Category — Newcastle United
Newcastle get a breather but still not safe from relegation
The Magpies moved out of the drop zone with a 3-1 win over local and relegation rivals Middlesbrough at St James’ Park.
After overseeing his first victory as a manager in what he had described as the biggest match of his career , Shearer ordered his players to enjoy the moment – but not for too long.
Goals from Steven Taylor, and substitutes Obafemi Martins and Peter Lovenkrands, handed the Magpies their first Barclays Premier League win anywhere since 7th February and their first at St James’ Park in 2009.
More importantly, it dragged them out of the bottom three at the expense of Hull City, and sends them into Saturday’s home match with Fulham knowing a repeat could preserve their top-flight status.
However, while delighted to have tasted victory for the first time as a manager at the sixth attempt, Shearer was refusing to take his eye off the bigger picture.
He said: “I have just said to them, ‘Enjoy this tonight, enjoy that winning feeling. You have worked your socks off to get it, now it’s in our hands’.
“I said to them before, ‘It’s been a good weekend, let’s go and make it a great one tonight with the right result’.
“It’s been a great weekend for us – but there are another two weekends to come.
“It’s the first game of three. We asked them to go out and get three points, they have done that.
“The players were magnificent under difficult circumstances. They have got now to go and do that again on Saturday, enjoy that winning feeling and hopefully, there’s another one there on Saturday.
“But it will be just as tough because Fulham are flying themselves.”
The Magpies had to come from behind to see off their derby rivals after conceding within three minutes of kick-off.
There was a touch of misfortune about Boro’s goal as Habib Beye bundled the ball into his own net after Steve Harper had blocked Tuncay Sanli’s shot at point-blank range.
Shearer’s luck was out once again three minutes later when Boro old boy Mark Viduka rattled the upright with keeper Brad Jones beaten, but he did not have to wait long for their equaliser.
Defender Taylor powered a header home from Danny Guthrie’s corner, and the home side looked ready to assume control.
However, Boro refused to let them have it all their own way and worryingly for Shearer, it was they who took control as the game reached the hour-mark, prompting him to withdraw Jonas Gutierrez and Michael Owen and send on Lovenkrands and Martins.
The Nigeria striker had been on the pitch for just 55 seconds when he fired the Magpies in front with 19 minutes remaining, and as Boro rallied once again, Lovenkrands completed the job four minutes from time.
Shearer said: “You make substitutions and hope for them to have an impact but I would be a liar if I said I planned it to be quite that quick.
“Obafemi Martins did everything asked of him, not just with the goal but his overall play. But every single one of the players was magnificent and they all deserve tremendous credit.
“I have just said, ‘Enjoy it, enjoy it lads because we have been in that bottom three for a long time. Enjoy being out of it and let’s make sure we are not back in there again’.
“It is a magnificent feeling and I really believe we will [stay up], but we have won one game.
“Let’s enjoy this, but we have to prepare for Saturday. This victory will give them the confidence which has been lacking and it will give the fans a real lift too.
“There is still a long way to go. I don’t want to sound negative, but it’s one win. We have got to get another two and make sure we are safe.”
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May 13, 2009 No Comments
Andy Carroll hopeful of Newcastle United staying in Premier League
Carroll’s equaliser at Stoke secured a first point for interim manager Alan Shearer, and the 20-year-old hopes it will prove a turning point.
He told the Newcastle Chronicle: “We all believe we can get out of trouble, but we needed a break and I think this could be it.
“There are only six games left in the league, and with us being down towards the bottom of the table, we need every point we can get.
“We are now two points behind Sunderland but we are all confident we can get out of trouble and we’ve got another massive game against Spurs coming up.”
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April 13, 2009 No Comments
Newcastle salvage crucial one point
Newcastle salvaged a crucial 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.
With nine minutes to play at the Britannia Stadium, Alan Shearer was facing his second successive defeat since taking over as Newcastle’s caretaker boss until the end of the season.
Former Newcastle midfielder Abdoulaye Faye gave Stoke a first half lead but Shearer had sent on Andy Carroll midway through the second half and the young striker responded by heading an 81st minute equaliser.
Shearer’s switch could prove vital in the final reckoning as the point lifted Newcastle to third bottom of the table above Middlesbrough, who had won earlier on Saturday, and within two points of safety.
Shearer had made five changes from the team beaten by Chelsea in his first match, with Sebastien Bassong returning from a groin injury, while David Edgar, Damien Duff, Danny Guthrie and Shola Ameobi also came in.
All the changes failed to galvanise Newcastle as Stoke set about bombarding the visitors’ defence. They forced two corners inside the opening three minutes and came close to taking the lead from the second.
From Liam Lawrence’s inswinger to the corner of the six-yard box Ryan Shawcross was allowed to rise all too easily, only to glance his header across the face of Stephen Harper’s goal.
Then Ricardo Fuller flicked a header towards the far post, with the loose ball falling to James Beattie whose close-range effort was blocked by Harper.
Duff panicked as Stoke continued to press and his clearance went straight to Rory Delap, whose cross caused more chaos. Harper tried to punch clear but Fuller got there first and headed narrowly over.
Stoke’s dominance was rewarded in the 33rd minute as Faye once again made his former employers regret selling him in August.
Faye, who left St James’ Park for Stoke in a two million pounds deal, had already scored a late equaliser against his old club in December. He tormented them again from a disputed corner.
Newcastle were furious that referee Chris Foy gave Stoke a corner even though the ball clearly came off Fuller last.
City captain Faye took full advantage as he was left totally unmarked to meet Lawrence’s corner with a stooping header past Harper.
It could have been 2-0 in the closing minute of the half as a point-blank Fuller header from another Lawrence corner was beaten away by Harper. From the rebound, Fuller’s second attempt caught Ameobi’s arm but Foy waved away Stoke’s appeals.
Just a minute into the second half Bassong was forced to clear off his line from a Glenn Whelan header after he had been teed up by Fuller.
Minutes later Ryan Taylor did the same to deny Shawcross after the defender flicked on a Lawrence free-kick.
Stoke could have won it when Fuller and Whelan set up Etherington, but from just inside the area and with only Harper to beat, the winger dragged his shot wide.
A minute later Shearer sent on Carroll for Ameobi. It was to prove the decisive moment.
Carroll was a danger straight away as he headed inches past the right-hand post from Taylor’s cross.
Suddenly Newcastle began to push forward with belief and, nine minutes from time, they drew level when Carroll met Duff’s cross with a looping header drifted over Sorensen’s despairing dive.
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April 12, 2009 No Comments
Owen ready for ‘cup final’ comeback
Newcastle United’s Michael Owen is gearing himself up for a ‘cup final’ as he prepares to return to action.
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March 9, 2009 No Comments
United slam title door shut
Manchester United beat Newcastle to reclaim a seven-point lead atop the Premier League as City dented Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes.
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March 5, 2009 No Comments
