Newcastle United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers |
|
Date:
Saturday 11th September 2004
Kick Off: 3.00pm UK
Venue: St. James' Park
Att: 52,015
Ref: Dermot Gallagher
Comp: Premiership |
| Premiership
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Out With The Old,
In With The New
Newcastle picked up their first win of the season with new boss Graeme
Souness watching on from the stands in a game that was managed by
two caretaker managers - John Carver in the home dugout and Tony Parkes
in the away section.
Carver made several changes from the 4-2 defeat at Villa, a game which
brung about the demise of Sir Bobby Robson. Alan Shearer was recalled
for Patrick Kluivert, Kieron Dire was brought in on the right-wing
with Lee Bowyer moving into the centre. Robbie Elliott come in at
centre half to partner Andy O'Brien with Aaron Hughes moving to left-back
for the injured Olivier Bernard. No Nicky Butt who picked up a hamstring
injury on international duty for England. New signing Charles N'Zogbia
made the bench.
Newcastle were quick out of the traps and got off to a perfect start
after only 9 minutes when Laurent Robert's right-wing corner was deflected
into his own net by Rovers Gary Flitcroft to gave United the lead.
From that moment Blackburn seamed resigned to a defeat and were happy
for United to have the ball. Playing flowing football and using the
full width of the pitch at times Newcastle were dominating proceedings
and it was no surprise to anyone when Shearer put the Toon 2-0 up
on 16 minutes, powering Craig Bellamy's inch perfect cross past a
hapless Brad Friedel.
It could have been more as Bowyer was denied two clear cut penalties,
first he was chopped down in the box by former Sunderland Skipper
Michael Gray in the opening minutes and later on by Dominic Matteo,
but Carver's men were well worth their 2 goal head start going into
the break.
Blackburn made their first substitution of the game at half time,
bringing on Jonathan Douglas for Morten Gamst Pedersen, Rovers new
signing who also interested Newcastle during the close Season.
Despite fresh legs on the wing Blackburn were still struggling to
get into the game, barely threatening Shay Given's goal. Newcastle
on the other hand were content to play a patient game, knowing the
result was effectively wrapped up.
Carver made his first substitution on 77 minutes, withdrawing the
excellent Bellamy for Shola Ameobi and in doing so United shut the
back door and killed the game.
Probing away however, the Toon still managed to add a 3rd goal on
83 minutes to clinch all 3 points when O'Brien picking up where he
left off at Villa Park by turning Matteo before firing home a goal
that any striker would have been proud to notch. An incredulous Shearer
looking on in envy testified to that.
With the 3 points in the bag Carver brung on James Milner on 88 minutes
for Dire who had a solid if unspectacular game and the introduction
of new boy N'Zogbia on 90 minutes for Robert. The French youngster
didn't even get to touch the ball - as soon as he come on the final
whistle went giving Carver a 100% record as manager of Newcastle and
leaving Souness with a buoyed squad ready for the new era.
What Souness would have learnt from up in the stands is very little.
He will already know he has a talented squad that are a class above
the likes of the team he left behind to take charge at St. James'
- and that's how it proved. An excellent confidence boosting win to
ease in the new man and a much needed clean sheet to round off a perfect
day on Tyneside. Well done to carver and the lads.
Toon
Player Ratings Vs Blackburn
Next up: NUFC
Vs Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin (Thursday September 16th 2004 UEFA Cup 7.45pm
K.O)
| Newcastle
United |
Blackburn |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 2-0
Full-Time: 3-0
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Flitcroft
(og 9), Shearer (16), O'Brien (83)
Yellow Cards: Bellamy (24), Ameobi (89)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 2
Ameobi (for Bellamy 77), Milner (for Dire 88), N'Zogbia
(for Robert 90)
Injuries: None to report of
Goalscorers: None
Yellow Cards: Neill (19)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 2
Douglas (for Pedersen 45), Bothroyd (Emerton 78)
Injuries: N/A |
| Given |
Friedel |
| Carr |
Neill |
| O'Brien |
Short |
| Elliott |
Matteo |
| Hughes |
Gray |
| Dire |
Emerton |
| Jenas |
Flitcroft |
| Bowyer |
Ferguson |
| Robert |
Pedersen |
| Shearer |
Dickov |
| Bellamy |
Stead |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Harper |
Enckelman |
|
N'Zogbia |
Johansson |
| Milner |
Tugay |
|
Ameobi |
Douglas |
| Kluivert |
Bothroyd |
| Fouls, Possession, Shots,
Corners & Saves |
| Newcastle |
The
Game |
Blackburn |
| 10 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 59% |
Possession |
41% |
| 7 |
Shots
(on target) |
2 |
| 3 |
Shots (off target) |
4 |
| 8 |
Corners |
5 |
| 2 |
Saves |
4 |
First clean sheet in 10 games and our first League win in 9 - stretching
back to April when we beat Chelsea 2-1 at St. James' Park. A debut
(albeit a few seconds) for Charles N'Zogbia - wearing the No.14 shirt.
The 5th debutant this Season. First goal in open play for Shearer
in 9 games (Chelsea 2-1).
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
NUFC Goal 9 Minutes: Gary Flitcroft Own Goal
Robert's right wing corner was deflected into his own net by Gary
Flitcroft from a few yards out with both Jenas and Bellamy in close
proximity.
NUFC Goal 16 Minutes: Alan Shearer
Bellamy found space down the left to clip in a peach of a cross for
Shearer who shrugged off his marker (Gray) to power a header past
Friedel who could only get a hand to it - it was too powerful to keep
out.
