Southampton 1-2 Newcastle United |
|
Date:
Saturday 19th September 2004
Kick Off: 2.00pm BST
Venue: St. Mary's
Att: 30,709
Ref: Chris Foy
Comp: Premiership |
| Premiership
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Hoodoo Smashed
February 26th 1972 was the last time Newcastle United won a League
game away to Southampton. A 2-1 result thanks to a Malcolm Macdonald
penalty and a Stuart Barrowclough goal. 32 years and 18 League games
later, the hoodoo has ended by the same scoreline. Back then the great
Joe Harvey was United's manager. Brought in to replace Norman Smith
who got the chop. Harvey's job was to restore dressing room morale
and to win a trophy - he managed both in a 13 year spell.
Graeme Souness has been appointed under similar instructions. Sort
out the dressing room and win a damn trophy. He won't get 13 years
in the job that's for sure but 2 games into his new tenure the animated
Scot seems to have already instilled a better team ethic and spirit
within the United camp - ingredients that finally brought an end to
our wretched run on the South Coast.
Famed for our entertainers tag and remembered for our exciting, end
to end, high goalscoring games, we beat Southampton the ugly way.
It wasn't pretty, it wasn't nice, it wasn't the Newcastle United way
that we are so accustomed to. But my how effective it was and this,
after years of trying via the only way we know how, was the only way
we were ever going to end that run. This win also ended another couple
of unwanted runs. 16 League games without an away win and our first
back to back Premiership wins in 33 matches - ironically since we
last won an away game. Lets hope the next 33 matches bring better
rewards.
For far too long now we have been open away from home, most recently
at Villa Park - losing 4-2. If we are going to win our fair share
of away games we are going to have to defend like we did at St. Mary's
- like dogs. This means sacrifices. Against Southampton that sacrifice
was the wing play of Laurent Robert, the architect of most of our
creative play and the supplier of most of our goals and the pace and
drive of Bellamy up front. Instead Souness opted to play Bellamy wide
right so that he could partner Big Al with Kluivert, who after his
performance and two goal salvo on Thursday, simply couldn't be dropped.
In doing so the big 3 occupied the same field for the first time.
Robert's place on the left wing went to Jenas.
Brave decisions by the new man and in hindsight his selection paid
off. Fernandes and Svensson, Southampton's flank men, destroyed us
in the corresponding fixture last Season. This time they got short
change from Bellamy and JJ who remained disciplined, given their full-backs
reinforced protection that otherwise would have been missing. Which
has often been the case when messers Robert and his opposite flank
man, be that Dire or Ambrose, have started away from home. In the
middle of the park, in Butt and Bowyer we had two grafters who snapped
away, harried, pressed and destroyed. In short Southampton's midfield
were left flummoxed and devoid of ideas with their main tactic to
launch it long towards Beattie and ex-SMB hitman Phillips becoming
the order of the day.
A pair who were dealt with pretty well by our back four, who like
the midfield, defended strong and resolute. Lead superbly by the excellent
Stephen Carr who scored the goal that eventually won the game. A goal
worthy of winning any game.
Up front Shearer enjoyed his return to the South Coast and unlike
last Season at St. Mary's in the League, he was very much in this
game. Leading the line as only he can, helping out in defence as only
he can and generally being a nuisance. A true Captain's performance
from Big Al who forced our opener when he powered a loose ball towards
goal which thankfully, as it was going wide, was stabbed past his
own keeper by Prutton.
His partner on the other hand didn't have a great game and in fairness
Kluivert's silky skills were wasted in this game as he found little
time on the ball and when he did a red and white shirt was quick to
put him off. He did, like Shearer, indeed like the team, do his job
however. Defending his line and helping out the midfield and defence
and at times his prowess in the air proved vital. A goood match for
the Dutchman to step up his acclimatisation to the Premiership.
So Souness seems to have the midas touch then, albeit only two games
in. But he has managed to do what the previous 12 managers all failed
to archive - an away win against Southampton in the League, in his
first Premiership game too. A great start for the new man and the
optimist in me wants to believe that this is the start of something
good.
However beating such a poor Saints side should be tempered with realism
and so should our current predicament. There is still an awful lot
of work to be done and if Souness is to make these away trips more
fruitful for the Toon he will have to find the right balance between
attack and defence because against better sides than Southampton,
and their are many on this performance, we are going to have to keep
possession and make better use of that possession in a much better
way if we are to get results against the better sides.
Something we didn't do too well in this game with our midfield in
particular guilty. We didn't hoof it long that often but we didn't
play it forward enough either - opting to play cross-field balls,
side way passes and back towards Given in goal. Creatively we were
very poor and we can do much better - we will need to, especially
on the road.
Our away form has always been our achilles heel. At St. James's Park
we will pick up 3 points more often than not regardless of how we
play. Most teams, certainly the lesser sides, seem to submit their
defeat application card before they even enter the pitch at SJP for
some reason but away from home we are more often than not, there for
the taking.
