Alright Mike, can you see it now how could be United team make any progress next season without significant changes? I don’t think so. With both Oba and Vid gets injured, Keegan is forced to recall dull player like Alan Smith and Damien Duff replacing Joey Barton.

This game also become the first senior appearance for Toon January signing Ben Tozer on the bench. Peter Ramage, Cacapa and Kazenga Lua-Lua also name among the substitutes with Andy Carroll starts in front.

It’s clear enough that we are definetely can’t do much in the early minutes of the first half, with the Evertonians keep attacking us. Yakubu gets past the challenge of Butt in the first 10 minutes with Duff come to covering but only loses out to the Nigerian, poor defending from Newcastle.

Another comedy in our defence happens in 20 minutes of play when Fernandes delivers a whipped free-kick with Harper tries to fist clear, the ball rushing into the path of Osman who turns the ball with his back off the target. You wouldn’t believe how we defending his effort. Faye felt to the ground after a collision with Harper! Luckily, Osman’ hooked effort bounces wide off the target.

It was a matter of time before Toffees finally breaking through and scores. In the half an hour mark, Pienaar deliver his free-kick into United penalty area and it’s the same scenario happening again like the Chelsea match where this time it’s the unmarked Yakubu who climbs highest to head beyond Harper. Oh dear…

In this first period, only N’Zogbia who looks decent and have couple of teasing cross where none of Toon target men was even near to accept the invitations. We also have a bit of luck not to get two goals behid after an offside decision canceling Yakubu seconds.

In the second half, we have another lucky gift when Peter Walton gave us a penalty two minutes from the restart and Owen convert it well under Tim Howard.

But, it was just that. The home side taking the command back soon after that. It takes a combination of Harper, Carroll and Butt to clear the danger that coming from Portugal midfielder Manuel Fernandes free-kick. We have not much chance but have to park the bus once again.

I can hardly believe how poor we are today and keep conceding from set pieces. Their second goal coming from another Toffee’s free-kick, and it’s Fernandes delivering to the far post where Taylor wasn’t able to get enough of it to leave Joleon Lescott turns home for his 10th of the season. Oh dear…OH DEAR…

To make it quick as I’m not really in the good mod today to make a long match report, we are flattened by their third goal 8 minutes from final whistle from a penalty spot. Yakubu nets his second this time. Triple OH DEAR…

So that’s it, the end of our 2007-2008 season which is another season to forget…forever.

TEAMS

Everton FC:
Tim Howard, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville (c), Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Yakubu, Manuel Fernandes, Lee Carsley, Victor Anichebe
Subs: Leighton Baines, Thomas Gravesen, Daniel Gosling, Stefan Wessels, Jack Rodwell

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steve Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith, Andy Carroll
Subs: Fraser Forster, Claudio Cacapa, Peter Ramage, Ben Tozer, Kazenga LuaLua

Referee: Peter Walton

Kevin Keegan make a recall for Steven Taylor after having missed on last weekend’s 3-0 victory over the Royals to partner with Abdoulaye Faye at the heart of the defence. David Edgar who come out to replace him last week return to the bench at the expense of Lamine Diatta.

United showing the same determination as last weekend and we dominated the attacking possession in the first 20 minutes or so, with Obafemi Martins first to give an early challenge to David James when He robs Pompey’s Bouba Diop on halfway. Oba then tries to catch out James with an ambicious 45-yard effort, the Geordies stands on their feet watching the ball flying into the empty net but James finally can gathers with ease.

The homeside can finally put the ballance into the game in 23 minutes. Sean Davis tries to free the ex-Spurs man Jermain Defoe and goes one on one with goal, but wor Steve Harper races out from his line to snatch the ball right at his feet.

We quickly response the home effort with Michael Owen successively get away from two host challenges inside the area, but failed to get a shot on goal as Hreidarsson slides it for a corner. Geremi takes the delivery and meet Faye heads but his effort was high and wide.

United get a good chance to break the deadlock when Geremi picks Barton in halfway before he immediately springs the ball to awaiting Viduka on the right. Dukes set and looks for his strike partner Martins and feed him with an early pass in-behind the Pompey backline. Too bad the delivery was too much weight and only runs for a throw-in for the home side.

Today, we have shown him how the real Newcastle United is to them as we clearly own the first half and give their defenders couple of real jobs to denied some shoot on goal from our three frontmen. If only Martins can uses more of his pace rather than trying to shoot early, we would have lead by two goals.

After his second try to score from 45 yards, he has the second chance to score when he gets away from the challenge of Davis in midway inside the Pompey half, but instead of running more deep into the penalty arean, he fires a 30-yards effort which clears James’ crossbar.

Keegan’s first half team talk shows the way as we are more patient when making the attacking move. Early in the second half, Geremi has freespace on the right, the Cameroon midfielder crosses the ball with pace but luckily to Pompey as it’s Campbell who gets there first and volley it behind for a corner.

In an hour mark, the home side create their chance to score with Glen Johnson skips the challenge from Barton on the right-hand touchline before he rolls the ball into Kanu. His powerful left-foot strike deflects off his own team-mate Defoe and flies wide of the target.

Soon after that The Magpies have two corners in quick succession. Geremi’s deliveries from the corner are only resulting a break from the hosts. Jermain Defoe continues his works a yard for the shot but denied an opening goal by our stopper who does equally well to get down low to divert the ball around the upright.

