Main Page

Quick Links
    Fixtures
   Reports
   Players
   Transfers
   Rumours
   Table
   Stats
   Reserves
   Academy

The Rest
    Archives
   Club info
   Fanzines
   Last Season
   SJP
   Unlikely Lads
   A-Z Index

Date: Mon 22nd Jan 2001, 7.00pm Venue: Kingston Park  Conditions: Bit parky, rain showers.

Newcastle United	1 - 1	Manchester City
Half time:	1 - 1
Score Sheet:
Bonvin 32		Killen 23
	Teams
John Karelse Ryan McGuffie Olivier Bernard Stevie Caldwell  Gary Caldwell  Brian Kerr Stuart Green Jamie McClen James Coppinger Pablo Bonvin Mark Boyd	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Carlo Nash Richard Edghill Shaun Holmes Jim Whitley Rhys Day Stephen Jordan Chris Shuker Terry Dunfield Chris Killen Leon Mike Terry Cooke
Substitutes:
Colin McMenamin for Boyd (57) Kevin Gall for Bonvin (78)		Dickson Ethu for Killen (74) Joe Barton for Edghill (85)
Subs not used:
Jonathon Brain David Cowan David Rayner		Richard McKinney Glenn Whelan Gary Browne
Bookings:
McMenamin (83)		Jordan (75)
Referee: D.G.Kellett (Bradford)
Attendance: 808

23mins. City broke the deadlock when Mike galloped clear down the right and sent over a low cross that was met on the half-volley by Killen, beating Karelse from 15 yards. 0-1

32 mins. United drew level courtesy of a well-worked exchange of passes. Beginning with a quick throw in midway in the City half down the Newcastle left, Green found Coppinger. His adept control forced an opening on goal, that was ultimately cleared but only as far as Stevie Caldwell. He strode forwards before releasing to Kerr, who in turn anticipated the run of Coppinger to feed him as he waltzed across the edge of the City area in a mazy dribble. A perfect pass to Bonvin, lurking on the left hand of the penalty area then allowed the Argentinean to shoot home with a low effort from 12 yards. 1-1

Half time: Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1

Full time: Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1

 Coach Tommy Craig said: 

11 mins City broke down the right through the lively Cooke, who sent over a low centre. Killen's shot was tipped away for a corner by Karelse, who drew warm applause from the crowd for his efforts.

13 mins United threatened for the first time when Bonvin forced his way past Dayand into the City area before shooting from a narrowing angle. The keeper was able to block, and although Bonvin claimed the loose ball, his pull-back was hacked away.

18 mins Stuart Green tried a shot, having cut in from his right wing berth, but his effort passed harmlessly over the bar.

23 mins City score (see above.)

30 mins A measured crossfield pass from Bernard found the advancing Green and he played in Coppinger, who perhaps should have done better than shoot over from the edge of the visitor's penalty area.

32 mins United equalise (see above)

46 mins In first half injury time Green tried his luck again, and although he managed to keep his effort down this time, it was narrowly wide of the goal.

72 mins McMenamin was only inches away from a goalscoring first touch in English football after Bernard drove forward down the Newcastle left before sending over an accurate cross.

74 mins The referee halted play and after consultation with the nearside linesman, called over Bernard who was forced to leave the field to remove a ring.

83 mins Having been on the field for 26 minutes, McMenamin had collected mud on his socks and shirt back but still not actually touched the ball. He now collected a yellow card for tangling with Edghill, who reacted angrily before falling to the floor in apparent agony as the referee approached. While Edghill received treatment McMenamin was booked for no more than clumsiness. He then had to watch as a grinning Edghill left the field with the trainer, only to return seconds later, having avoided punishment and made a sudden miraculous recovery. He returned to the boo's of the crowd, and these echoed out again when he was subbed minutes later.

85 mins McMenamin's first toon touch finally came as he diverted a ball out wide to McGuffie, and his former Annan colleague crossed from the right. Green eventually bundled the ball home from the opposite flank, but a linesman's flag had been raised earlier in the move.

90 mins Gary Caldwell found himself well placed to try a header from a right ring Green cross, after enterprising work from Coppinger. Unfortunately he succeeded only in placing his effort into the arms of 'keeper Nash.

92 mins A last-ditch effort from City saw a fine 25 yard effort from Holmes well anticipated by Karelse, who leapt to his right to make an acrobatic parry. Such was the ferocity of the shot that Holmes seemed to injure the ankle of his shooting foot and limped off at the final whistle seconds later. 

Now only one win in eleven attempts this season, and once again it was the familiar story of a reasonable performance but a lack of quality in front of goal for the second string.

With strikers Ameobi (gone on to greater things) and McMahon (loaned to Darlo) both watching from the stand, the latest striker to join United took his bow. Youngster Colin McMenamin didn't manage a shot during his 30 minute stint on as a sub, but reports from his former club Annan and also our training ground suggest the boy has something in his stored in his locker. Hopefully he can forge an understanding with Coppinger, who shows flashes of his undoubted talent but like Brayson before him suffers a little from being bullied by bigger defenders.

Coach Tommy Craig is slowly filling his side with his countrymen, and at one stage in the game, no less than five Scots players were on display in a youthful lineup - had McClen not come from Newcastle (despite his name), the balance would have been tipped towards the tartan.

Hopefully some of that famous Scottish grit and passion will come through and show the rest the way, but Tommy might do well to reflect on a team plan that sticks Green out on the wing, only for him to come inside at every opportunity. The suspicion remains that one or two decisions in this team are made elsewhere, not always for the benefit of all...

An interesting home debut for Frenchman Bernard, who confirmed suspicions that his primary interest is in attacking from the left back slot with the ball, rather than stopping the opposition. That said, he was involved throughout, and as Craig rightly pointed out supplied at least one long pass of supreme quality.

The pattern of the team's play remains the same, but there are areas that continue to cause concern and need looking at - set plays for instance, a malaise that also afflicts some of the players when they appear for the U19's.

It has to be said that the second string are feeling the effects of the first team injury crisis, both in losing youngsters as they are promoted (although neither Gavilan or Ameobi were a great influence earlier in the season) and also in not being able to call on wise old heads. Of course, that's what a reserve team is for, but it's always nicer to watch (and play in) a winning side, and confidence remains a factor. A scabby win is urgently needed to put the smiles back on faces.

Biffa

Reports