Newcastle United 0-0 Crystal Palace |
|
Date:
Saturday 30th April 2005
Kick Off: 3.00pm BST
Venue: St. James' Park
Att: 52,123
Ref: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Comp: Premiership |
| Premiership
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
By Gaz Pearson
Newcastle United continued their goalless streak at home with another
0-0 draw against a plucky Crystal Palace side who pinched a valuable
point in their battle against relegation. On another day United could
have ran out easy winners but it was not to be as the Toon squandered
several chances in a disappointing afternoon at St. James' park.
Newcastle came quick out of the blocks from the first whistle deploying
a 4-3-3 formation with Milner on Shearer's left and Ameobi on his
right and it was the United striker had the first shot of the game.
Perhaps a confident Big Al would have buried Carr's low cross, the
Irishman back in his natural position at right-back, but instead Palace's
keeper Kiraly saved the No.9s drive.
Shearer then had a second chance to score this time from the impressive
Milner's cross, sent in from the left wing but again his header was
turned away by Kiraly.
Both Milner and the crafty N'Zogbia had efforts in the first half
but couldn't find the Leazes End net. It looked as though the floodgates
were going to open but it proved not to be the case. Milner then had
a penalty claim turned down by referee Alan Wiley following a clumsy
challenge from Popovic. Perhaps this was the moment when the home
crowd realised it wasn't going to be our day.
Palace offered very little in an attacking force during the first
half with only an embarrassing Soares miss-kick from 4 yards out resembling
any kind of chance for the visiting side. Not that it would have counted
anyway, with the young Palace striker flagged for offside. Still,
it was an miss-hit that will be seen on footballers' nightmare videos
for years to come no doubt.
In the second half Newcastle pressed for an opener and came very close
when Milner had a header cleared off the line. The youngster was relishing
his attacking role on the left of the forward line and seems to be
coming into his own as Souness gives the bairns a chance to establish
themselves.
Misfits Robert and Kluivert both came on in the second half in what
could be their penultimate games on Tyneside while Youngster Peter
Ramage came on immediately after the break and showed his versatility
by filling in at left back after replacing Elliot. Definitely one
lad we need to keep at the club so lets hope we get his contract sorted
out soon.
Deep into the second half,Taylor, fit enough to start, had what would
have been his first ever Toon goal disallowed after cleverly sneaking
around the back of the Palace rearguard following Robert’s free kick.
A set piece that was deemed to have been taken too quick by the ref.
The impressive and commanding Boumsong looked a real threat from set
pieces and saw a header float agonisingly wide. The former Rangers
man is still searching for his first Toon goal but I'm pretty sure
it isn't too far away.
Crystal Palace were just happy to clinch a point in their battle against
the drop and were never really interested in attacking Shay and his
goals. Touted Toon target Andy Johnson could not add to his 20-goals
this season but did have a mazy run in the second half, although his
finish was erratic to say the least as he blazed over Given's goal.
Overall Newcastle will feel unlucky to not have but but Palace head
back to London with a valuable point that gives them a chance of remaining
in the Premiership. Souness will be hoping that the barren run at
home will come to an end, and so will Shearer who himself hasn't found
the net in the league since Manchester City away in February. Next
in Toon are new Champions Chelsea so let's hope we can party poop
their celebrations for at least 90 minutes or the scenes of Wolves
last year could well be repeated as unrest continues to grow on the
stands.
More...
Player
Ratings Vs Crystal Palace
| Newcastle
4-3-2-1 |
Crystal
Palace |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 0-0
Full-Time: 0-0
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: None
Yellow Cards: N'Zogbia (83)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Ramage (Elliott 45), Kluivert (Ameobi 69), Robert (Ambrose
69)
Injuries: Elliott (thigh strain)
Goalscorers: None
Yellow Cards: Popovic (9), Leigertwood (90)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 0
Injuries: N/A |
| Given |
Kiraly |
| Carr |
Hall |
| Boumsong |
Sorondo |
| Taylor |
Popovic |
| Elliott |
Granville |
| Ambrose |
Routledge |
| Faye |
Leigertwood |
| N'Zogbia |
Riihilahti |
| Ameobi |
Hughes |
| Milner |
Soares |
| Shearer |
Johnson |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Harper |
Speroni |
|
Ramage |
Torghelle |
| O'Brien |
Watson |
|
Robert |
Lakis |
| Kluivert |
Ventola |
First back-to-back 0-0 draw at St. James' Park since 1991. Now 7 League
and Cup games without a win. Alan Shearer hasn't scored in 7 League
and Cup games now. Newcastle kept their 14th clean sheet of the season.
10th game in all competitions in which we have failed to score in.
Robbie Elliott's 15th Premiership start of the season. Steven Taylor's
10th start in the League for the season and 20th appearance of the
campaign. James Milner's 10th start in the League. Darren Ambrose's
5th League start of the season. Laurent Robert has now come off the
bench 10 times in the League. Alan Shearer's 25th League start and
40th appearance of the season. Shola Ameobi's 15th start of the season
in the League. Jean-Alain Boumsong's 15th appearance since signing
from Rangers. N'Zogbia's 1st booking in a United shirt. Robert's 180th
Toon appearance. Ameobi's 170th Toon appearance. Elliott's 165th appearance
in a Toon shirt. Shay Given's 330th appearance in a Toon shirt.
Assistant manager Alan Murray on the match:
"It's a game we should have won.
"We had a great chance through Alan (Shearer) in the first few minutes
but the goalkeeper made a save. If that goes in then it may have been
a different story.
"We were the better side. We dominated in terms of possession and
created plenty of chances, but we just lacked that little bit of quality
in the last third.
"It was just one of those days when it didn't go for us. I'm not going
to sit here and harp about injuries, because everyone knows about
that.
"It's a tough period at the moment, but we'll get through it.
"I can't fault the effort though from the game, and we can still take
plenty of positives from this difficult period.
"It is a tough time for us, but the young lads like Charles N'Zogbia,
Peter Ramage, Darren Ambrose and James Milner will all have learned
and developed that little bit more following the last few games."
| Match Reaction
From Crystal Palace |
Palace manager Ian Dowie on the game:
"We certainly came here to be difficult to beat and knew we had to
work hard but credit to the the lads they did what was asked of them.
"In the second half particularly we were very, very comfortable.
We dealt with everything they had. We changed things around a little
at half-time and I thought we defended with great tenacity and great
drive and there were some terrific performances out there.
"If you come to a club the size of Newcastle and in a week or
so, take four points from Liverpool and Newcastle, these are big,
big displays. We have played against Champions League semi-finalists
and a club who can bring on goodness knows how much talent at the
end there.
"Laurent Robert and Patrick Kluivert have come for a few pounds
in their time, so that is what you are dealing with, but I though
we dealt with it very, very well.
"It was always going to go to the wire, I made the point people
were writing off Norwich, but they have got Birmingham at home and
Fulham away and they are games they will be looking at.
"We have got Charlton away in the last game and Southampton at
home, so there we are. Last seasons big game experience hopefully
will help us but we must affect our own own game both individually
and collectively and reach our targets". |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
|
