Newcastle United 0 vs Chelsea 2, Smith Out This Weekend

by shearyadi | May 5, 2008 12:17 pm

This is nothing to do with helping or not helping the other team to win the title this season, and I can accept the defeat as long as we have been playing well thoroughly the 90 minutes.

It was another wrong player in the wrong place when Keegan once again give Alan Smith a probably his last chance in Black-and-White. He has not giving anything for this team since his move from Manchester United in summer last year. His one and only goal for Newcastle was in the pre-season match but after that he’s just a waste of money.

In the first-half we actually give the visitors so much to think about if they’re trying to play us, and we have an early chance to lead when Nicky Butt plays in Michael Owen with a smart lob and stolen a march on John Terry, with just Cech to beat, Toon skipper can only direct his first time volley over the crossbar.

With only around half an hour, Michael Owen once again has been giving great opportunity to beat the deadlock. Ferreira slides in to try steal the ball from Martins, but the Nigerian poised to strike in, the ball runs for Viduka whose his effort being kept out by Cech.

The ball rolls free again and it was Michael Owen who has the last strike for Toon but see his kick denied by Terry who is back on the line to clear.

But, the real show has come in near the dying minutes. Martins starts to causing problems, his cross sees Beye slash-in an effort wide of Cech’s target. While minutes before that a generous applause from the Toon Army to our Lads for Newcastle move that involving at least 20 neat-passes but unlucky end with a Chelsea goal-kick after Barton tries to get the end of Martins’ throughball.

The good story suddenly come to an end with Alan Smith having replaced Mark Viduka in second-half. Disaster coming in. Starting with the second corner for the visitors, and some sharp Chelsea passing start to cause us some real problems.

They finally works for a chance to an opening for Ballack inside the penalty area, the German is just about to pull the trigger but Steven Taylor arrives in the nick of time to divert the ball behind for a corner.

On the second period, we are never get the chance to get back into the game as good as we did in the first half, thanks to Alan Smith! It was Chelsea who dominate the game and they get the goal they deserve when Malouda is taken out by Faye on the right and received the yellow card.

Drogba clips over the free-kick to the near post where the sloppy defending from United release Ballack unmarked and he guides his header beyond Steve Harper to give the visitors the lead.

Our one and only chance this half coming again for Owen whose ghosted in to beat the offside trap but again his finishing inches away from connecting to level the scores. The game was practically end when they have the second goal in 82 minutes from a slick move from Lampard spring Malouda clear to finish the ball low under Harper.

Source URL: https://www.magpieszone.com/newcastle-united-0-vs-chelsea-2-smith-out-this-weekend/