Newcastle United 2-1 Southampton |
|
Date:
Saturday 15th January 2004
Kick Off: 3.00pm BST
Venue: St. James' Park
Att: 51,266
Ref: Uriah Rennie
Comp: Premiership |
| Premiership
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
3 Much Needed Points,
But Much To Worry About
By
Tanzo
After consuming a few refreshing beverages the previous night, with
mates, it was with great annoyance I found myself having to get up
at 9 o'clock to hang around for a sky engineer to fix one of the 'digi
boxes'. However, as the rest of the household were out at work, I
had no choice. Sipping on plenty mugs of coffee I stuck Soccer Am
on and gradually pulled round.
The phone went and the engineer would be out between 9 and 12. Excellent,
just in time for me to pop out for the game as usual at 12.15. However,
by 10.30am, I was starting to have a bit of a dilemma. Do I risk getting
ready and jumping in the bath and get caught out when the engineer
arrives? Or do I stick it out in my dressing gown and wait till he's
gone.
I decided to stick it out. By 11.15am and no sign of the engineer
the dilemma grew. Stuff it; I'll go for it. I quickly filled the bath,
dived in, got out and dressed and got back in me seat downstairs when
the engineer knocked. Brilliant! I let him in, he worked his magic
and the problem was sorted. Match time! I got me bits and pieces together
and set off.
Our usual pre-match haunt is the 3 bulls heads, however, as some of
the lads were on holiday and unable to attend, the rest of us thought
we'd give Shearer's bar a shot. We went in briefly before the Lisbon
game, but it was too packed. A 12.30pm start was ideal. I met my Dad,
and got the beers in (£2.70 a pint???) and we watched the Liverpool
– Man Utd game. We were all in agreement that Keane was a nasty piece
of so and so, but was a tremendous player. Probably the difference
between the two teams and Man Utd went ahead to a few gasps and cheers.
The discussion turned to Newcastle's forthcoming game and whether
Shearer would start. I felt he'd probably be on the bench. We left
at 2.00pm to go inside and just have a few in the ground, saving a
whopping 10p per pint! I decided against having a bet. With a trip
to Heerenveen coming up even a measly £2 score cast, was too much
to 'lose'. In my head though I noted old faithful, Shearer and 2-1…
more fool me.
It's vital in my opinion to be in my seat and ready for the players
coming out, and as the DJ played his usual repertoire before O Fortuna
belted out. Cue thousands of fellow NUFC fans rising to their feet
and greeting the players. The game started and after 5 minutes Newcastle
had a penalty. From my view up in the Gods it seemed a tad fortunate.
The penalty was delayed while Niemi received treatment and was consequently
stretchered off. Eventually, Shearer side footed it home and the king
was back. It was imperative that we got a second. Too often at home
we haven't killed teams off and then been pegged back to 1-1. Therefore,
Bramble's goal was a huge sigh of relief for me, and hopefully just
hopefully we'd dish out a long awaited hiding to someone.
It wasn't to be. Half man, half giant Peter Crouch scored a vital
goal for Southampton shortly before half-time. The second half, we
seemed to return to the long-ball again. With Bellamy on the wing
again now that Shearer was fit, though 4-4-2 was restored, he seemed
our only real source of energy or excitement. As the game petered
out, we started to hang on nervously and heroics by Steven Taylor
throwing himself at the ball and Given saving low down we held on
for three precious points.
As I made my exit round the back of the East Stand for the 3 bulls
I was a mixture of relief and confusion. If we're going to get anywhere
near the top 6, we shouldn't be hanging on by a thread to teams like
Southampton. Granted it's the good teams winning when they didn't
deserve to that makes them great, but then we haven't really been
on top of our game at all consistently this season.
The beer was refreshing back in the bar and as I chatted to mates
about our pending trip to Heerenveen I began to calm down. A little
circuit round the town was in order, compared to usually just stopping
in the same place all night. As the beer took effect, I headed for
home at 10.45pm to catch the last bus and watch 'Match of the Day'
and do it all over again.
