by shearyadi | December 8, 2007 12:22 pm
Birmingham get the second period in much the stronger of the two sides, while the rain keep running down at St. James’ Park.
The Blues first-half scorer, Jerome burns by Taylor and cuts back looking for the arriving of McSheffrey. Rozehnal read the situation this time and slides to concede a corner. Larsson takes but Given is able to claim at his near post.
The Man-Of-The-Match performance by James Milner, illustrated the new United style of the game, and he keep tries to get the Magpies going and darts in from the left flank. His near an hour mark worked in a yard for a shot in-between Kelly and Schmitz, the ball skids up the watery St. James’s surface but evades both the dive of Taylor and his far post.
And another back in form display from N’Zogbia in 65minutes, crosses low from the left and the ball once again skids right across the face of goal, with no-one to turn the delivery ball home and the Blues survive. Yet in the matter of time, the ball would be surely get in.
With the amount of possessions so far, United should’ve been two or three goals up. But with the kind of wet and slippery surface like today, I can understand it was even more difficult to control the ball in a pacey football game from both side.
In 69 minutes, Viduka cleverly turn and creates a space 30 yards out, the Aussie star one-two passes with Smith before worked the ball wide for Joey Barton. BarToon tries to force his way into the area and resulting a corner off Kelly.
N’Zogbia takes the deliver with Birmingham can only half clear, the ball drops back to Barton but his first time shot is blocked by the sliding Nafti.
Sam Allardyce making the second United changes and taken off his skipper and bring in the Turkish delight Emre to the field.
Joey Barton loses possession on halfway and in frustration trips Cameron Jerome, Mr. Styles has no option but to give United midfielder a yellow card. Free kick for Brum. Liam Ridgewell popped up on the right-wing from the free-kick and wins a corner from the sliding challenge of N’Zogbia.
Kapo takes from the right but this time Jerome can’t direct his header on target and United have a goal-kick.
Newcastle try again to search for the first home win since October, with Martins turns a clever ball inside Kelly in the penalty area. He aim for Taylor’s far post, and right-footed curler ball looks destined for the net but somehow the Blues stopper manages to dive in and palm the ball away.
On the edge of normal time Muamba trips N’Zogbia when the younf talented player tries to force his way into the penalty area. Free-kick in a good position.
Emre takes and the ball clatters into the wall. And for the second time a big penalty shout from the Turk and the home crowd only being waves away by Rob Styles. TV replay shows the ball struck in the arm of Jerome and out for a corner. But this is Premier League after all.
Emre waste no time to take the corner himself from the left-flank and it was destined to have Habib Beye dashes the ball in at the near post. The Senegale defender powering a header into the ground and the ball bounces up into the top roof of Taylor’s net for a dramatic Newcastle’s last minute winner. 2-1.
Jose Enrique replaces Oba Martins on stoppage time as Newcastle United play for time and guard the lead. In desperate dying seconds the Blues pressing for an equaliser but it’s all over for them and the game ends for United win at home again.
Good game, good result, but we are still have conceded the ball early in the first-half in need more attention from Big Sam. But, we are pleased with the display. Congratulations to James Milner for a deserved Man of The Match reward.
Coming up next, the postmortem!
TEAMS
Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt (Mark Viduka, 31″), Joey Barton, Geremi (Emre, 71″), James Milner, Alan Smith, Oba Martins (Jose Enrique, 92″)
Subs: Steve Harper, David Edgar
Birmingham City:
Maik Taylor, Stephen Kelly, Mathew Sadler, Rafael Schmitz, Liam Ridgwell (c), Sebastian Larsson, Cameron Jerome, Gary McSheffrey (Olivier Kapo, 62″), Mehdi Nafti, Daniel De Ridder (Mikael Forssell, 76″), Fabrice Muamba
Subs: Colin Doyle, Garry O’Connor, Stuart Parnaby
Referee: Rob Styles
Attendance: 49, 948
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