Without Ameobi who has a slight injury, AP recalled Leon Best to partnered with Peter Lovenkrands as United front men. Obertan filled the empty slot on the right wing where used to have Barton to fill in. And from my point of view, he’s done a very good job there and I believe soon he can exceed his successor.

In central midfield, Tiote is return after being off on last Thursday’s Carling Cup fixture. He’s joining force with Yohan Cabaye, who start to look like a fresh Kevin Nolan and he commanding the area quite well, particularly in the second half.

The first 10-20 minutes, it was the visitors who have the control and we are responded very well in defense, with skipper Colo and Taylor both stands tall against the impressive American center forward, Clint Dempsey.

They have couple of good chances through Sidwell and Kasami’s long range shooting, but we also creating some troubles to their defense near the end of first half with Best header and Taylor’s long kick.

Newcastle’s goal came in shortly after the break. Ryan Taylor put a throw in to Cabaye’s position with one Fulham player guard him, but still he can manage to escape and sent a thunderous ball that bounch past Fulham’s goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into top cross bar before fall to Leon Best who are free to put it into the empty net.

Soon after the goal, we looks like to turn down the tempo a little bit, and the visitors have two good chances to make an equaliser through Sidwell and Murphy’s close range header that both are denied by Tim Krull.

Soon after that, with the introduction of Demba Ba to replaced a relatively quiet Peter Lovenkrands, Newcastle start to dominating again. It was another clever cross from Cabaye to Ba who then sent it to Fulham’s penalty area where Best was there waiting to make it 2-0 for Newcastle.

In the dead end of normal time, Fulham finally got one goal through Dempsey’s long header that beat Krul who was a little bit up too far from his post. In general, I was pleased with the lads performance today. Espeacially to see how Obertan, Cabaye and Ba are start to settle down with their new team.

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But again, it was Jimmy Bullard again trying to give a test to United’s goalkeeper, but this time it’s far from troubling Steve Harper as the ball flying high.

Fulham have early corner in the second-half but the towering Abdoulaye Faye heads it clear into the feet of Oba Martins who runs the ball into the opposide team zone. The Toon Army urging him to drive it more deep into the inside Fulham side, but it was his decision to drive the ball high.

In the 66 minutes, Fulham making the first change with Clint Dempsey replaces Brian McBride and give the armband to ex-United player Aaron Hughes. Kevin Keegan once again taking off Martins and bring Charles N’Zogbia in 74 minutes.

And the St. James’s Park crowds are more than happy to sing Walking in a Keegan’s Wonderland immediately after United skipper scores another goal to secure the first win under King Kevin Keegan.

Before scoring his second goals in two games, Barton has tries to get MO away with a sharp delivery. Owen reacted as sharp and spins away from his marker before Aaron Hughes making the final challenge and clear the danger. But there’s nothing that can stop Toon no.10 from scoring eight minutes from the end of normal time.

Aaron Hughes bundled him 30 yards from goal, United free-kick. Ex-Toon skipper, Geremi took the kick and curls the ball into the area in which Owen is happy to give it a go into Kasey Keller’s net with a header at the Gallowgate End. 2-0, and earthquake happens locally at St. James’s Park!

Both side ends the last minutes of the game in a busy way changing their players. Roy Hodgson taken off Paul Stalteri to give way for David Healy. Keegan also using the final substitution to give another game for Alan Smith as he’s replaces Toon goal scorer Mark Viduka and United young defender David Edgar replaces Habib Beye.

Alright Ladies and Gentlemen, that is the United’s way to answer some under-estimated news reports of what Keegan can do to this club. I know we only face Fulham, another strong contender to get relegated this season but this is only the beginning of the return of Newcastle United Cavaliers!

See you soon at White Hart Lane! Howay the Lads!!!

TEAMS

Newcastle United FC:
Steve Harper, Habib Beye (David Edgar – 87min), Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, Steven Taylor, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka (Alan Smith – 82min), Oba Martins (Charles N’Zogbia – 74min)
Subs: Fraser Forster, Andy Carroll

Fulham FC:
Kasey Keller, Paul Konchesky, Paul Stalteri (David Healy – 84min), Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Leon Andreason, Jimmy Bullard, Danny Murphy (Moritz Volz – 71min), Simon Davies, Brian McBride (c) (Clint Dempsey – 66min), Eddie Johnson
Subs: Tony Warner, Carlos Bocanegra

Referee: Alan Wiley
Attendance: 52, 293

The post Newcastle United 2 vs Fulham FC 0, Torrid Game for United appeared first on Magpieszone.

