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Newcastle United 7 vs Tottenham Hotspur 1

FA premier League, Saturday December 28, 1996 – St. James’ Park

Newcastle and Kevin Keegan in particular, needed a festive-season boot at a difficult time in the Club’s Premiership history, and poor Spurs felt the full force of the Magpies goal machines.

United had gone seven games without a win and their title challenge has faded, but this seven goal romp suddenly changed all that.

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Tottenham’s defence crumbled and surrender immediately when Alan Shearer held off some challenge from Carr and Calderwood to hit a right-foot volley over Tottenham’s Ian Walker. Three minutes later the floodgates of the Black-and-White stripes started to open.

Peter Beardsley’s shot was diverted by Les Ferdinand into stranded Walker’s net to give the Magpies two goals lead at half-time.

Later on the second-half, in just thirteen minutes John Beresford running up on the left touchline before sending delicious cross to Les Ferdinand to make his second of the game. United’s fourth goal coming in rapidly and was a truly fine goal.

Rob Lee ended his long run from midfield and enter the Spurs penalty box without any significant challenge from Spurs defenders before driving the ball low into the left far post of helpless Ian Walker from 15 yards.

The fifth goal was a historical moment for Newcastle United. Philippe Albert leave his post to join the Magpies neverending attack. He finds himself alone in the area when received the ball from Rob Lee. With Alan Shearer lurking on his right, waving for the cross.

imageAlbert sees the opportunity, and he drilled it under the arms of Walker to make it five nil to Newcastle as well as the 6,000 League goals for Newcastle United.

Shearer got his second in the closing minutes when he volleying home David Batty’s pass from a close range. Rob Lee, wearing his number seven jersey completed the goals parade with his second and United’s seventh of the day after another Batty pass pick him on the edge or the box.

Spurs got their consolation goal in the dying moments through Allan Nielsen advancing Hislop’s saved from Teddy Sheringham effort and Beresford’s failure to secure it.

Terry McDermott said after the game, “Apart of the goals, we had a lot of other chances and the score could have been doubled.”

He is right about it, Alan Shearer at least have five chances to score including the one on the last seconds of injury time. But after all, it was the perfect game to end one of United’s good year in Premier League.

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