Toon Player Ratings Vs Fulham (a)
Player ratings and analysis from Newcastle's
3-1 win away to Fulham last night. Click the following link for the
player ratings.
Player
Ratings
Boumsong Honoured
Jean-Alain Boumsong on leading out United at Craven Cottage last night:
"To captain a club as big as Newcastle United is a massive
honour. It is something nobody can ever take away from me and it made
me so proud.
"When the manager told me I was going to be skipper I was a little
surprised but delighted, even though when Alan Shearer went off at
Old Trafford last week he threw the armband to me.
"I was vice-captain at Auxerre but was only skipper on the odd occasion."
Souness & Co. Out Of The Firing Line
Yesterday's Chronicle have reported that there will be no end
of season lap of honour at St. James' Park on the final day of the
campaign. Instead the management and players will stand in the centre-circle
and applaud the fans. A wise move perhaps given the tensions on the
stands concerning certain underperforming players, Graeme Souness'
poor management of the team and results and Freddy Shepherd's mismanagement
of the club.
Result: Fulham 1-3 NUFC
Newcastle picked up an unexpected and
rare win in the Capital last night. Beating Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage
to end a 7 game run without a win and a mini goal drought that had
seen the Toon fail to score in 240 minutes of previous action. The
win was the Cottagers first defeat at home of 2005 and United's 10th
in the League as we moved up two places into 12th. Earning £1m in
the process (should we stay there of course).
Graeme Souness, in charge for the 50th time, made a few changes to
the side that performed dismally in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace
Saturday gone.
At the back in come fit again Titus Bramble to partner Jean-Alain
Boumsong in the heart of defence with Steven Taylor switching to left-back
in the absence of the injured Robbie Elliott. The midfield stayed
the same where as up front Alan Shearer was rested (later confirmed
by Souness on behalf of the Skipper's request) with Dutchman Patrick
Kluivert getting a rare start. Boumsong was handed the Captain's armband.
Newcastle got at their hosts from the off and with just under 20 minutes
on the clock, opened the scoring thanks to a well taken goal by Darren
Ambrose, his 3rd consecutive away goal in as many away starts.
The lively Charles N'Zogbia sped his way past his marker to dig out
a high cross which James Milner nodded down for Ambrose, with the
ball taking a deflection on it's way. The midfielder swung his right-foot
at the ball and drove home from 8-yards out. 1-0 and coasting.
Fulham rarely troubled United, although former Mags Alain Goma and
Lee Clark both saw shots go over the bar, a header from the Frenchman
and a looping shot after a mix up in defence from the Geordie.
The Magpies, playing in their blue/black away strip were playing well.
In defence the pace and power of Boumsong kept former Toon No.9 Andy
Cole at bay while Amdy Faye in midfield gave plenty of protection
in front of the back-four. On the flanks N'Zogbia and Milner got at
their men whenever possible and sent in a few decent deliveries and
Fulham struggled to contain the deep running of Ambrose where as up
front Shola Ameobi battled hard and Kluivert held it up well to play
others in. Souness' men boys went into the break
deserving of their lead.
Into the second-half United eased up a little and the home side started
to enjoy more of the ball but it wasn't long before they found themselves
2-0 down. Kluivert heading home an N'Zogbia corner on the hour
mark for his 4th goal in as many starts, capping off a decent performance
from the No.11.
With 15 minutes left Ameobi made it 3-0 with a rare headed
goal, his first in the League since January, this time Milner providing
the cross.
3-0 down and the game all but over Newcastle tried to play for time
but Chris Coleman's side went looking for a consolation and they grabbed
one with just under 5 minutes to go. Milner lost out in midfield to
Liam Rosenior who threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to former
Toon target Tomasz Radzinski with the Canadian running onto
it and side footing home past Shay Given. Bramble just failing to
cut it out before the striker could get onto it.
United had to see out a nervous last few minutes with Fulham almost
grabbing a second but Shay pulled off a great save to deny Brian McBride
at the death as the Toon picked up all 3 points in a deserved win.
All in all a good performance and a welcome end of the season lift.
Well done Graeme and the lads. Lets hope they can remain unbeating
in the final two games and hopefully, pick up enough points to finish
above our lowest ever finish of 13th.
Teams
Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Goma, Rosenior, Radzinski,
Pembridge, Clark, Boa Morte, Cole (Jensen 66), McBride. Subs not used:
Bocanegra, Crossley, Rehman, Pearce.
Booked: Van der Sar (62).
Goals: Radzinski (86).
United: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Bramble, Taylor, Milner, N'Zogbia,
Faye, Ambrose, Ameobi, Kluivert. Subs not used: Harper, O'Brian, Ramage,
Brittain, Robert.
Booked: Taylor (67).
Goals: Ambrose (18), Kluivert (62), Ameobi (75).
Att: 19,003.
Ref: Graham Poll (Hertfordshire). |
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| NUFC
Vs Chelsea |
| St. James'
Park |
| 15 May
2005 K.O 3.00pm (BST) |
| Prem |
| Everton
2-1 NUFC |
| Goodison
Park |
| 7 May
2005 K.O 3.00pm (BST) |
| Prem |
| Full
Premiership Table |
| Pos |
Club |
P |
PTS |
| 8 |
Man City |
37 |
51 |
9 |
Spurs |
37 |
51 |
| 10 |
Villa |
37 |
47 |
| 11 |
Charlton |
37 |
45 |
| 12 |
The Toon |
37 |
43 |
 |
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