Toon skipper denied his fifth goal in as many games after Geremi’s delivery from the corner only half-cleared and the ball was back at his feet and crosses it into the penalty area. This time Distin tries to hack it clear but the ball drops for Owen and his shoot on goal was instinctively saved by James with his head. Great jobs from both stopper today!

And in the dying minutes, Owen is again sees the back of the net from Geremi’s deep set-piece but today the former Toon skipper’s deliveries are not accurate and his try to set Owen free once again slightly too high to a grateful James who is able to save. Obafemi Martins was also have his chances today to make it four wins in a row for United when his late low strike wide of the target from a tight angle.

Not a bad result for us. We are playing quite well today and in terms of creating the chances and ball possessions, we are clearly way ahead of them. It’s just that today our phrone three strikers was unlucky to not having a great services from our midfielders, especially from Geremi who made several inaccurate crosses.

Special notes to both goalkeeper, Steve Harper and David James are both playing very well to denied couple of clear chances from both team. Harper did very well to catch the ball out from Jermain Defoe when he’s clear on goal, while the Three Lions stopper have a magnificent save with his head from Owen’s strike. Bring on makems!!!

TEAMS LINEUP

Portsmouth FC:
David James, Glen Johnson, Herman Hreidarsson, Sol Campbell (c), Sylvain Distin, Papa Bouba Diop, Sean Davis, Sulley Muntari, Niko Kranjcar, Nwanko Kanu, Jermain Defoe
Subs:
Lauren, David Nugent, Richard Hughes, Pedro Mendes, Asmir Begovic

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka
Subs:
Fraser Forster, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, David Edgar, Andy Carroll

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 20, 507

Thank you! Thank you very much King Kevin Keegan for a wonderful birthday present just a day after my big day yesterday. The lads are also awesome today, you guys make us all very proud of you.

In a thunderous atmosphere at fully packed St. James’s Park, Newcastle making three wins out of three against Reading and to add more of joy, YMO scores again for his fourth in 4 games. Martins also scores, his second in two games. Viduka? Oh yes, he’s also in the scoresheet too

In the game where Keegan’s first signing Lamine Diatta was included for the first time among the United substitutes since his arrival on Tyneside last month, Toon young Canadian, David Edgar is making his first start for Toon this season to replace Taylor who was absence because of food poisoning.

Newcastle quickly start to dominating the game as soon as referee Lee Probert blew the kick-off, with an early free-kick from Geremi in just two minutes of play resulting the first corner for Newcastle. Geremi’s delivery gets the attention of Edgar who headed the ball home just being cleared by Reading defender.

The ball fell to Barton who produces Toon second corner as his rebound took off the shins of Shorey.

More than 50,000 Toon Army are no need to wait any longer than 18 minutes before they see the first goal for Newcastle. Nicky Butt delivery to Oba Martins on the left with a crossfield ball. Martins takes full advantage as Reading’s Liam Rosenior taste the St. James’ slippery wet grass.

Oba continues his run into the penalty area and aware of the challenge from Andre Bikey and gets away from him before finishing his solo past Hahnemann with delightful right-footed strike from 12 yards. That’s his ninth of the season. A deafening celebration is starting there ladies and gentlemen!

After that goal? Well, you can imagine that without I have to mention it here, we are enjoying the game very well with Reading busy defending. No chance at all for them to create any real chances that can harm us. In fact, we should have the second goal in 37 minute.

New born again Joey Barton and Nicky Butt once again switches play between them, these two are really combining very well in Toon midfield recently, and when Barton found himself in space on the left side of the field, he crosses a first-time shooting for the near post where Viduka dummies it for Owen who’s arriving from midfield, Owen connects it, but his eight-yard effort inches wide of Hahnemann’s goal.

Nevermind that, because Toon skipper is really in the mood and still hungry for more goals to show the England gaffer that he is still England’s best striker. Owen nets his fourth in four games for Toon as he scores in 43 minute from the angle of the six-yard area.

It was coming from a delightful chipped pass ball from Habib Beye. Let me tell you some stats, Michael Owen is the second Newcastle United player who has scored in four consecutive premier league matches since Alan Shearer doing it in the 2003/04 season. Congratulations Mickey!

Newcastle held to their two goals lead until the first-half ends. And the same full attacking display is displayed once again in the return of second-half. We deservedly get the third goal in an hour mark. This time, another Toon striker producing a fine finish from a great attacking scenario from the midfield.

After failed to score in an effective performance against Spurs last Sunday, Mark Viduka is not in the mood to end today’s game empty handed. He gets in on the scoresheet with his close range finish after making a clever one-two with Habib Beye inside the area.

Kevin Keegan makes all substitutions in the second-half as he taken off Mark Viduka and bring in Damien Duff in 74 minute, the Aussie receives a fabulous standing ovation from the Toon Army as he goes off the field.

Five minutes later, it’s Nicky Butt turn to receive standing ovation as he comes off for Alan Smith, and in the 82 minute Keegan’s Lamine Diatta handed his debut to replaces his Senegal team-mate Abdoulaye Faye.

TEAMS

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, David Edgar, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka, Oba Martins
Subs: Fraser Forster, Lamine Diatta, Alan Smith, Damien Duff, Andy Carroll

Reading FC:
Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Kalifa Cisse, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, John Oster, Dave Kitson, James Harper, Ivar Ingimarsson, Liam Rosenior, Ulises De La Cruz
Subs: Bobby Convey, Emerse Fae, Shane Long, Michael Duberry, Adam Federici

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 52, 179