Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United |
 |
Date:
Sunday 24th April 2005
Kick Off: 4.05pm BST
Venue: Old Trafford
Att: 67,845
Ref: Neale Barry (Lincolnshire)
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
By
Gaz Pearson
Wayne Rooney produced arguably the strike of the season to help Manchester
United to continue their hoodoo over a patched-up Newcastle United.
A week after the one-sided affair in Cardiff the two teams went head
to head this time in the league. The result was the same: a win for
Manchester United, but the match was not.
Newcastle to their credit gave it everything. It was only a wonder
strike from England star Rooney that broke down a stubborn Toon defence,
which guarded Shay Given resolutely. Newcastle even went in ahead
at half-time 1-0 up following a superbly slotted finish by the impressive
Darren Ambrose but it was not to be as once again the Reds of Manchester
proved Devils of Newcastle.
Graeme Souness sent out an inexperienced side, with James Milner,
Ambrose, Charles N'Zogbia lining up in a 5-man midfield and Peter
Ramage in defence who made an impressive debut. Tactically Souness
deployed a 4-5-1 formation with Stephan Carr lining up in a role just
in front of the defence. The Scot appeared to have it tactically spot
on in the first half as the Magpies frustrated the lacklustre Man
Utd who were notably missing the Toon destroyers in Cardiff, Paul
Scholes and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
As Man Utd struggled to open up the stubborn Toon defence Newcastle
sprang forward with an attack of their own and the eye-catching Ambrose
burst through into the Man Utd box, rode a challenge and coolly slotted
the ball past the hapless Tim Howard. Unbelievably the Toon went into
half time 1-0 up.
After the break Man Utd unsurprisingly came out fired up but still
the Toon soaked up attack after attack and the home side were becoming
ever more frustrated. Alex Ferguson was even contemplating substituting
the 'boy wonder', and one time Toon target, Wayne Rooney. Then in
an instant of pure class the striker volleyed a thunderous 25-yard
drive past the mesmerised Shay Given and nearly burst the top corner
of the net. One word: Awesome! However, Newcastle kept their collective
heads high and straight from the restart nearly caught Man Utd cold
but Ambrose's burst came to nothing.
Manchester United, chasing Arsenal for the second automatic Champions
League spot, knew they were in a game today. Unlike in Cardiff Newcastle
showed determination and grit that resembled the 'Souness style' of
old. Newcastle deserved a point from this game but when do we often
get anything from the Theatre of Wet Dreams? The same old story...
on 75mins the unlikely figure of Wes Brown headed home Man Utd's winner.
As Manchester erupted the whole of Newcastle fell silent.
It was not to be. Once again Fergie's men became the Devils of Newcastle.
However, that was a different Newcastle team out there today than
the one that turned up in Cardiff. Boys were asked to play and they
played like men. Newcastle fans can be proud of those young lads who
played for the shirt and gave it their all.
If this is how we play week in week out we will be fine. We all know
we have to inject real quality into the team for next season if we
are to push anywhere near a top six finish and although we did get
beat again, at least the lads tried their hearts out and I, and the
rest of us, can ask nothing more. True Manchester United were no where
near their best but credit must go to us for going to Old Trafford
with a heavily depleted team with the bairns thrown in an numerous
players out of position and giving it their all. More of the same
against the Smoggies please lads.
Toon Player Ratings Vs Man United
| Man
United |
Newcastle
4-5-1 |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 0-1
Full-Time: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Rooney (57), Brown (75)
Yellow Cards: Rooney (50)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Ronaldo (Heinze 37), Kleberson (Fletcher 61), Silvestre
(Keane 76)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Ambrose
(27)
Yellow Cards: Carr (40)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 2
Kluivert (Shearer 66), Robert (Ramage 82)
Injuries: None |
| Howard |
Given |
| P.Neville |
Ramage |
| Ferdinand |
O'Brien |
| Brown |
Boumsong |
| Heinze |
Elliott |
| Fletcher |
Ameobi |
| Keane |
Ambrose |
| Fortune |
Carr |
| Giggs |
N'Zogbia |
| Smith |
Milner |
| Rooney |
Shearer |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Carroll |
Harper |
| O'Shea |
McClen |
| Silvestre |
Brittain |
|
Ronaldo |
Robert |
| Kleberson |
Kluivert |
| Possession, Shots, Corners,
Fouls & Saves |
| Man
United |
The
Game |
Newcastle |
| 59% |
Possession |
41% |
| 10 |
Shots
(on target) |
5 |
| 8 |
Shots (off target) |
6 |
| 9 |
Corners |
4 |
| 8 |
Fouls |
21 |
| 5 |
Off-Sides |
0 |
| 4 |
Saves |
8 |
5th successive defeat. Just 1 win in 8 League and Cup games now. 11th
match in which we have lost having opened the scoring. Peter Ramage's
full debut, the 11th one handed out this season. Lost the lead 19
times now. 10th game without a win on the road in the Premiership.
Robbie Elliott's 20th appearance of the season. Andy O'Brien's 20th
League start of the season. Shola Ameobi's 40th appearance of the
season. Stephen Carr's 5th League booking. 5 games now since a clean
sheet. We have now conceded 70 goals away fom home this season and
40 on the road in the League. 10th away defeat of the season. Darren
Ambroses' 50 Toon appereance and 5th goal since signing.
Graeme Souness said:
"I'm disappointed with the result, because I felt we deserved to get
something from the game.
"We matched them all over the park, and I felt in the first half we
deserved to be in front.
"But once again, just like at Norwich in midweek, we have conceded
a goal that could win the best goal of the season, and we're going
home empty-handed.
"That's two games in a week where I felt we could have won, but instead
of taking six points we've got none. That's football though, and we'll
keep plugging away.
"The lads that came in did the job I asked them to do.
"Charles and Darren worked their socks off in midfield, and I don't
think Roy Keane enjoyed his afternoon.
"Darren scored a great goal, and in Charles, I think we have a good
'un.
"They gave me plenty to think about, and a lot of the lads you saw
out there today, you will be seeing again next season."
| Match Reaction
From Manchester United |
Sir Alex Ferguson said:
"A win's a win in this situation at this time of year. For the
Newcastle goal it was a bad kick out by Tim. There was a bit of slackness
there and I think it did sort of jolt us a bit, because up until that
point it looked as if we were going to run away with it.
"We had some good chances, played some nice football, it certainly
did affect them and in that situation a suprise goal can do that to
you.
"It took a fantastic goal from Wayne Rooney to change the pattern
of the game. I was ready to take him off actually because he was injured
in the first half and he just hobbled on the remainder of the game.
"Whilst he's on the pitch he's dangerous and that's why we kept
him on. The goal was phenomenal, especially when you consider he was
injured. It was an absolutely fantastic goal. I don't know how far
out he was, but he looked as if he was 30 yards plus." |
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