Milner 82)
Injuries: None to report of |
| Van der Saar |
Given |
| Volz |
Carr |
| Goma |
Bramble |
| Knight |
Boumsong
(Cpt) |
| Rosenior |
Babayaro |
| Radzinski |
Milner |
| Clar |
Ambrose |
| Pembridge |
Jenas |
| Boa Morte |
N'Zogbia |
| Cole |
Ameobi |
| McBride |
Kluivert |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Crossley |
Harper |
| Bocanegra |
Ramage |
| Rehman |
Shearer |
|
Pearce |
Robert |
| Jensen |
O'Brien |
Graeme Souness said:
"The referee was apologising to some of our lads before the game for
the penalty he gave in that Aston Villa match.
"It was outside the box and he said that. He actually went up to Stephen
Carr before the game and told him that.
"That was the game when we had three players sent off out of extreme
frustration, but Mr Knight escaped without any criticism that day
and this time he has given a free-kick to Everton that wasn't and
it changed the game.
"There were other decisions he got wrong.
"We feel hard done by again because of Mr Knight.
"I won't defend Ameobi for what he did and when he was sent off the
game was over but Boumsong says it wasn't a foul on Bent when they
scored their first.
"You saw the reaction from Jean Alain as he left the pitch at half
time. He was adamant it wasn't a free kick and I believe him.
"I will probably end up with a trip to the FA because I have told
you what I have told the other press and media, but I am speaking
my mind and letting people know what I think."
"Then we conceded a bad goal we didn't deserve to let in, and after
that Everton's fans got behind their side and we were very subdued.
"It could have been a very different game. But football is about reality."
| Match Reaction
From Everton |
David Moyes said:
"We have had a few ups and downs, we have had a second half of
the season that has been difficult because we played so well in the
first half. We dropped very few points and we were a lot of points
clear.
"But it was always to be tough to keep those teams away and we
have probably gone game for game with them in the second half of the
season.
"We think we have a poorer second half of the season but there
is very few clubs been able to catch us even with the form we have
been on." |
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