In another full house St. James’s Park, Newcastle looking dangerous when attacking the visiting side. Keegan is once again pulling out the United striking force in Viduka, Martins and Owen in a 4-3-3 Cavaliers formation (that’s the name of my fantasy manager game formation ).

We have the lead in seven minutes after some early attampts from the visitors that can be eased by our side. Viduka’s left-footed strike goes into Kaey Keller’s bottom corner after receiving a fine deliver from Geremi on the edge of the area. The goal was his sixth of the season for Newcastle.

We have another chances through Michael Owen and Martins, but it was the Fulham side who gave a serious threat for Harper when Jimmy Bullard takes aim from 20 yards in an attempt to take the advantage from Steve Harper’s wrong-footed but in the end he can manages to recover and save United’s goal with a dipping effort.

TEAMS

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

Fulham FC:
Kasey Keller, Paul Konchesky, Paul Stalteri, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Leon Andreason, Jimmy Bullard, Danny Murphy, Simon Davies, Brian McBride (c), Eddie Johnson
Subs: Tony Warner, Moritz Volz, Carlos Bocanegra, David Healy, Clint Dempsey

Referee: Alan Wiley

The post Newcastle United vs Fulham FC, Viduka Give 1-0 Lead at Half Time appeared first on Magpieszone.

Even for Andy Cole, who has been quoted as the Geordies number one enemy for what he said after leaving Tyneside to join Manchester United. Deep down inside, they will never forget the time they’re playing with Newcastle.

The same thing happens to our former versatile defender Aaron Hughes. During his time in Black-and-White, Hughes have been playing in any sides of United defence, he can play on the right where he’s prefered to, but can do as good when playing as left-back or in central.

On last Saturday night where he led Fulham side out against his old club, Hughes has no surprised when he saw Newcastle United were backed by 4,000 to 5,000 travelling Toon Army in the Putney End. For the Cottagers, they have enjoyed the highest gate of the season – 24,959.

“That end hasn’t even been half-full for a lot of games, but Newcastle came down and it was no surprise it was full.” Hughes told the Gazette, “It’s how I always remember it being when I was there. You’d go to other stadiums, and they’d always be packed.”

Hughes is hoping his old club can make their way back to European football again next summer. The Toon Army deserved to watching European football next season because of the size of the club and the supports they always give all the way.

“A club the size of Newcastle should be playing in Europe – it’s where they belong.” Hughes added.

Meawhile, up for the next Sunday fixture, another ex-Toon player Andy Griffin is an injury doubt for the Rams trip to St. James Park. He is suffering with a calf injury after he hobbled out of Derby’s home defeat to Middlesbrough last Saturday.

Andy Griffin enjoyed a resurgence under Sir Bobby Robson and made some solid performances in the 2002-2003 UEFA Champions League. His winning goal against Juventus rekindled Newcastle’s campaign.

But when his contract expired the following season, he is moved to Portsmouth on a free transfer, having played 104 games for Newcastle, scoring three goals. He is signed for Derby County on July 31, 2007 with a three year deal.

The post Newcastle United Will Always Be Special appeared first on Magpieszone.

Newcastle have a good chance to take the lead in quarter with Butt switches play to Milner, twists inside and out of Omozusi and crosses deep into Fulham’s penalty area. Barton who gets there first only sees his header saved by the legs of Niemi on the goal-line.

Martins is playing too deep today and often have to search for the ball because the lack of services from Toon midfielder. His one-two with Beye in the fifth minutes or so find the overlapping Rozehnal. Martins, on the edge of the area waiting for the cross but it’s Stefanovic who clear.

Minutes later, Newcastle’s adopted left-back N’Zogbia tries to force his way into the Cottagers box but is stopped in his tracks by Stefanovic who’s screwed clearance goes behind for a left-wing corner. Two corners for the Magpies but both Geremi’s take didn’t produce any danger and Dempsey hacks the latest one away.

