Abdoulaye Faye returns bringing on a heartbreak for the Toon Army

How many times we ever witnesses a Toon manager being sent-off in Newcastle United competitive fixtures? Not too often I’m sure and JFK who has been sending off by Mike Riley might be the first in our Premierships years.

But one thing that’s for sure is we are too often to dropped points after doing good. This is some kind of a curse that I don’t really understand until now. We are too easily given out space for the opponents to come to our side and pushing another late equaliser drama at St. James Park.

After the last United’s home game against Wigan, where ex-Toon lad Titus Bramble grab an injury-time equaliser for the Latics, today it was Abdoulaye Faye who gives us a heartbreak moment when he blast home in the 92nd minute.

After Michael Owen two goals within the 24 minutes of first half, we are looking poor in the second period.

Owen’s first chance today came in 7th minutes when Jonas Gutierrez slips the ball into his path. With his back on goal inside the area, United’s skipper works room for a shot but it’s on his weaker foot and Potters goalkeeper Sorensen saves it.

But two minutes later, Owen makes no mistake. Again from an outstanding works by Jonas who darts infield and slots the ball to his captain poking past Sorensen and shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

Oba Martins delivers creating the chances for Owen to mark his second of the game in 24 minutes. Oba’s perfect left-wing cross for Owen to slide it home for goal inside the six-yard area.

But the game changed after the break. With Martins missed a close-range header in 60 minutes, the visitors broke out and halved the deficit through Mamady Sidibe.

And the decision to bring Claudio Cacapa in for Geremi makes it even worst for Toon side. Our midfield today really looking really soft without the presence of Nicky Butt and Joey Barton, and to include the loss of Danny Guthrie at half-time.

Five minutes from the end of normal time, the nervous Toon side have to deal with Stoke’s high free-kick. Beye heads it away but only half cleared and Danny Pugh gives a serious heartbeat test when he blast the ball from 20 yards.

And the heartbreak moment finally came in the injury time after United’s players failed to clear Glenn Whealen’s right-wing free-kick.

TEAMS
Newcastle United FC
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong, Geremi, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Charles N’Zogbia, Michael Owen (c), Oba Martins
Subs: Steve Harper, Claudio Cacapa, Xisco, David Edgar, Mark Viduka, Andy Carroll, Steven Taylor

Stoke City FC
Thomas Sorensen, Andy Griffin, Danny Higginbotham, Richard Creswell, Mamady Sidibe, Danny Pugh, Salif Diao, Amdy Faye, Rory Delap, Abdoulaye Faye, Ibrahima Sonko
Subs: Steve Simonsen, Seyi Olofinjana, Leon Cort, Glenn Whealen, Ricardo Fuller, Andrew Davies, Michael Tongue

Referee: Mike Riley