Fulham 1-3 Newcastle United |
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Date:
Wednesday 4th May 2005
Kick Off: 7.45pm BST
Venue: Craven Cottage
Att: 19,003
Ref: Graham Poll (Tring)
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Newcastle picked up an unexpected and rare win in the Capital Wednesday
evening. Beating Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage to end a 7 game run
without a win and a mini goal drought that had seen the Toon fail
to score in 240 minutes of previous action. The win was the Cottagers
first defeat at home of 2005 and United's 10th in the League as we
moved up two places into 12th. Earning £1m in the process (should
we stay there of course).
Graeme Souness, in charge for the 50th time, made a few changes to
the side that performed dismally in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace
Saturday gone.
At the back in come fit again Titus Bramble to partner Jean-Alain
Boumsong in the heart of defence with Steven Taylor switching to left-back
in the absence of the injured Robbie Elliott. The midfield stayed
the same where as up front Alan Shearer was rested (later confirmed
by Souness on behalf of the Skipper's request) with Dutchman Patrick
Kluivert getting a rare start. Boumsong was handed the Captain's armband.
Newcastle got at their hosts from the off and with just under 20 minutes
on the clock, opened the scoring thanks to a well taken goal by Darren
Ambrose, his 3rd consecutive away goal in as many away starts. The
lively Charles N'Zogbia sped his way past his marker to dig out a
high cross which James Milner nodded down for Ambrose, with the ball
taking a deflection on it's way. The midfielder swung his right-foot
at the ball and drove home from 8-yards out. 1-0 and coasting.
Fulham rarely troubled United, although former Mags Alain Goma and
Lee Clark both saw shots go over the bar, a header from the Frenchman
and a looping shot after a mix up in defence from the Geordie.
The Magpies, playing in their blue/black away strip were playing well.
In defence the pace and power of Boumsong kept former Toon No.9 Andy
Cole at bay while Amdy Faye in midfield gave plenty of protection
in front of the back-four. On the flanks N'Zogbia and Milner got at
their men whenever possible and sent in a few decent deliveries and
Fulham struggled to contain the deep running of Ambrose where as up
front Shola Ameobi battled hard and Kluivert held it up well to play
others in. Souness' men boys went into the break deserving of their
lead.
Into the second-half United eased up a little and the home side started
to enjoy more of the ball but it wasn't long before they found themselves
2-0 down. Kluivert heading home an N'Zogbia corner on the hour mark
for his 4th goal in as many starts, capping off a decent performance
from the No.11.
With 15 minutes left Ameobi made it 3-0 with a rare headed goal, his
first in the League since January, this time Milner providing the
cross.
3-0 down and the game all but over Newcastle tried to play for time
but Chris Coleman's side went looking for a consolation and they grabbed
one with just under 5 minutes to go. Milner lost out in midfield to
Liam Rosenior who threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to former
Toon target Tomasz Radzinski with the Canadian running onto it and
side footing home past Shay Given. Bramble just failing to cut it
out before the striker could get onto it.
United had to see out a nervous last few minutes with Fulham almost
grabbing a second but Shay pulled off a great save to deny Brian McBride
at the death as the Toon picked up all 3 points in a deserved win.
All in all a good performance and a welcome end of the season lift.
Well done Graeme and the lads. Lets hope they can remain unbeating
in the final two games and hopefully, pick up enough points to finish
above our lowest ever finish of 13th.
Toon Player Ratings Vs Fulham (a)
| Fulham
4-4-2 |
Newcastle
4-5-1 |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 0-1
Full-Time: 1-3
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Radzinski (86)
Yellow Cards: Van der Sar (62)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 1
Jensen (Cole 66)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Ambrose
(18), Kluivert (62), Ameobi (75)
Yellow Cards: Taylor (67)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: None
Injuries: N'Zogbia (knock), Faye (knock) |
| Van der Saar |
Given |
| Volz |
Carr |
| Goma |
Bramble |
| Knight |
Boumsong
(Cpt) |
| Rosenior |
Taylor |
| Radzinski |
Milner |
| Clar |
Ambrose |
| Pembridge |
Faye |
| Boa Morte |
N'Zogbia |
| Cole |
Ameobi |
| McBride |
Kluivert |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Crossley |
Harper |
| Bocanegra |
Ramage |
| Rehman |
Brittain |
|
Pearce |
Robert |
| Jensen |
O'Brien |
Graeme Souness said:
"I'm happy to get the three points, we deserved them after scoring
three goals away from home.
"But I still feel we did better in the game against Middlesbrough
when we had to settle for a point, and also against Palace at the
weekend when we drew 0-0.
"But I'm not taking anything away from the performance at Fulham.
To come away from home and score three goals is good, and we fully
deserved the victory.
"Darren took his goal well, as did Patrick and Shola.
"There were a lot of positives and I hope we can build on them in
the next game at Everton. Unfortunately we let a goal away at the
end when we were trying to get a fourth, but these things happen.
"There were a couple of nervy moments after the goal, but we survived
and are happy with the points.
"Shola doesn't score enough goals, so I'm pleased he got that one.
"Strikers are judged on goals, just like goalkeepers are judged on
how many they let in. How many games have you played? How many goals
have you got? How many games have you played? How many goals have
you let in?
"Strikers need to score goals, and Shola doesn't do that often enough.
He's a good lad though and he knows that, so hopefully it will boost
him a bit."
Souness on resting Alan Shearer:
"Alan Shearer took it as hard as anyone when we were knocked out of
the Uefa Cup.
"He saw the Uefa Cup as our best chance of success this year. Both
physically and psychologically he has been drained in recent weeks.
"He came to me the other day and said that he really could do with
a rest. He came to me - despite what has been written about the situation
by various people. I have not been worried about what people have
said, not in the slightest. Why should I have been? He came and asked
if he could be rested."
| Match Reaction
From Fulham |
Chris Coleman said:
"It's very disappointing. There was a danger this could happen
after we guaranteed our safety against Everton and I could sense something
was flat after all the emotion we've shown over the last four matches.
"We've not lost at home since the end of December so it's a shame
to see that record end - it would have been great record if we could
have continued it until the end of the season.
"If we'd beaten Newcastle we could have finished as high as 12th
which would have been a fantastic end to the season, but it's obviously
not meant to be." |
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