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Leeds United 3 Newcastle United 2
Bobby Robson's forth game is the hardest so far, with second top playing second bottom a draw away from home would be a good result. There are two changes from last week team that stuffed Sheff Wed 8 - 0 . Robert Lee's calf strain sees him failing a late fitness test, his central midfield place being taken by Cramlington youngster Jamie McClen "The sun bed kid". Strangely Aaron Hughes has to settle for a place on the bench after his fine performance last week. Robson instead plays Marthellino , who has now fully recovered from injury. Also on the bench are Tommy Wright, making a last appearance before he returns to city and young hotshot Paul " I'm not a makem" Robinson, Stephen "chicken Killa" Glass and Laurent "shoe shine" Charvet who are now also fit again. the full team is :- Harper Barton ................ Marcelino ............................Goma ......................... Domi Solano ....................... McClen ..................Dyer.....................Speed Shearer .................................... Ketsbaia Leeds are quick off the mark, Michael Bridges almost scores the opener after Michael Bridges is one on one with harper, but shoots wide. The fifth minute sees Domi booked for pulling back Alan Smith, Leeds continue to pressurise the frail looking Newcastle defence, and it is little wonder that they take the lead in the 10th minute. Norwegian Bakke slips a lovely ball through to Lee Bowyer who fires Leeds into the lead. Bridges nearly makes it two, a minute later but hits the bar. None of the defenders were comfortable, with Marcelino still failing to gel with Goma , It could have been two 20 minutes later, once again Bridges let his home town club off the hook by firing wide. Harry Kewell wasn't so generous , two minutes later he rifled the ball into the net giving Harper no chance,. The Newcastle defenders were once again ball watching when Batty crossed the ball , amazingly they let it bounce between them and Kewell took advantage, putting Leeds two up.
It's very disappointing to score two at Elland road and come away with nothing, Newcastle are stuck on a meagre four points, the next game is again Sofia and is likely to see Robinson starting upfront . After today's performance Marcellino and Charvet should be given a couple of reserve games to get there fitness and confidence back up. The injury's to both Ketsbaia and Ferguson are a big worry, we are desperately short of firepower up front. With Newcastle having no money, It looks like a loan signing or an older player on a freebie is the only option. Those who thought that I was joking when I said Hristo Stoichkov could be given a short contract may now come to realise that a proven goalscorer would be better as back up than relying on youngsters such as Coppinger and Mcmahon. I know who I would feel safer with on the bench. Finally what would happen if Shearer were to get injured? Hope I am not tempting fate, but relegation would be a real possibility without Shearer or someone who can find the back of the net.! It's not all doom and Gloom, Stephen Glass is back , and should be a big help to the team. Whereas the Leeds game was drawable, the next three league games are surely all winnable. With Boro at home, Coventry away and Derby at home we should be looking at nine points from the next three outings. Pictures from this game to follow soon |
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Under
Ruud Gullit, newcastle would have collapsed, under Bobby Robson the
fightback began. Super Shearer pulling one back just 3 minutes later.
It came when Marytn had come out of his area and clashed with
Ketsbaia. He was deemed to have handballed, and fouled Ketsbaia. Most
other refs would have dismissed the Goalkeeper , but Barry knight, a
premiership novice decided that a yellow card would suffice. it was
Ketsbaia rather than Martyn who went off ...... on a stretcher , with
what looked like a serious knee injury. Solano took the resulting
free kick, chipping the ball in the direction of Shearer who headed
home his sixth goal in just two games. Robinson came on for Ketsbaia
who will surely have to start the next couple of matches. Just before
the stroke of halftime Bridges unbelievably missed another golden
opportunity , a carbon copy of his first miss at the beginning of the game.
Bobby
Robson must have said the right things at half time, as Newcastle
came out a much more solid unit in the second half. It took nine
minutes for the equaliser to arrive. The move started by by Speed,
passing to McClen on the left who in turn found Dyer , who went on
one of his probing runs into the box, he looked likely to take a shot
himself, but seeing Shearer in a better position crossed the ball to
his captain who made no mistake, and it was all square at 2 - 2 .
Riks Predic t it girl looked on corse for the first successful result
of the season. Man of the Match to that point Kieron Dyer seemed to
be limping and looked likely to be substituted. It was McClen who
came off, to be replaced by Laurent Charvet, who was making his first
appearance of the season. He went to right back and Barton to the
centre of midfield. This was probably Robson's first mistake of the
season, Although Barton did strengthen the centre, Charvet weakened
an already nervous defence and was probably to blame for the Leeds
wining goal. It came from Bowyer finding the Leeds sub, ex Newcastle
player Darren Huckerby spitting the newcastle defence in two, Michael
bridges was the recipient and it was fifth time lucky for the Whitley
bay lad, scoring in the 77th minute. Again Newcastle fought back but
couldn't get an equaliser.
