Their goal was the end result of some sloppy defending by Williamson and Colo, but otherwise they offered little in the way of a threat.

We upped our game in the 2nd half, but despite a lot of good possession just couldn’t find the target. A Williamson header hit the angle and went out and, Shola blazed high and wide when wide open on the edge of the PA and with plenty of time.

It was looking as though Blackburn would hold out when HBA took possession around 35yds out. His mazy run and thunderous strike was truly Maradona-esque. Fabulous goal. His overall performance was a bit in and out, and he looked more comfortable after going out wide when Obertan was mercifully taken off. He seemed to benefit from that bit extra time he got in the wide position.

Jonas had a good 2nd half, as his developing partnership with Santon caused Blackburn all kinds of problems, and the winning goal was well created by Shola and beautifully taken by the Spiderman.

Abeid did ok on his debut and certainly didn’t look overawed. He could prove to be another good ‘un.

Without playing well, Shola improved things up front simply by getting in and around the box. Best needs to recognise that he is now expected to be the main man, and he needs to concentrate on getting on the end of things rather than getting involved in the build-up. We dominated posssession yesterday without offering a consistent threat, and this has to be a real concern over the next few weeks.

Not a classic but at least we’re in the hat.

The post FA Cup 3rd round Newcastle United 2 – 1 Blackburn Rovers appeared first on Magpieszone.

And if you read on what he said on post match interview, as quoted from Yahoo sport below, you can see how daft he is knowing something that could ruin our chances to win the game but he still doing it anyway.

“The physical side of Stevenage’s game was a problem for us all night. I can only say we are sorry for the result and for the performance because it was the performance level which was the problem. We were running on empty. It’s been such a tough sequence of games. The team was a shadow of the team which played at Wigan and West Ham. Our energy level just couldn’t match theirs. In both boxes we got dominated. The team looked tired. We had some key players missing through injury but I played the strongest team I could.”

You knew that it would be a hard physical game but your decision to keep playing some of the first team players who have been involved in our midweek game against the Hammers, where all of them are playing very hard to win the game, shows that you didn’t have any better managerial experience than Toon’s previous manager.

I don’t think that Chris would played our first team players against a league two club like Stevenage. More, Chris only played mostly Newcastle youngsters even when we play against the likes of Chelsea in our previous Carling Cup.

Everyone with a clear mind can see they lads are looking tired and Pardew’s stupid decision to bring in Tiote when we were 2 goals down in second half was more than adding salt on wounded Newcastle’s team, you have destroyed the team.

Now with Tiote being suspended in our next three games, and we will play mackems next Sunday, I can’t see your what so called managerial experience will make difference than what I saw last night. I’m absolutely mad and humiliated, failed to get through from FA Cup challenge in the first bid. How great is that?

The post Alan Pardew was an absolute disaster for Newcastle United FA Cup adventure appeared first on Magpieszone.

It would have been a different result if the FA put the charges to both Adebayor and Bendtner for their violent conduct while they play in the League Cup against Spurs. But for Newcastle United, it was clear that we still far from being the same class with King Kev’s 1990’s squad.

For the first 45 minutes, I think we have played quite good, with couple of decent chances to score against them. Alan Smith could have scored his first goal for Newcastle in the 14th minute, but his first time volley was not headed clear by Gael Clichy from the goal-line.

Steven Taylor’s great chance on the half hour mark when he found himself clear from Arsenal’s defender but his header was gone a bit high over Lehmann’s crossbar.

Damien Duff and James Milner both working hard to create some good crosses into the home side penalty area, with one of them found Owen’s left footed effort but the ball was going wide off the goal.

The home side almost took the lead on the injury time when Abou Diaby’s dipping 20-yard strike over the woodwork by Given’s fingertips.

On the second half, the home team change their tactic by playing wide to open the United’s defence. It was prove to be the key of their success today. Newcastle’s defence was being separated after working almost perfect in the first half.