As being reported before, 4,000 travelling Toon Army are making some noise as the game start with the home side do the attack. Cacapa who returns from hamstring injury succeded to taking care of a clever ball from David in-behind the Toon backline and resulting a throw-in on the left-flank.

Martins has triple half-chance to scores in the first-half. First from Milner crosses in 41st minute. Niemi is under pressure from the Nigerian but does well to claim the ball inside the six-yard area. His second came from Geremi’s swing ball over from the right.

Fulham’s skipper, an ex-Magpie Aaron Hughes jumps with Martins to head clear. N’Zogbia get the clear ball and crack it from 25 yards, the effort is weak and Niemi is able to save low to his left easily.

Geremi hooks a ball forward and Martins has stole a march on Hughes near the end of first-half. It looks like Martins was clean through on Niemi’s goal but Hughes does very well to recover and guides the ball back to his keeper.

In second half, Newcastle almost got caught again by the home side. Keep losing possession at midfield with both Geremi and Barton looks hardly to produce the decent performance today. Bouazza runs at Beye and Geremi from midfield on the left, He darts in-between them and takes aim for Given’s goal.

The ball deflected and spins across the target but luckily for the Magpies, the ball was evades the upright by a matter of inches. Big Sam must be furious when he’s looking at the way the lads perform today.

Another weak defensive efforts from the lads in 57minutes, when Davis’ header causes confusion and Healy capitalise it, this time the Northern Irish striker shoot the ball first time from 20 yards out but his effort is straight at Given. If we have been playing with the Big Four teams, we have been punished by that.

Sam Allardyce sees enough and he is replacing the “Skipper” with Emre in 57 minutes. Smith take the arm band from Geremi, who is having another quite poor appearance.

Habib Beye, who is the only United’s defender who is playing well today has to turned behind Davies lovely ball out to the left for Bouazza, after the Toon backline are stretched again.

Emre’s appearance in Toon midfield change the game. He drives Newcastle forward and feeds delicious ball for Martins, he has two defenders in close attendance but manages to back-heel into the path of Milner, the young winger bursts into the area and looks for Smith. Stefanovic is tracking the United skipper’s run and cuts out the delivery before Bocanegra clears.

Big Sam has more homework to do after today. Newcastle looks fragile in defensive set pieces. From Bouazza’s work on Newcastle’s right sees off Beye before cross it from the left-hand touchline. Cacapa cut out at the near post, but the other Newcastle players can’t fully clear it.

The ball is forced behind amid a crowd of bodies in the penalty area. Davies takes but after a game of head tennis inside the box Cacapa hacks behind for another flag-kick. Dempsey heads well over from Davies’ corner.

Fulham making changes with Shefki Kuqi replaced Simon Davies, while Newcastle replacing Martins to bring in Mark Viduka to partner with his former Leeds team mate up front.

The game looks destined to have a draw, before in the dying seconds, Fulham fans appeal for a penalty as Dempsey runs into Cacapa inside the area but Howard Webb rightly waves away the appeals. It’s a bit harsh but the luck is not on the Cottagers side for today.

It was Newcastle who is once again grab the last minutes winning goal. After just around a minute from our penalty box incident, Alan Smith is tripped by the sliding Omozusi inside the host penalty area and Howard Webb quickly points to the spot.

Without Martins and Geremi presence on the field, it was Joey Barton who grabs the ball and kept his nerves before steps up to slot home past Anti Niemi for his first goal since April 9 on the very same ground. I must say we are lucky to get out with a point from Craven Cottage, but to have three points on hands is the other lucky bonus.

TEAMS

Fulham FC:
Anti Niemi, Carlos Bocanegra, Dejan Stefanovic, David Healy, Steven Davis, Aaron Hughes (c), Elliot Omozusi, Clint Dempsey, Hameur Bouazza, Simon Davies (Shefki Kuqi 73″), Danny Murphy.
Subs: Tony Warner, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Alexey Smertin, Chris Baird.

Newcastle United FC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, David Rozehnal, Claudio Cacapa, Nicky Butt, Geremi (Emre, 57″), Joey Barton, James Milner, Oba Martins (Mark Viduka, 77″), Alan Smith.
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, David Edgar.

Referee: Howard Webb.
Attendance: 24, 959.

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