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Helmonsport 1 Newcastle United 2 report by Stevo
De Braak Stadium Team: Perez, Griffin, Charvet, Goma, Dumas, Domi, McClenn, Dyer, Andersson, Kerr, Ketsbaia
Subs: Hughes, Caldwell, Dabizas, Serrant, Beharall, Barton
The final game of the Dutch trilogy is played in sweltering conditions against lower division outfit Helmond Sport. Formed in ’67 they managed a few seasons in the top flight in the early 80’s but nowadays do well simply to survive in the shadow of PSV on gates of less than 3 000. The lads are lead through an extremely thorough warm up with Griffin and Ketsbaia getting individual attention. More interesting is the first glimpse of Duncan Ferguson on the touchline. Dumas is captain, pennants are exchanged and with rather strong herbal aromas floating around the main stand the game gets underway. The lads look rather chic as the new away kit gets its first outing and line up in the now familiar 3-4-3 formation: Perez Dumas Charvet ............ Goma Griffin ................................................Domi Dyer .......................... McClenn Kerr ............................................................Ketsbaia Andersson First puzzle is the absence of Maric, listed on the team sheat, but replaced by Kerr in the starting eleven. We start brightly with plenty of possession and Dumas hitting some glorious long passes out to the Wings. Andersson hit the bar from close range after great work from McClenn but was given offside. A few minutes later though Andersson side-foots the ball into the c from just inside the penalty after a nice build up, again involving McClenn. A rare goal for the Swede. Perhaps it goes to his head as shortly afterwards he breaks down the left, but with McClenn screaming for the ball in front of an open goal Andreas opts to shoot. His shot misses the corner flag and goes out for a throw in.
We switch to 4-4-1 with Domi dropping back in the left back position, Charvet out to the right, and Andersson alone up front. Or at least that seemed to be the intention. Laurent played too central, Kerr forgot to drop back, which left a huge hole on the right side of our defence where Griffin should have been. This didn’t go unnoticed by our opponents who attacked down their left and from the ensuing cross Perez somehow managed to produce an excellent reflex save to stop what looked a certain goal. We lose all shape and are stuck playing in our own half. By now the three games are beginning to take their toll and a lot of our players look completely exhausted. We’re restricted to counter attacks but again Andersson shoots weakly when he should have passed, Dyer and McClenn were not amused. Ketsbaia had an excellent run from deep skipping past 3 defenders and forcing a good save from the Helmond Keeper. The initiative though is with our opponents and on the stroke of half time veteran defender John De Wolf (ex-Wolves and former international) found Roland Vroomens outside the area who turned well before shooting past Perez. 1-1 at half time. Ferguson spent half time kicking a ball about with Given with no discernable difficulty. Barton and Serrant replace Kerr and the exhausted looking Dyer whilst Ruud puts Kets up front instead of Andersson who drops out wide. The second half was our worst display of the tour, tiredness had set in and being a man down didn’t help . We can barely get out of our half for the first ten minutes and Ruud is visibly agitated standing and looking less than happy. He calls Serrant, Barton and Ketsbaia over and after much gesticulating Andersson joins Ketsbaia up front (4-3-2). It relieves the pressure a touch but Helmond Sport look by far the likelier scorers amid the tired Toon legs. Amazingly no more substitutions are used. We’d to thank the legs and reflexes of Perez for keeping us on equal terms. The only bright spots were the defending and magnificent passing of Franck Dumas and the effervescent Ketsbaia. With seconds remaining Kets faced goal with a defender in front of him. Simply too shattered to take him on, he decides to shoot. The defender stuck his leg out and the resulting deflection completely wrong foots the keeper giving us a wholly undeserved 2-1 win with virtually the last kick of the game. Players: Perez- He may be our third choice keeper, transfer listed, and largely unloved but I can only call it the way I see it and Lionel kept us in this game, and played well over all three games so no complaints from this quarter. I hope he finds another club quickly. I might add that all jibes as to his alleged sexuality are bigotry pure and simple and should have no place at our football club. Griffin - He’ll want to forget this game, looking quite uncomfortable prior to his moment of madness. Less said the better. Charvet - seemed to forget whether he was a central defender or a right back. Showed speed, fitness, and strength in the air but lost the ball too often Goma - less dominant than his earlier performances, won some sharp tackles but looked knackered Dumas- Seems to create so much time for himself on the ball, and his passing was sublime. His lack of height may count against him in if he doesn’t play deep, but Gullits description of him as a bargain looks fully justified. Man of the Match Domi- our first sight of Didier, looked more at home in the flat back 4 but lacked sharpness. McClenn - worked hard, supported his forwards. Dyer- inventive but looked absolutely exhausted. Given the week he’s had who could blame him Andersson- managed to score but did little else. Kerr- Anonymous Ketsbaia- our brightest attacking option by far, produced some memorable runs and even the pass of the match. Subs: Serrant- looked good on the ball but his final pass often let him down Barton- Showed his worth as a utility player again and worked hard in midfield.
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After
half an hour gone the match is changed irrevocably thanks to Andy
Griffin who, for reasons best known for himself, dives recklessly
into a challenge on the halfway line (!), studs first. He misses the
ball completely but connects just above his opponents left knee and
can have no complaints about the red card as far as I’m
concerned. Whilst the Helmond Sport supporters around me furiously
attempt to insult young Andy in their limited array of badly
pronounced English swearwords Ruud is left reorganising the defence. 
