Monday, August 29, 2005
Newcastle 0-2 Man Utd: Sorry Magpies slip again
Two blunders from Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong handed Manchester United a 2-0 victory and plunged Newcastle's season into crisis.
The £8million signing allowed Wayne Rooney, who turned down the chance to join the Magpies in August last year, a 66th-minute opener, and he compounded the error to hand Ruud van Nistelrooy the chance to make sure in injury time.
Graeme Souness' side have now taken just one point from their first four Barclays Premiership games and are without a goal from one of their own players in 555 minutes of league football.
Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrates after wrapping up the victory
• Ferguson delighted
The fact that for the best part of an hour they matched a United side that have won their five competitive games so far without conceding a goal, may prove some consolation, but their failure to take one of the handful of chances they created despite the addition of £9.5million Albert Luque cost them dear.
Souness admitted after last week's 0-0 home draw with West Ham this his side lacked door-openers and goalscorers, and the return of Kieron Dyer and Emre, as well as Luque's arrival, in his opinion, added both.
However, his plans were blown apart within 38 first-half minutes as first the Turkish international and then his English team-mate limped off injured.
The gamble to start with both backfired spectacularly, although the manager's desire to have the pair at his disposal was understandable after three barren league games.
Bad luck has not been very far away from the Scot so far this season, but if he was left to bemoan his misfortune once again, he could at least comfort himself with his side's first-half display.
Newcastle competed both at the back and in midfield, where £6.5million signing Scott Parker was again outstanding, and they at last started to look capable of scoring goals.
Luque, who enjoyed a mixed opening 45 minutes, thought he had got his side off to the perfect start when, after Edwin van der Sar could only parry Alan Shearer's well-struck left-foot effort on 13 minutes, he slid the loose ball home.
The cheers of the Geordies among a crowd of 52,327 rose into the Tyneside sky, but their joy was ended abruptly when they spotted the offside flag.
Luque had earlier just failed to get on the end of a Shearer knock-down and volleyed high over the bar a minute before the break as the home side, by now joined by Jermaine Jenas and Shola Ameobi more than held their own.
However, the warning signs were there as United, who arrived with a 100% record in the Premiership and Europe, showed flashes of their irresistible best form.
Van Nistelrooy forced a smart save from Shay Given and the Irishman had to dash from his line on 37 minutes when the Dutchman slipped the ball into the path of the lively Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese international's shot was blocked at point-blank range, and he should have done better two minutes later when he blazed wide after being presented with the ball by Lee Bowyer.
Newcastle received an early reminder of the visitors' potency within 19 seconds of the restart when Darren Fletcher, despite the best efforts of the again impressive Steven Taylor, squared for Paul Scholes 20 yards out, although his right-foot shot comfortably missed the target.
Taylor had to head away from Ronaldo at full stretch as United flexed their muscles, but they almost got in themselves on 48 minutes when Bowyer drifted the ball over the top for Luque, but his first touch let him down.
A game which had had something of an edge before the break continued in the same vain after it with Gabriel Heinze and Rooney complaining about challenges from Taylor and Stephen Carr respectively.
Souness was forced to play his last card on 55 minutes when Bowyer joined the casualties and was replaced by Amdy Faye, and his side's fortunes almost took a turn for the worse three minutes later.
John O'Shea was allowed to turn on to his left foot and cross into the middle, where van Nistelrooy ran from deep to meet the ball unopposed but head wide of the target.
But there was no escape on 66 minutes when Taylor and van Nistelrooy collided as they challenged for van der Sar's clearance and Boumsong fatally allowed the ball to bounce.
Rooney powered his way past the Frenchman and held off his desperate attempts to recover before firing past the stranded Given.
Ronaldo could not quite believe he did not earn a free-kick on the edge of the box a minute later after appearing to be hauled to the ground by last man Stephen Carr, and van Nistelrooy was equally unimpressed on 72 minutes when he pushed the ball past Given from Rooney's pass and went to ground, only to be rewarded with a yellow card for diving.
But the killer blow game in injury time when Boumsong failed to cut out Rooney's cross and van Nistelrooy gleefully slotted home.
• Ferguson praises Magpies spirit
Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'It was an important result because Newcastle were a very determined team today - very, very difficult to break down.
'We stepped up our passing in the second half and played with increased pace, which we needed to do because we were far too slow in the first half.
'Newcastle had a lot of pressure in the first half and one or two dangerous moments in our penalty box but we created chances - although it's about taking them.
'But once we got in front I was quite confident.'
Ferguson, who believes his team should have had two penalties for fouls on van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo, was pleased with Rooney's contribution to the second goal, scored by the Dutchman.
He continued on Sky Sports: 'Our second goal was a great example for any person who wants to get to the very top. Wayne has a fantastic work ethic.
'Today wasn't a great performance but we were determined in the defensive part of our game, our goalkeeper was excellent and we had a solid look about us.
'The two young boys (Rooney and Ronaldo) are fantastic, just incredible. It's great to see them enjoy themselves in training and in the dressing room.'
