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Result: Blackburn 0-3 NUFC All the hype and focus before the match centred around Craig Bellamy and Graeme Souness but it was Blackburn old boy Alan Shearer and the Welshman's replacement Michael Owen who stole all the headlines this afternoon as Newcastle picked up their first ever Premiership win at Ewood Park, beating the Lancashire side 3-0 in a game full of spirit, heart and determination. With the squad decimated from injuries and suspensions Souness was forced into fielding an entire reserve-team midfield consisting of Lee Bowyer on the right, Amdy faye and Lee Clark in the middle and Charles N'Zogbia out wide on the left. While Steven Taylor switched back into the centre with Titus Bramble dropping down to the bench. Otherwise it was an unchanged side from the one that drew 1-1 with Fulham last Saturday. And looking at our lineup, a point from this match would have been more than acceptable. Following a torrid opening 60 minutes where both sides seemed to be playing for Sunderland's 'worst ever Premiership team' crown, and a draw looked the likeliest result, that or a narrow Toon defeat. But our No.9 changed all that with a stunning 25-yard drive for his first League goal in 17 matches, his longest run without a strike. The welcome sight of Big Al peeling away, arms aloft, is one of the best feelings known to any Geordie or Toon supporter and boy did he and his team need it. We were under the cosh after the break and defensively we were wobbling, in fact we were all over the place throughout but a rare break forward saw referee Mike Riley award United a free-kick just on the edge of the box. Clark making his first start in a Black & White shirt for 7 years rolled the ball to Shearer who blasted the ball goalwards like an arrow. Cue chants of "Shearer-Shearer" from the Darwen End. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. He's had his critics this season, but if there is one man you can rely on when the chips are really down, it's Shearer. Even at 35 and well past his best. And it wasn't long before his partner got in the act too. Just 3 minutes actually. Grabbing his first ever Newcastle goal, Owen nipped in between two centre-backs to nod home an N'Zogbia cross from the left past Brad Friedel in goal before peeling away in delight with Shearer quickly in tow. Blackburn didn't know what had hit them and the game was dead and buried as far as they were concerned. But a second yellow for Taylor on 72 minutes after a tug on Bellamy, gave the home side a boost. To counteract this Souness brought on Bramble for Shearer who came off to a standing ovation from both sets of fans and with Clark instructed to sit deep alongside Faye the message was clear - kill the game. And kill it we did, with resolute defending and a 3rd goal with just over 5 minutes to go as N'Zogbia notched his second in 8 days, racing on to a Celestine Babayaro through ball before dragging the ball onto his right from his left to coolly slot the ball home. So a massive and unexpected result then. As touched on above a point in the circumstances would have been acceptable but to get all three, keep a clean sheet, and see Owen and Shearer get off the mark and Luque's replacement create and score himself, has made this a magnificent achievement. The pressure was well and truly on Souness and his injury hit squad, but they delivered in typical Toon fashion. Well done Graeme and the lads. Now lets build on this. Strange game, strange club... Teams United: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Babayaro, N'Zogbia, Clark, Faye, Bowyer, Shearer ( Bramble 74), Owen. Subs not used: Harper, Elliott, O'Brien, Brittain. Goals: Shearer (63), Owen (66) N'Zogbia 86. Bookings: Clark (28), Boumsong (31), Given (33), Babayaro (79). Sending Offs: Taylor (72) Rovers: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Savage, Bellamy, Pedersen, Reid, Mokeona (Tugay 67), Gresko (Jansen 76), Bentley (Kuqi 67). Subs not used: Enckelman, Emerton. Booked: Neill (2). Attendance: 20,725. Referee: Mike Riley |
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NUFC News Archive (September 18th 2005)