On the 19th of September 2004 we weren't - we did
the taking this time. 3 points all the way back to Tyneside to smash
a hoodoo that has seen a whole generation, including yours truly,
miss out on experiencing a Toon win away to the Saints in the League.
Saviour that moment - I certainly will.
With one hoodoo smashed, Souness just has the easy task of winning
that pesky trophy left...Oh and a win at Old Trafford wouldn't go
amiss either.
At least he's on the right road, for now. Well done Graeme and the
lads.
Toon Player Ratings Vs Southampton
Next up: NUFC
Vs West Brom (Saturday September 25th 2004 Prem 3.00pm K.O)
| Southampton |
Newcastle
United |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 0-1
Full-Time: 1-2
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
|
Southampton Facts &
Stats |
Goalscorers: Svensson (53)
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 2
Crouch (for Phillips 67) Best (for A Svensson 76)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Prutton
(og 45), Carr (57)
Yellow Cards: Carr (38), Bowyer (48), Bellamy (59)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Milner (for Kluivert 67)
Injuries: None to report of (thankfully) |
| Niemi |
Given |
| Jakobsson |
Carr |
| Lundekvam |
O'Brien |
| Nilsson |
Elliott |
| Le Saux |
Bernard |
| Svensson |
Bellamy |
| Prutton |
Butt |
| Delap |
Bowyer |
| Fernandes |
Jenas |
| Beattie |
Shearer |
| Phillips |
Kluivert |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Blayney |
Harper |
|
Higginbotham |
Hughes |
| Telfer |
Ambrose |
|
Best |
Milner |
| Crouch |
Robert |
| Possession, Shots, Corners,
Fouls & Saves |
| Southampton |
The
Game |
Newcastle |
| 50% |
Possession |
50% |
| 6 |
Shots
(on target) |
3 |
| 5 |
Shots (off target) |
6 |
| 7 |
Corners |
6 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 2 |
Saves |
3 |
The first time Shearer, Bellamy and Kluivert have appeared in the
team at the same time. First win away to Southampton in 18 League
attempts - stretching back 32 years. First away win in 16 games -
stretching back to October 2003 (11 months). 2nd own goal in successive
League games. First Toon goal for Stephen Carr. 3rd successive win
on the bounce. Shearer's first ever win away to his former club since
leaving them for Blackburn - in 13 attempts. First back to back Premiership
wins since our last away win when we beat Fulham 3-2 in October which
come on the back of a 1-0 win at the Riverside over Boro (a run off
33 games). We are 5 points better off after 6 games than we were at
this stage last Season.
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
NUFC Goal 44 Minutes: David Prutton Own Goal
Some neat play on the wing involving Bernard allowed Bellamy to get
to the byeline where the little Welshman flashed in a ball for Kluivert
but the Dutcman fluffed his attempt to put the ball into the net and
when the ball broke to Shearer, the United captain powered it goalwards
- where Prutton rushed in to stab it past his own keeper. Shearer
will claim it but it was an own goal and the dubious goals committee
will want a look at this one. Just as well Prutton got a foot on it
because it was going wide.
Southampton Goal 53 Minutes: Anders Svensson
A high ball into the middle was dealt with by United but when a shot
come in and took a deflection off Bernard the ball looped over our
defence leaving Svensson, who had timed his run superbly, to control
it and rifle it past Shay for a neat finish.
NUFC Goal 57 Minutes: Stephen Carr
Newcastle won a free kick 40 yards out and when Jenas quickly laid
it off to Carr, the Irishman rocketed in an unstoppable 30 yard drive
into Niemi's far corner for his first goal of his United career. Goal
of the game.
| Match Reaction From
Graeme Souness & Shearer |
Souness said:
"We have to be happy with that result, not just because it ended a
bad run at Southampton but because it is a while since this club has
picked up maximum points away from home.
"It was a resilient performance, particularly in the second
half. They had us on the back foot in the second 45 minutes but we
held firm, defended well as a team, and kept them out.
"It was a well deserved victory, we worked hard for it and
got the reward. To have won three games in the space of the last week
is a good little run, and hopefully we can keep that going.
"I wanted to give Alan and Craig a rest in midweek so they
were fresh for Southampton, then obviously on Wednesday Patrick put
in a great performance and made it hard for me to leave him out.
"I felt it worked well in the first half, but after half time
we had to change it a bit when they threw the big substitutes on and
put us under the cosh. Overall it was a satisfying performance and
we make the long journey home happy to take the three points."
Souness on the Saint's tactics:
"It was very much Wimbledon-style! It was the long-ball game - and
not proper football in my opinion.
"We knew what to expect because Southampton are a Route One
team. They don't mess about and get the ball down, they just get it in
the box for some big strikers.
"We were confronted by a direct up-and-at-'em side. They launched
it and we dealt with it.
"We had to stand up and be counted and I though our back four
dealt with it very well."
