Monday
8th January 2010,
Coca-Cola Championship, St James' Park, Kick-Off 7:45pm
|
Newcastle United |
2 - 2 |
Albion |
| Guthrie
25 |
39,291 |
Olsson 13 |
|
Lovenkrands 54 |
|
Bednar 46 |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Half-Time Score |
1 |
|
50% |
Possession |
50% |
|
7 |
Shots On Target |
8 |
|
1 |
Shots Off Target |
9 |
|
6 |
Corners |
11 |
|
14 |
Fouls Against |
16 |
|
2 |
Offsides |
2 |
|
2 |
Yellow Cards |
5 |
|
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
Newcastle United: Harper,
Simpson (R Taylor 85), S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Guthrie, Smith (c), Nolan,
Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Ameobi (Carroll 78). Subs not used: Krul (gk),
Pancrate, Butt, Kadar, Ranger
Ameobi (foul 74), Nolan (foul
90+4)
Albion: Carson (c), Jara,
Tamas, Olsson, Cech, Brunt, Koren, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Thomas, Bednar (Miller 63).
Subs not used: Kiely (gk), Moore, Cox, Teixeira, Zuiverloon, Mattock
Tamas (foul 19), Bednar
(foul 54), Olsson (foul 60), Jara (foul 62), Dorrans (foul 75)
Referee: Paul Taylor (Luton)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Smith (West Yorkshire), Jason Tyas (West
Yorkshire)
Fourth Official: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire)
In this absorbing instalment of the race to return to the
promised land, the game was spiced with goals good enough to grace the Premier
League itself. West Brom,
brimming with quick, clever passing, had been first to show. The positive
principles Roberto Di Matteo has instilled were seen to devastating effect early
on, the visitors stunning St James’ by snatching the lead.
From the wreckage of a corner, the excellent Graham Dorrans
kept up the pressure, turning away from Danny Simpson, looking up and lifting in
a curling cross towards the near post. Jonas Olsson, the giant Swedish
centre-half, had remained in the area, suddenly enjoying a yard of space as his
marker, Shola Ameobi, thought the danger had ebbed. As Dorrans’ ball swerved in,
Olsson met it with the most elegant of touches, sweeping it first time past
Steve Harper. And so began a terrific match.
As the 800 hardy travellers from the
West Midlands celebrated up in
the Gods, Olsson sprinted off in search of a television camera, holding out his
shirt which displayed details of how to donate to the Haiti earthquake appeal -
a nice touch by West Brom and their players.
Having shown their silky side,
West Brom then demonstrated an
excessive physical streak, committing a succession of fouls around the box.
Gabriel Tamas caught Ameobi, who was then upended by Youssouf Mulumbu, gifting
Newcastle a free-kick 25 yards out.
Jonás Gutiérrez stood in front of the ball, masking the
hosts’ intentions. As Guthrie ran in, Kevin Nolan broke away from the end of the
wall, engineering a glimpse of goal. Guthrie’s aim was true, the ball speeding
into the net before Scott Carson could move.
With Gallowgate now at full throttle, and Ameobi’s movement
troubling West Brom’s
centre-halves, Di Matteo’s men could have folded. They fought back, sticking to
their passing principles, their football flowing in waves to the forward beacon
that is Roman Bednar.
Chris Brunt and the right-sided flier, Jerome Thomas, kept
testing Newcastle down the flanks while Dorrans, who is too good for this
level, broke constantly through the middle. Brunt almost restored
West Brom’s lead with a
free-kick that bent just wide of Harper’s right-hand upright.
Newcastle regained their
composure, although how Gutiérrez escaped a caution for a dive in the area was a
complete mystery, yet West Brom finished the half at a canter. Only the sharp
reflexes of Harper prevented Thomas and Tamas from scoring.
A minute after the re-start, Harper had no chance when
West Brom came calling. Again
Dorrans was the catalyst, the Scot running deep down the inside-left channel
before lifting the ball in to Bednar, who had stolen a yard on the dozing
Fabricio Coloccini. Harper somehow repelled the Czech’s header but could do
nothing and Bednar swept in the rebound.
Newcastle responded well,
delighting the vast majority of the 39,291 crowd with another equaliser. When
Gutiérrez laid the ball back, José Enrique delivered a cross towards Lovenkrands.
The Dane met the ball well enough but it seemed to lack sufficient power. Carson
reacted too slowly, allowing the ball to float into the net. Engulfed by
emotion, Lovenkrands pointed to the heavens in tribute to his father who passed
away last Friday.
telegraph.co.uk
Roberto di
Matteo:
"I think it was a good point for
Newcastle. We should have
probably won the game, I think we deserved the three points.
"I thought we were good in all departments. We scored good
goals and created lots of chances. We just couldn't get a hold of the lead when
we had one.
"We thought we could win tonight and get something out of the
game and it looked for a long time that we would win it."
Chris
Hughton:
"Overall I thought it was a fair result and a very good game
for the neutral. We showed a lot of character to come back twice from a
goal down.
"The game became very open and it could have gone either way.
"We should have had a penalty. The lad just goes across Andy
(Carroll) and it was a blatant block.
"Peter (Lovenkrands) wanted to play and for him to go and get
a goal for us is superb. Great credit for him."
Chris Brunt makes his 100th first team appearance for the club.
|