Despite, knowing the score, I have a habit of still expecting something
different to happen, and being equally frustrated when chances are
squandered. Still it finished 2-1 (surprising hey!!). An out and out
right-winger is a must, as well as another centre-half. With work,
the next day I hit the sack when MOTD finished.
Toon Player Ratings Vs Southampton
Next up: Arsenal
Vs NUFC (Sunday Jan 29 2005 Prem K.0 4.05pm BST)
| Newcastle
United |
Southampton |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 2-1
Full-Time: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Shearer
(9 pen), Bramble (38)
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Kluivert (Shearer 62), Milner (Bellamy 75), Hughes
(Babayaro 86)
Injuries: None to report of
|
Southampton Facts &
Stats |
Goalscorers: Crouch
(42)
Yellow Cards: Crouch (37), Telfer (37)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Smith (Niemi 6), Svensson (McCann 66), Ormerod (Phillips 87)
Injuries: Niemi & Phillips |
| Given |
Niemi |
| Taylor |
Higginbotham |
| Boumsong |
Lundekvam |
| Bramble |
Davenport |
| Babayaro |
Telfer |
| Dyer |
Delap |
| Jenas |
Redknapp |
| Bowyer |
Pruton |
| Bellamy |
McCann |
| Shearer |
Crouch |
| Ameobi |
Phillips |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Harper |
Smith |
|
Hughes |
Nilsson |
| Milner |
Oakley |
|
Robert |
Svensson |
| Kluivert |
Omerod |
| Fouls, Possession, Shots,
Corners & Saves |
| Newcastle |
The
Game |
Southampton |
| 12 |
Fouls |
20 |
| 55% |
Possession |
45% |
| 17 |
Shots
(on target) |
3 |
| 7 |
Shots (off target) |
6 |
| 14 |
Corners |
4 |
| 4 |
Saves |
11 |
Our 4th game unbeaten and an unbeaten start to 2005. 2nd consecutive
win at St. James' Park. Bramble's 50th Premiership start and 1st Premiership
goal for United. Shearer's 400th career goal and his 11th of the season,
making him our top goalscorer. First double of the season and first
over Southampton in the Premiership.
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
NUFC Goal 9 Minutes: Alan Shearer (penalty)
One time alleged Toon target Davenport pulled down Ameobi in the box
after Bramble's excellent through ball to hand Shearer a penalty with
the No. 9 smashing it home with his right-foot.
NUFC Goal 38 Minutes: Titus Bramble
A left-wing Babayaro free-kick was curled into the box where Bramble
evaded his markers to sweep the ball home with his left-foot.
Southampton Goal 42 Minutes: Peter Crouch
Phillips glancing header rebounded off the cross-bar and out to Crouch
who flicked it home from a few yards out with his right-foot.
| Match Reaction From
Graeme Souness |
Graeme Souness on the match:
 "I
think in the fist half we should have had more than two goals. Some
of our football in the first half was excellent and then they have
got a goal and got back in the game.
"In the second half we had chances again but got nervous in the last
ten minutes and but for a stop by Steven Taylor they would have got
something from the game which would have been hard on us.
"They have battled hard and not given up, at 2-1 you would expect
that, but we have got to score more goals from the opportunities we
create because we created lots of chances.
"It is an important three points today as we face Arsenal next week,
but we can take some confidence as our football was excellent."
Souness on Shearer:
"He said he felt fine and knows his own body. He gave us a good hour
and looked good for an hour. Alan will be pleased with that."
| Match Reaction
From Harry Redknapp |
Harry Redknapp on the game:
"We had a great opportunity at the end to equalise.
"We kept going, kept battling away. They gave everything they
have got and you cannot ask more than that.
"That is all you can do.
"When the keeper went off and he gives the penalty, the keeper
gets injured and gets carted off on a stretcher, you think 'this is
going to be a good day here'." |
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