Shearer on 'his' goal and the game:
"I was running away to celebrate, but you know me, I'm certainly claiming
it as mine!
"I was happy to get on the end of the cross, and it was a good time
to score tough saying that I don't know a bad time to score.
"We were happy to go in ahead at the break, and even though they pegged
us back early in the second half we got our noses back in front again
with a great goal from Stephen Carr and then shut them out.
"We had to defend well as a team, and we all put in a shift and made
sure we got the three points.
"I felt they were well deserved, and the fact the win is at Southampton
is an added bonus as everyone knows about our league record down there.
"The confidence is high in the dressing room, we've won three in a
row now and we're heading in the right direction."
| Match Reaction From
Saints Manager Steve Wigley |
Wigley on the game and Souness's comments about his tactics:
"I don't have an opinion on Graeme Souness or his team. He has had
a lot of opinions on Southampton in the past and I take it with a
pinch of salt.
"I don't care what level you are talking about when it gets
down to the last 20 minutes there is a tendency to go more direct.
It is the same all the world round.
"We were trailing so we decided to try and put the ball into
the big strikers and hoped to create something that way.
"Before that we tried to pass the ball and at times we moved
it about quite well but the final ball in the final third was too
often lacking.
"We worked very hard and I felt we deserved something from
the game. But we conceded goals at bad times, just before the break
and just after getting ourselves level.
"Maybe our players switched off in injury-time at the end of
the first half thinking we were going in level?
"But that was not the case for one world class player - and
I don't use that description lightly.
"Alan Shearer stayed alert and finished very well and that
was a real blow for us.
"But we found an equaliser and then switched off when they
got a free-kick. We were still organising the wall and it was a great
strike for their second.
"I don't think Stephen Carr will hit another like that for
a long time.
"But I feel we are not far away from a first win since I took
charge.
"We worked hard, the commitment was there and we were fairly
well organised.
"There is a thin line between success and failure and at the
moment we are just the wrong side of that line."
| Your Shout: Toon
Army Match Reaction |
Woodgate27 wrote:
I thought Jenas was excellent for the job he was brought in to do.
Imagine if Robert had played and how many times it would have been
2 on 1 down our left, at least Jenas put himself about. Butt was poor
but he did a similar job to Jenas and closed down and helped out the
defence. Bowyer never got going, seems very angry at the minute and
more intent on breaking legs. Our last two domestic away wins have
been at Southampton, it's funny what football throws up isn't it?
No win there for 32 years and although there has been a draw in between,
it's still amazing. Well done Souness and the lads.
Buzza wrote:
A GREAT RESULT, but let's not get carried away, we did dominate the
first half but again really struggled to finish Southampton off. We
were against the ropes for long periods in the second half due to
our achilles heel which is sit back and let them come at us. They
were really poor quality and had no other options than to launch long
balls up to Beattie and ex-scum, this did at times perplex us, but
what can we expect with Elliott and O'Brien in the centre and Bernard
doing his usual disappearing tricks.
John H wrote:
Good 3 points. Carr was the best player IMO. Bowyer did not have a
good game. Thought Jenas did ok in an unfamiliar wide position. Kluivert
linked play well but Bellamy looks slightly out of sorts in the wide
position. The central defence looks iffy every time a cross comes
in but Souness has little option for the time being. The marking is
not what it should be. Bernard is better going forward than defending.
They will be exposed by the better sides. Southampton had nothing
more than honest endeavour to offer and long balls to the front two.
You can do no more than win and after such a long period its a welcome
bonus to win at Southampton.
Ewan wrote:
We got three points, that's fantastic. We won away from home, brilliant.
We beat Southampton away from home, almost a miracle. End of story.
We were lucky, no other word for it. Let's assume Jenas was chosen
in preference to Robert because Jenas would be more effective at curbing
Fernandes. Bellamy was tried on the right because of his passion and
form in preference to more naturally right-sided players. By half-time
it was clear that we were not gelling as a team. Bellamy was not darting
forward, he should have skinned Le Saux on numerous occasions. He
was uncertain, hesitant. (No blame, he was out of position.) Jenas
was not winning his battle enough. 50% of the time Fernandes looked
very threatening. Therefore he was actually ineffectual. Butt and
Bowyer got in each others way quite often. What did Souness do to
put it right?
I won't criticise subbing Kluivert as he was possibly tiring and it
meant Bellamy shifted to his preferred position. Milner down the right
was always going to be a better option. But why not bring Robert on
too, letting Jenas revert to the middle and take off Bowyer? The shape
and fluidity of the team was often non-existant and I don't see that
Souness tried to correct it. He held on to his idea and by a stroke
of good fortune he got away with it. Southampton were extremely industrious,
but Newcastle on form and confident would still have passed the ball
around with greater alacrity and aplomb, retaining an awful lot more
possession in addition to being more threatening offensively. I'm
extremely happy we got the three points and broke both our Southampton
jinx and our away record in one quick hit. But I don't see a bright
new dawn on that showing. |
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