If the result from our last meeting with them on the Carling Cup was to compare with today’s result, I can tell you that today we are the much-much better team against a (slightly) better Spurs team.
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Although we aren’t the better team on fist-half against the team that according to history was the team that would find it hard to win at our own land, but the Lads showed great determination to win the sixth wins against them in our Premier League matches.
They’ve two victory on the road while coming to St. James’ Parkand we know that they are desperate to make it a hattrick today, but their Houdini’s magic didn’t work out against JFK’s boys.
With Martins misses out because of the groin injury, Joe Kinnear recalled Shola Ameobi to partner Michael Owen. Damien Duff and Steven Taylor both are settle for a place on United bench.
Newcastle only need 11 minutes to the first lead from Given’s free-kick that releasing Charles N’Zogbia clear. The visitors trying to block him out through Essou-Ekotto but he can’t stop him as Zog brushed aside the Frenchman before scoring with his right-foot past Spurs Brazilian goalkeeper Gomes.
After couple of Spurs efforts to level the game back, United are start to enjoying the majority of the attacking possession. But, from a little mistake by Enrique who fails to cover Luka Modric behind the United backline, the visitors finallt get into the level term in 28 minutes.
There were shouts for offside from United defenders but the scoreline stays. Buoyed by their leveller Spurs trying to put the pressure on us, where Ameobi has to be replaced by Viduka after picked up an injury a minute later.
We did quite well and showing an improvement in the second period as Viduka beginning to exert his influence on the game with all other United’s players are trying to find him at every opportunity.
In the 71 minute, N’Zogbia worked space on the left, pass a low ball to the near post where Viduka to guide the delivery into the path of Owen who fires it left-footed over the crossbar from just eight yards out.
And when the game gets inside the last 10 minutes, the visitors beginning to try to steal the lead with their best chance come from Bentley’s lob into the penalty area for Campbell to heads it high and wide of Given’s target.
Seeing that Spurs finding the weakness of our side through Enrique, Joe Kinnear reacts and take him off to make way for Damien Duff in the last 3 minutes of normal time. It was one of the best decision from JFK today.
Beginning from his slips a forward pass into the feet of Mark Viduka who didn’t waste no time to backheels it back to the Irishman, Duffer finds his low finish past Gomes from eight yards gives United a very late lead and three points in the pocket.
TEAMS
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Sebastien Bassong, Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Guthrie, Nicky Butt, Jonas Gutierrez, Charles N’Zogbia, Shola Ameobi, Michael Owen (c)
Subs: Steve Harper, Damien Duff, Geremi, Steven Taylor, David Edgar, Mark Viduka, Andy Carroll
TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS FC:
Gomes, Didier Zokora, David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Luka Modric, Michael Dawson, Verdan Corluka, Ledley King (c), Benoit Assou-Ekotto
Subs: Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Fraizer Campbell, Adel Taarabt, Cesar Sanchez, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O’Hara
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 47, 982