NUFC Goal 83 Minutes: Andy O'Brien
Robert's corner somehow fell to O'Brien who spun Matteo to smash home
a left-footed strike for a great goal that Shearer would have been
proud of. Great stuff.
| Match Reaction From
John Carver |
Carver said:
"I want to dedicate this win to Bobby Robson because it was the hard
work he put in to this club that came out today.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I'll go home tonight a proud
Geordie. I know managers on the move tend to take their staff with
them; that's the nature of football. I have to deal with that, but
I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
"How can I tell you about my emotions and feelings today?
"I tried to treat it as a normal matchday. I was nervous - I'm always
nervous before a game - but excited to have to pick a team at St.
James's Park and sit in that dug-out.
"I know how many people would love to do that and I've done that now.
It's difficult to put what it means into words, but it's a great feeling.
"I got a phone call this morning from our physio Derek Wright to tell
me that Olivier Bernard wasn't fit and that threw our plans a little
bit. But that's what being a manager is all about.
"I said to the players just before the game: 'I've got one thing to
say, and it's not about John Carver - it's about you. There are good
players in this room but you've got to prove to me, the fans and your
new boss that you're good enough to stay in the team.'
"After getting the third goal, there was a sense of relief and I relaxed
a little bit. But then things started taking over me. I started thinking
about my family in the stands and friends who have helped me, and
felt emotional.
"Graeme had no input at all under the terms of the contract he agreed,
and I haven't spoken to him about the future. If he had said to me:
'Take the team on Saturday but you're out on Sunday', I don't think
that would have been very healthy."
| Match Reaction From Tony
Parkes |
Parkes said:
"We are disappointed with the performance, we think we could
have played better.
"We knew it would be hard here against one of the top five teams in
the country and they lived up to that today.
"We let in a bad goal from a corner and conceded another one just
after that which more or less killed the game off for us.
"We needed a goal to make it a 2-1 but it didn't come and they were
worthy winners."
Parkes on Souness:
"He's taking over a good team if today is any indication, so he's
got a good head start. I think he will be successful."
| Your Shout: Toon
Army Match Reaction |
Toontownman wrote:
Ironic, maybe the performance wasn't any better than the others before
it, the only difference is we scored from the chances we made...(not
all mind). The second half performance probably was a little improvement
on the earlier ones but we had already killed the game off a little.
The difference between the other games that got Bobby sacked. Rovers
didn't do much to regain control of the match and the most they could
do was try and break down the passing game that undid them in the
first 45. We still need to be careful of possession and losing the
ball/recovering when caught on the break.
My ratings:
Given 7 - Not much to do, forced a couple of decent saves, but an
unusually quiet day.
Elliott 7 - Not too bad at all, played some decent passes, came forward
a bit, most encouraging in deputising, even looked, dare I say, it
better defensively than Bernard has all season.
O'Brien 8 - Again didn't have a whole lot to do, had some good tussles
with Dickov, generally stood tall, and a super goal.
Carr 6.5 - Another so/so game for the Irishman, made a few errors
that were thankfully not costly, still needs to settle a bit, can
look good coming forward though.
Hughes 8 - Like OB not a considerable amount to do, but was involved
in many moves, was generally solid at the back, and provided some
great passes - good game for the N.Ireland Skipper.
Robert 8 (second half 7) - Great first half and getting back to his
best, fantastic corners, unlucky not to have scored from free kicks,
some great runs and crosses to boot...but in the second half all to
familiar shirk from the game. A great effort from the french man and
the most he has worked this season however.
Bowyer 8 - Good Solid game, unlucky not to win at least one penalty,
some great crosses, tackles, passing and runs. His past form is starting
to emerge at the right time and will hopefully go from strength to
strength.
Jenas 7 - Decent game with few mistakes, should make way for Butt
on Thursday, all the same a more than apt replacement, and a reasonably
solid game.
Dyer 7 - better game from the king of bling, although needs to be
working on the crossing, and thinking game...too many un heralding
runs, when better passes or crosses could have been made. RW is his
position, if he wants to play for NUFC.
Shearer 7.5 - Maybe his best game of the season, but for the most
was quiet, trademark header, still a handful, but still a little bit
of a shadow of his former self. Led well, won many free kicks.
Bellamy 8 - Another great game for the Welsh wizard, pulled Rovers
apart, set up Shearer's goal and caused problems for the Blackburn
defence throughout, some sparkling runs, although rightly looking
a little tired in the second half after a long week of internationals.
Substitutes:
N'Zogbia 10 - Couldn't have hoped for a better debut...didn't put
a foot wrong all game :)
Milner 5 - No time.
Ameobi 5.5 - I Would have preferred to have seen Kluivert...who is
still yet to combine with Shearer. Shola was mainly in-effective,
didn't have enough time to really settle in...stupid booking too.
Amanda wrote:
Souness watching certainly upped everyone's game. Carver did a good
job, he looked happy at the end. I thought we would win and I'm well
pleased with this. Clean sheet is a huge confidence booster for all
as well.
Yossarian wrote:
For 30 minutes we had movement like I haven't saw in 7 or 8 years
by NUFC, but as we keep doing, we can't keep it up. Done enough against
poor team on the day. Couple of things...strange move by Carver to
put Elliott centre and Hughes left instead of the other way round,
but it worked as Hughes was the only one to seem to play to impress,
loads of overlapping and being available for whoever had the ball
(Carver tactic or Hughes trying to impress?). Bowyer and JJ did well
with the ball but seemed a bit soft defensively. Bellamy at a more
settled club would be an early contender for player of the year awards,
constant menace and threat, Andy O'Brien, what a turn!! |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
|