Friend,
Jude
Two blunders from Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong handed Manchester United a 2-0 victory and plunged Newcastle's season into crisis.
The £8million signing allowed Wayne Rooney, who turned down the chance to join the Magpies in August last year, a 66th-minute opener, and he compounded the error to hand Ruud van Nistelrooy the chance to make sure in injury time.
Graeme Souness' side have now taken just one point from their first four Barclays Premiership games and are without a goal from one of their own players in 555 minutes of league football.
Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrates after wrapping up the victory
• Ferguson delighted
The fact that for the best part of an hour they matched a United side that have won their five competitive games so far without conceding a goal, may prove some consolation, but their failure to take one of the handful of chances they created despite the addition of £9.5million Albert Luque cost them dear.
Souness admitted after last week's 0-0 home draw with West Ham this his side lacked door-openers and goalscorers, and the return of Kieron Dyer and Emre, as well as Luque's arrival, in his opinion, added both.
However, his plans were blown apart within 38 first-half minutes as first the Turkish international and then his English team-mate limped off injured.
The gamble to start with both backfired spectacularly, although the manager's desire to have the pair at his disposal was understandable after three barren league games.
Bad luck has not been very far away from the Scot so far this season, but if he was left to bemoan his misfortune once again, he could at least comfort himself with his side's first-half display.
Newcastle competed both at the back and in midfield, where £6.5million signing Scott Parker was again outstanding, and they at last started to look capable of scoring goals.
Luque, who enjoyed a mixed opening 45 minutes, thought he had got his side off to the perfect start when, after Edwin van der Sar could only parry Alan Shearer's well-struck left-foot effort on 13 minutes, he slid the loose ball home.
The cheers of the Geordies among a crowd of 52,327 rose into the Tyneside sky, but their joy was ended abruptly when they spotted the offside flag.
Luque had earlier just failed to get on the end of a Shearer knock-down and volleyed high over the bar a minute before the break as the home side, by now joined by Jermaine Jenas and Shola Ameobi more than held their own.
However, the warning signs were there as United, who arrived with a 100% record in the Premiership and Europe, showed flashes of their irresistible best form.
Van Nistelrooy forced a smart save from Shay Given and the Irishman had to dash from his line on 37 minutes when the Dutchman slipped the ball into the path of the lively Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese international's shot was blocked at point-blank range, and he should have done better two minutes later when he blazed wide after being presented with the ball by Lee Bowyer.
Newcastle received an early reminder of the visitors' potency within 19 seconds of the restart when Darren Fletcher, despite the best efforts of the again impressive Steven Taylor, squared for Paul Scholes 20 yards out, although his right-foot shot comfortably missed the target.
Taylor had to head away from Ronaldo at full stretch as United flexed their muscles, but they almost got in themselves on 48 minutes when Bowyer drifted the ball over the top for Luque, but his first touch let him down.
A game which had had something of an edge before the break continued in the same vain after it with Gabriel Heinze and Rooney complaining about challenges from Taylor and Stephen Carr respectively.
Souness was forced to play his last card on 55 minutes when Bowyer joined the casualties and was replaced by Amdy Faye, and his side's fortunes almost took a turn for the worse three minutes later.
John O'Shea was allowed to turn on to his left foot and cross into the middle, where van Nistelrooy ran from deep to meet the ball unopposed but head wide of the target.
But there was no escape on 66 minutes when Taylor and van Nistelrooy collided as they challenged for van der Sar's clearance and Boumsong fatally allowed the ball to bounce.
Rooney powered his way past the Frenchman and held off his desperate attempts to recover before firing past the stranded Given.
Ronaldo could not quite believe he did not earn a free-kick on the edge of the box a minute later after appearing to be hauled to the ground by last man Stephen Carr, and van Nistelrooy was equally unimpressed on 72 minutes when he pushed the ball past Given from Rooney's pass and went to ground, only to be rewarded with a yellow card for diving.
But the killer blow game in injury time when Boumsong failed to cut out Rooney's cross and van Nistelrooy gleefully slotted home.
• Ferguson praises Magpies spirit
Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'It was an important result because Newcastle were a very determined team today - very, very difficult to break down.
'We stepped up our passing in the second half and played with increased pace, which we needed to do because we were far too slow in the first half.
'Newcastle had a lot of pressure in the first half and one or two dangerous moments in our penalty box but we created chances - although it's about taking them.
'But once we got in front I was quite confident.'
Ferguson, who believes his team should have had two penalties for fouls on van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo, was pleased with Rooney's contribution to the second goal, scored by the Dutchman.
He continued on Sky Sports: 'Our second goal was a great example for any person who wants to get to the very top. Wayne has a fantastic work ethic.
'Today wasn't a great performance but we were determined in the defensive part of our game, our goalkeeper was excellent and we had a solid look about us.
'The two young boys (Rooney and Ronaldo) are fantastic, just incredible. It's great to see them enjoy themselves in training and in the dressing room.'
Friend,
Jude
# posted by Kalmax @ 3:44 AM 