If we haven’t got Cacapa excellent performance, we may have suffered more goals. He is just unlucky to receive the only one yellow card on this game.

Adenayor scores his first after adavncing from the rebound of Eduardo’s effort who hit the far post. It should have been off-cleared the danger zone if the United defenders are not looking at the same ball but do nothing to it. His second was a brilliant effort and it was a well taken goal. Taylor couldn’t stop it, as the shot was in full speed.

Newcastle United rarely have the chance on this half period, Owen and Smith was almost unemployed for most of the rests of 30 minutes after Adebayor’s first goal. And the nightmare is completed with Nicky Butt’s own goal in the dying minutes.

Kevin Keegan made all the substitutions in the last quarter of the game. Keegan Brings in Rozehnal to replace Enrique and Kazenga Lua-lua in for Damien Duff.

TEAM LINE UP:

Arsenal FC:
Jens Lehmann, Abou Diaby (Gilberto, 76), Cesc Fabregas, Philippe Senderos, Tomas Rosicky (Eduardo, 9), William Gallas (c), Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott (Alexander Hleb, 76)
Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Nicklas Bendtner

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Jose Enrique (David Rozehnal, 76), Claudio Cacapa, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Damien Duff (Kazenga LuaLua, 82), Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith
Subs: Steve Harper, David Edgar, Andy Carroll

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 60, 046

The post Still Need Couple Of Improvements – FA Cup 4th Round Match Reports appeared first on Magpieszone.

Mark Viduka remains doubt with calf problem, while Joey Barton is once again still unlikely to figure. After having worked with his squad for over a week now, King Kev is confident that Newcastle can give a hard time for the London side and will try to give them another Cup defeat.

“It’s a terrific tie for us. If you thought about the places where we could go there can’t be too many harder.” Keegan said in the official site, “The cup throws up shocks at times and for most people it would be a shock, but I’ve said to the players this week, ‘What do we want to go there and do?’ Obviously the aim is to still be in the competition.”

King Kev also ask the United squad to be courageous out there and try to cause them more problems. Keegan added with the players such as Alan Smith, Michael Owen, Charles N’Zogbia, Damien Duff and James Milner, it’s no good to asking them to go there and sit back try to get a goalless draw. I like that Mr. Keegan!

Arsenal will be minus Robin van Persie who still suffering a thigh injury, midfielder Denilson with hamstring, and Johan Djourou still got a groin injury, but defenders Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy may return. Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song all are away on African Nations Cup duty.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner on-pitch bust up during last Tuesday’s League Cup has made coward coach Arsene Wenger cancelled his regular Friday news conference, why oh why Mr. Wenger, are you afraid of being speechless infront of the press?

The post FA Cup 4th Round Arsenal v Newcastle United – Game Preview appeared first on Magpieszone.

The result is not good for us but if we really want to win the Cup this season, as soon as we meet the top team the better. We have meet them before in the League Cup where we were unluckily get lost 2-0 at Emirat. This time, we have to do more better or at least showing that we can do better.

The 4th round draw also resulting other Premierships team battles, Wigan will meet Chelsea, while Manchester United will take on Spurs or Reading.

Full drawing results:

Arsenal v Stoke or Newcastle United
Coventry v Walsall or Millwall
Oldham v Huddersfield
Swindon or Barnet v Fulham or Bristol Rovers
Wigan v Chelsea
Luton or Liverpool v Swansea or Havant and Waterlooville
Southend United v Barnsley
Southampton v Norwich or Bury
Manchester United v Tottenham or Reading
Portsmouth v Plymouth
Derby or Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End
Watford v Wolves
Peterborough v Charlton or West Brom
Sheffield United v West Ham or Manchester City
Mansfield Town v Middlesbrough
Tranmere or Hereford v Cardiff City

The post Newcastle Face Arsenal in FA Cup 4th Round appeared first on Magpieszone.