Final Result: NUFC 0-1 Sporting Lisbon
Player
Ratings Now Online!
Sporting win the Newcastle Gateshead Cup
Newcastle lost 1-0 to Sporting Lisbon in the final of the Newcastle
Gateshead Cup at St. James' Park this afternoon in a game that saw
all 3 of United's Summer signings on show.
Bobby made 4 changes to the side that started against Rangers yesterday
with Robbie Elliott coming in at centre-half for Andy O'Brien who
has picked up the contagious eye infection that ruled Shay Given out
of the two games, Martin Brittain for the injured Darren Ambrose on
the right flank, Shola Ameobi for the rested Craig Bellamy up front
alongside Alan Shearer and new signing James Milner
making his home debut for the injured Laurent Robert out wide on the
left. Otherwise it was the same team that started on Saturday.
The match:
The game got off to a lively start with Shola testing Euro 2004 spot-kick
hero Ricardo (who was booed throughout) with a 22-yard effort that
was tipped over for a corner after good build up play from Milner
and Brittain.
After that however the game gradually progressed into a training practice
match with Sporting enjoying more of the ball then United and although
Newcastle showed some attacking purpose mainly through Milner down
the left and Brittain down the right neither two could muster any
decent deliveries into the box.
As early as the 20th minute the strains of playing a second game in
24 hours started to show with Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer less productive
than in the 4-2 win over Rangers yesterday.
Sporting, with the tempo and pace of the game suiting their way of
playing scored on 33 minutes with a 25-yard rocket from Rodrigo
Tello that flew into the top right-hand corner of Steve Harper's
goal. Aaron Hughes was partially at fault for the goal having backed
off and when the Sporting midfielder dropped his shoulder the Irishman
took the dummy and moved out of the way seconds before the shot was
unleashed.
That's how the score remained going into the break. 5 minutes into
the second half Bobby made his first change of the afternoon bringing
on Nicky Butt for Dyer with the new signing getting
another warm reception form the densely populated crowd.
Butt settled in straight away and was much more involved in this 45
than the 45 he enjoyed on Saturday and it wasn't long before he was
breaking up play, putting in challenges and keeping the midfield ticking
over - he looks a class act.
Patrick Kluivert, the man we had all been waiting
for was the second of Bobby's substitutions, introduced to his new
home crowd on 60 minutes for Shearer to a fantastic reception. It's
finally good to see the Dutchman in a Black & White shirt after
the long chase. Elliott was handed the Captain's armband.
Not long after the Dutchman had come on Newcastle created their best
opportunity of the game when the excellent Titus Bramble threaded
a great ball through to Bowyer who raced onto it and dinked it over
Ricardo but the keeper was quick off his line to block it.
With the game petering out Newcastle resorted to the long ball and
Kluivert almost grabbed a dream goal with 5 minutes remaining when
Bramble's looping ball into the box was arched goalwards by the new
No.11 but Polga made a fantastic goal-line clearance from under his
own cross bar. And that's how the game finished in what can only be
described as an awful match played at a pace that would embarrass
a turtle - it was that slow.
There is no doubt that the efforts of yesterday and a second game
in 24 hours for many took it's toll but a good workout was had.
Kieron Dyer was named player of the tournament by
Gazza who was the half-time guest, receiving warm
applause and looking fit and snazzy despite a trip to the RVI yesterday
with food poisoning ruling him out of making a guest appearance against
Rangers.
Full match report and player ratings to follow soon...
NUFC: Harper, Hughes, Elliott, Bramble, Bernard,
Milner, Dyer (Butt 50min), Bowyer, Brittain (Chopra 69min), Shearer
(Kluivert 60min), Ameobi. Subs not used: McClen, Caig, Gate, Ramage.
Sporting Lisbon: Pereira, Polga, Niculae (Pinilla
60min), Tello (Paita 72min), Garcia, Douala (Sergio 60min), Beto,
Jorge, Castro (Tinga 45min), Moutinho (Vieira 66min), Rogerio. Subs
not used: Ferreira, Saleiro.
In today's earlier 3rd/4th play off match Ruud Gullit's
Feyenoord ended up with the wooden spoon after losing on penalties
for the second day running to Rangers in a 7-8 shoot-out after the
90 minutes ended 0-0.
SBR Seeks Showdown Talks With FS Over Comments
Not again...
Speaking to Sky Sports after this afternoon's 1-0 defeat to Sporting
Lisbon at St. James' Park regarding Freddy Shepherd's comments
in various newspapers over the weekend concerning his contract and
buying record, Bobby said:
"All I can tell you is that I'm unaware of anything that's been
written about me or anything that's been said about me and until I
find out the situation it would be inappropriate to comment on that.
"You've shocked me, you've come at me out of the blue.
"I wish to address the whole situation with the chairman face
to face then issue what we have to issue.
"I need a dialogue with the chairman."
An Apology To Laurent Robert
I was quite critical
of Laurent Robert's 45 minute showing yesterday against Rangers, not
so much in his game but in his demeanour and off the ball sauntering
however it appears our Frenchman was carrying a knock (which forced
him to miss today's game) and if that is the case I can only apologise
for my critical comments.
But I stand by the context of my criticism - he has to bust his gut
and run himself into the ground (for me) to show he is committed to
the cause and to prove his desire. If Craig Bellamy who runs the risk
of pulling his hamstring whenever he bursts into a pacy run, who runs
the risk of further damaging those already weak knees when he twists
and turns can push himself harder and harder then so can Robert. There
is no excuse.
Is This Why FS Had A Change Of Heart Over A Geordie
Boss?
Steve Bruce speaking to the Sun Newspaper yesterday said:
"At the end of last season we sat down and asked ourselves who
would be the one player to complement what we already had.
"We knew we lacked a player up front with pace, power and heading
ability so we set out to sign the best old-fashioned English-type
centre-forward that was available.
"I've seen Emile umpteen times and on many occasions he’s
looked the nearest thing we've had to a young Alan Shearer.
"I'm convinced we can bring the best out of him and remind people
of the reasons Gerard Houllier paid £11m for him in the first
place.
"If we can do that we'll have a hell of a player on our hands.
"To be fair to him, people have asked him to do certain things
which he has not always been comfortable with. But we intend to play
to his strengths and use him as an old-fashioned centre-forward straight
down the middle and into the box."
Lets hope so...
Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap & Water You Filthy...
Bobby isn't happy with the "filthy" chanting of the Rangers
fans directed at Alan Shearer.
Bobby said:
"I wasn't allowing him to stay on the pitch and let unclean mouths
chant filthy things at him.
"He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't need that from anybody after
the career he's had.
"With the fight, the fisticuffs and the chanting, I had to take
him out of there."
Apparently Shearer wasn't too happy at being subbed either, at the
match you couldn't really see this so I'll have to watch the tape
but howay man Bobby, Geordies were chanting the same things to Alex
Rae. Big Al's a big boy and I'm sure he took it as a compliment. |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
 |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
