Up For The Cup But What About The League?
What is it with Newcastle United and
Cup competitions? Well maybe that's not a fair question, perhaps
the question should be: what is it with St James Park and Cup
competitions? The atmosphere against Chelsea was electric!!
I was in the lower tier of the Gallowgate yesterday (20/02/04)
and it was booming! Yet it wasn't just the Gallowgate, as it
seemed the whole of SJP was absolutely rocking! The millionaire
row in the lap of the gods must have wondered what hit them?
It looked pretty evident that the Chelsea team did.
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FA Cup 6th Round Draw: NUFC Vs Spurs/Forest
The draw for the 6th Round of the
FA Cup has taken place and Alan Shearer gets his wish, a home
draw against Tottenham Hotspur or Nottingham Forest. The winner
of that replay, which is to be played on Wednesday the 3rd of
March, will come to Tyneside on the 12/13th of March after both
teams could only draw 1-1 yesterday.
Not a bad draw at all. The last time we faced Spurs in the FA
Cup we thrashed them 6-1 in a 3rd Round replay at St. James'
Park back in 1999-2000 after drawing the first match 1-1 at
White Harte Lane. The previous season we beat them 2-0 at Old
Trafford in the Semi-Final.
The last time we played Forest in the Cup came in season 1996-97,
we were knocked out in the 4th Round at the Old Gallowgate,
going down 2-1.
We've never met Spurs in the Quarter-Final stage but we have
met Forest in the 6th Round - a mammoth 3 game tussle, which
we won back in 1973-74 on our way to Wembley. We have played
Forest in the competition more times than any other team - 16
in total.
NUFC's FA Cup record against Spurs:
P: 8, W: 4, D: 2, L: 2, F: 18, A: 7
NUFC's FA Cup record against Forest:
P: 16, W: 6, D: 6, L: 4, F: 24, A: 22
Alan Shearer on the draw:
"It's a great draw.
"We couldn't have asked for any more than to get a home tie
- it's what all the teams left in the draw wanted.
"It has given us an excellent chance of progressing."
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FA Cup: Oh What A Beautiful Day
We did it, we are through to the 6th Round!
NUFC 1-0 Chelsea
On a cold, blustery and snow laden Tyneside Newcastle beat Chelsea
1-0 at St. James' Park yesterday to clinch our 22nd appearance in
the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. Souness reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation
with Ameobi dropped for Robert and Kluivert pushed up front alongside
Shearer. O'Brien was also dropped for fit again Boumsong while Faye
and Bowyer, both suspended, made way for Butt and Dyer respectively.
Prior to kick-off there was a pitch inspection due to the heavy snow
fall and Big Al had to undergo a fitness test, which he failed apparently
but insisted on playing.
Mourinho was as good as his word, putting out what can only be described
as his second string with his big hitters, messrs Lampard, Duff and
Gudjohnsen all on the bench. Nonetheless his side still contained
10 internationals on the park.
With a large, expectant and up for it crowd and a formation that suits
the team, Newcastle got at Chelsea from the off and with 4 minutes
on the clock, it was the left foot of Robert who got things started;
sending in a cross as only he can after neat approach play from United
for Kluivert to nip in ahead of Gallas - thundering a bullet
of a header past Cudicini in the Chelsea goal for his 1st FA Cup goal
and his 9th of the season. A cracking goal and a great start. If those
in the stands were cold (I was), an early goal soon warmed us up.
Chelsea's only real chance of the half fell to wayward striker Kezman
(or is it Keshman?) who failed to do what he did last season for PSV
or in the reverse 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, with his attempted
lob hitting the underside of the bar after initial good work to get
away from Babayaro.
Newcastle deservedly lead at the break and the optimism in the ground
was growing. As expected Mourinho brought on his big guns but nobody
expected the self proclaimed special one to bring them all on at the
same time and so early in the game - all 3 of Lampard, Duff and Gudjohnsen
started the second half.
A gamble that was proved incorrect just 2 minutes later when left-back
Bridge collapsed to the ground with what now appears to be a suspected
broken ankle after a legitimate and in no way malicious tackle from
our No.9. With the England man stretchered off and on his way to the
RVI, Chelsea were down to 10 men.
Not long after Duff and Cudicini clashed and seemed to be struggling,
with all subs used they had no choice but to carry on though and in
fairness, the away team more than matched United; enjoying lots of
possession, taking the game to us and fighting for the cause. With
the back-five and Bramble in particular in uncompromising mood however,
Chelsea just hit brick walls whenever they advanced forward, rarely
testing Given in goal.
In midfield our lot's passing started going wayward and the influence
of Robert and Dyer was becoming less and less fruitful. Souness brought
off Dyer for Milner to liven things up.
Before that Big Al was replaced for Ameobi - to a chorus of meek boos.
To be fair, not many in the ground would have been aware that Shearer
was a major doubt before the game and taking him off was clearly a
precautionary measure by the manager.
As the game wore on it descended into a farce (an entertaining one
albeit) as Gallas picked up a knock and started to hobble and with
those in Black & White nervous and edgy in their passing the game
sort of become a battle of wits. One that Newcastle were winning.
Chelsea were further handicapped on 90 minutes when Cudicini saw red
for bringing down Ameobi just outside of the box - meaning the 'keeper
misses Sunday's League Cup Final, a game he was told he would play.
A bad afternoon for the Blues all in all then but a great one for
the Toon once the referee blew for full-time with the players all
joyous in celebration and the crowd equally in happy clapper mood.
Not a great performance nor a footballing spectacle, with Souness'
men struggling at times to see off a clearly under strength Chelsea
side who at times were playing with 7 men. However a win is a win
and at this stage of the season, who really cares about great football
or entertainment? This was entertaining enough and a heart in mouth
game throughout. The manager has stressed the importance of being
able to beat teams 1-0 in recent weeks. Well he got his wish and we
got ours. The Quarter's here we come. Well done Graeme and the lads.
Teams:
United: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Dyer (Milner
68), Jenas, Butt, Robert, Shearer (Ameobi 64), Kluivert. Subs Not
Used: Caig, N'Zogbia, Hughes.
Booked: None
Chelsea: Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Ricardo Carvalho, Bridge,
Jarosik, Smertin, Tiago (Gudjohnsen 45), Geremi (Lampard 45), Kezman,
Cole (Duff 45). Subs Not Used: Cech, Paulo Ferreira.
Sent Off: Cudicini (90)
Booked: Tiago, Ricardo Carvalho
Att: 45,740
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire) |
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