NUFC
History: It Happened On This Day - 1988
17 years ago to this day, Newcastle
drew 0-0 with Wimbledon away in a fairly uneventful game livened
up by Vinnie Jones and Paul Gascoigne who had a quite famous
'scuffle' with the now Hollywood film star grabbing Gazza by
the goolies.
Teams that day:
United: Kelly, Anderson, Wharton, D.Jackson,
P.Jackson, Roeder, McDonald, Gascoigne, Goddard, Mirandinha,
O'Neill.
Wimbledon: Beasant, Goodyear, Phelan, Jones,
Gayle, Thorn, Gibson, Cork (Clement), Fashanu, Sanchez, Wise.
Att: 10,505
The point was United's 33rd of the season, eventually finishing
with 56 and earning a respectable 8th place finish, just behind
Wimbledon who went onto enjoy success in the FA Cup, beating
Liverpool at Wembley. Newcastle lacked any real firepower that
year but in Gazza, the Toon had a gem.
Top goaslcorers that season: O'Neill (13),
Mirandinha (11), Gascoigne (11)
Were you at that match? If so write in with your memory of the
game.
Result:
NUFC 1-1 Charlton
The pressure on Graeme Souness intensified
yesterday afternoon after yet another nauseating performance
- this time against Charlton, coming quickly on the back of
Wednesday's pitiful efforts and numerous other uneventful dross
that's been served up this season. With the booing at half and
at full-time as well as "Souness out" chants still echoing around
St. James' Park, Freddy Shepherd's ears must be burning.
After a Dalglish-esque inspired first half that was as bad as
anything we've seen this season, Newcastle came out after the
break in a slightly more eager fashion to open the scoring on
52 minutes thanks to Kieron Dyer's volley inside
the box - one of only a select few who can hold their head up
high after this performance.
With a goal in the bag, up against opposition who came for the
draw and with the crowd a little less edgy, the stage was set
to go on and kill the game.
Within a minute of talking the lead however Charlton were back
in it.
Andy O'Brien's attempt at controlling the ball (with no pressure
on him) sprung off his boot about 5-yards in front of him to
Dennis Rommedahl who ran past the Irishman
with ease before curling a 20-yard effort past Shay Given -
1-1. Inexplicable!
Queue groans and moans from the stands and a back to the first
half way of playing from our lot with 5-yard sideways passing,
no width and no movement up front whatsoever a feature of the
game. Charlton couldn't believe their luck. All they had to
do was watch our midfield run into each other, give up possession,
take up the ball and pour forward to attack a panicky defence.
For a 10-15 minute spell they created chance after chance and
were unlucky not to add one or two more to their tally. Poor
finishing let them down.
I wish that could be the case for our lot, but it wasn't. We
had plenty of possession but we did zip with it. By this stage
sections of the crowd started booing both the team and individuals
and although I don't condone booing nor would I participate
in it myself, believe you me I was booing inside as those in
Black & White sauntered about the field clueless, spiritless
and lacking any drive or imagination - it was easy for Alan
Curbishley's men.
Poor Amdy Faye - the only one trying to stem the tide, had no
options when on the ball and when off it, he was often up against
two red shirts as those around him went AWOL.
By the time Souness brought on Laurent Robert and Patrick Kluivert
(to huge cheers) the game was over. Charlton shut up shop and
although the two made a slight difference in an attacking sense,
it was too little, too late.
More boos followed the final whistle and lots of disgruntled
fans left the Old Gallowgate in a despondent mood - with good
reason.
With Shearer's legs in Glasgow, our width stuck on the bench
and negative tactics, it's hard to see where exactly do we go
from here. Qualifying for Europe via the League was never on
the cards, not even prior to this match. With no creativity,
spirit, drive, width, pace, movement and a genuine game plan
to get the best of the team, it remains to be seen how long
we last in the Cups... and with it, how long Souness lasts in
a job.
Not good enough!
Teams:
United: Given, Carr, Bramble, O'Brien, Babayaro,
Jenas, Faye, Dyer, Bowyer (Robert 70), Ameobi (Kluivert 69),
Shearer. Subs Not Used: Butt, Harper, Hughes.
Booked: Faye
Charlton: Kiely, Young, Perry, El Karkouri,
Hreidarsson, Rommedahl (Lisbie 84), Holland, Murphy (Euell 90),
Kishishev, Konchesky, Bartlett. Subs Not Used: Andersen, Johansson,
Sam.
Booked: Konchesky
Att: 51,114
Ref: Marek Halsey (Lancashire) |
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