Newcastle United(1) 4 Elliott(74), Shearer(77,83,90)
Leicester City (0) 3 Elliott(55), Claridge(60), Heskey(68)
Att: 36,396
Newcastle: Hislop, Watson, Elliott, Albert, Peacock, Batty, Lee,
Gillespie (Ginola 68), Asprilla (Clark 87), Shearer, Ferdinand
Subs not used: Srnicek, Barton, Beardsley
Leicester: Keller, Grayson, Watts, Prior, Elliott, Izzet, Lennon,
Taylor (Lawrence 80), Parker, Claridge, Heskey
Subs Not Used: Poole, Hill, Wilson, Robins
We attacked pretty strongly from the off and created a couple of chances which might have put us ahead, even before the 3rd minute goal by Robbie Elliott. The ball was floated across from the right wing into a swarm of players, it was eventually setup by Ferdinand for Elliott to strike from just inside the 18 yard line, beating Keller by way of a deflection.
1-0
We seemed well in control for the remainder of the half and had plenty of chances to go further ahead but poor finishing (Ferdinand) and great goalkeeping, notably from a Robert Lee effort, kept Leicester in the game and me on the edge of my seat. What was really disturbing was the way our defence tried to play the offside trap so many times and so far up the park. You just knew that Heskey was going to spring it sooner or later.
From the start of the second half, Leicester looked more dangerous going forward and we were backing off far too much. Something had to give sooner or later ... and sure enough, 10 minutes into the second half, the ball was crossed from the left for Matt Elliott to head past a flapping Hislop. For a big guy, our keeper certainly knows how to look small.
1-1
Leicester seemed to sense our apprehension and attacked us with balls over the top and down the channels and, within 5 minutes, they were ahead with another ball crossed into the box from the left. This time it was played low to Claridge who managed to make space for himself and slot it through the legs of Hislop from all of 5 yards.
1-2
Leicester kept at us and we continued to look shaky at the back. We also kept defending far too high up the park and this eventually led to the third Leicester goal. A simple ball over the top for Heskey to run on to with only Batty trying to get back to defend. Heskey was too fast and the shot he let fly, from about 20 yards, was pretty unstoppable in my opinion.
1-3
Two goals behind with fifteen minutes to go and a lot of 'supporters' leave their seats and head for the exits. Do we wear red or what ? Didn't they remember Wednesday?
Anyway, after Leicester's third, Ginola was on in place of Gillespie, who didn't really have a good game. This bit of poor form is running on far too long ... get a grip Gilly boy. This change seemed to do the trick as we started to look a lot more dangerous, with Ginola in particular making some penetrating runs, and we also managed to hold onto possession for probably the first time this half.
The breakthrough came with about a quarter of an hour to go. Robert Lee was given the ball as he ran the inside left channel. The defender chopped him down and his reward was a yellow card and a free-kick against his team in Shearer territory. Tino was keen to take it, especially after two previous free-kicks had been wasted by Shearer and Albert. Shearer would have none of it and simply blasted the ball through both the Leicester wall and the keeper.
2-3
From then on it was almost total domination by the lads with Leicester being forced to defend desperately.
On 83 minutes, Shearer picked up the ball on the edge of the box, he twisted and turned a little but couldn't find a way past the Leicester defence and so he struck a shot through the legs of a defender and past the outstretched arms of Keller, into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.
3-3
Into injury time and a slick passing move lead to Robert Lee breaking through into the right hand side of the Leicester box. Instead of taking a shot at goal he intelligently laid the ball across the box and onto the foot of a waiting Shearer who gladly tapped it in, from about 12 inches, to claim his first hat-trick in black and white.
4-3
That's twice in succession we've blitzed the opposition in the dying moments of a league match and I'm feeling about 10 years older than I was when I woke up this morning.
Not a 'great' game, certainly not boring and it's great to have the 3 points. I bet those 'supporters' are kicking themselves now.
My MotM: Shearer ... it has to be.