EPL Weekend ~ Jan 19 / 20 - Game 23
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Saturday, 19 January 2008
Birmingham v Chelsea, 11:00
Blackburn v Middlesbrough, 11:00
Fulham v Arsenal, 11:00
Newcastle v Bolton, 1:15
Portsmouth v Derby, 11:00
Reading v Man Utd, 11:00
Tottenham v Sunderland, 11:00
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Wigan v Everton, 9:30
Man City v West Ham, 12:00
Monday, January 21, 2008
Liverpool v Aston Villa, 4:00 -
Match on Tv: Sat & Sun - 19 / 20 January 2008
Match on Tv: Saturday, 19 January 2008
Channel 21: (Live & Exclusive)
Birmingham City Vs Chelsea
10:50 PM
Channel 22: (Live & Exclusive)
Reading Vs Manchester United
10:55 PM
Channel 27: (Live & Exclusive)
Fulham Vs Arsenal
10:55 PM
Newcastle United Vs Bolton
1:10 AM
Match on Tv: Sunday, 20 January 2008
Channel 27: (Live & Exclusive)
Wigan Athletic Vs Everton
09:25 PM
Manchester City Vs West Ham
11:55 PM
Match on Tv: Monday, January 21, 2008
Channel 27: (Live & Exclusive)
Liverpool v Aston Villa
4:00 AM -
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My predictions
Birmingham v Chelsea
0:2
Blackburn v Middlesbrough
1:0
Fulham v Arsenal
0:3
Newcastle v Bolton
1:2
Portsmouth v Derby
1:1
Reading v Man Utd
1:1
Tottenham v Sunderland
3:1
Wigan v Everton
2:4
Man City v West Ham
2:2
Liverpool v Aston Villa
2:1 -
A knee injury will keep centre-back Michael Duberry out of the Reading team for the visit of Manchester United.
Ibrahima Sonko, Andre Bikey and Emerse Fae are away on international duty, while John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel) remain sidelined.
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves is available again for Manchester United after recovering from a rib injury.
Defender Wes Brown is in contention following suspension, but striker Louis Saha (knee) is unlikely to be risked.
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Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Gunnarsson, Pearce, Bennett, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Convey, Doyle, Kitson, Long, Lita, Rosenior, De la Cruz, Henry, Cox, Golbourne, Matejovsky.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Simpson, Ferdinand, Pique, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Nani, Park, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Hargreaves, Giggs, Rooney, Saha, Tevez.
REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
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Reading manager Steve Coppell:
"This is the ultimate test. You would imagine they will bring their strongest team as there is no need for them to be rotating and resting players. "So it is down to us. I always say that if you are up against one of the top sides, if they play well then we lose. So our number one priority is to try to stop them playing well. "We have man-marked them in the past but it is not just one player, potentially it is six or seven because their movement is so good."
Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz:
"It will be a difficult game for us but we would like to think we can perform as well as we did against Newcastle (a 6-0 victory). "Steve Coppell is doing a very good job there. "Reading are a team that never rests and they are very well organised. "They also have players who can score goals like (Dave) Kitson and (Kevin) Doyle. They are both doing very well. -
Brede Hangeland was not signed in time to feature for Fulham in the clash against Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
Full-back Paul Konchesky is suspended for Roy Hodgson's men but Jimmy Bullard is fit following his long spell out.
Arsenal look set to have winger Tomas Rosicky back following a virus, but striker Robin van Persie is sidelined by a niggling thigh problem.
Johan Djourou (groin) is also out while Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Fulham (from): Niemi, Baird, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Hughes, Volz, Bullard, Davis, Murphy, Davies, Healy, Smertin, Dempsey, Warner, Ki-Hyeon, Stefanovic.
Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Rosicky, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Eduardo, Adebayor, Lehmann, Gilberto, Diaby, J Hoyte, Bendtner, Denilson, Walcott.
REFEREE
Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
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Fulham boss Roy Hodgson:
"I don't care whether you are up there with Arsenal or at the bottom, it is the type of match footballers want to play in. "It is the type of match players want to ensure we have next season. "Every game takes has a cup final character. We have full respect for any opponent but we also are quietly confident we can give them a good game."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"There is a real hunger and we are all on the same wavelength. We have the same love for the game, and that drives you on. "You feel there is a potential in the side and that you want to win, but they want to win as well. We have taken a step forward this season. "That makes me believe we can win trophies at the end of the season." -
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish could give a debut to full-back David Murphy against Chelsea, despite a fortnight out of action with a hamstring injury.
Skipper Damien Johnson missed a training session with a stiff back but is expected to be fit to play.
Chelsea are waiting on the fitness of midfielder Frank Lampard, who has had a thigh problem but is back in training.
With players away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka could make their first starts.
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Birmingham (from): Taylor, Doyle, Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Murphy, Queudrue, Parnaby, Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, Kapo, McSheffrey, De Ridder, Jerome, O'Connor, Forssell.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, Ivanovic, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Sidwell, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Pizarro, Anelka, Ballack, Sinclair, Makelele.
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
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Birmingham striker Michael Forssell:
"There is certainly no point in sitting back against Chelsea. "I believe every time we push on and try to score a goal it actually takes the pressure off our defence. "But we don't want to just hoof the ball up for it to come straight back. I think it will be tight game."
Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho:
"It is important to play and win our match, we are doing well and we are winning. "But Birmingham are playing at home so it is too early to speak about the title. We aim to win our games and play better. "Birmingham are very compact at home and it is always difficult." -
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone has completed a three-match ban and is back for the visit of Sunderland.
Ledley King could return after being rested, as could Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu in midweek, and Paul Robinson, following his wife giving birth.
Sunderland winger Ross Wallace is out for the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments.
Danny Higginbotham and Grant Leadbitter are out with toe injuries and Dickson Etuhu is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
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Tottenham (from): Cerny, Robinson, Forecast, Chimbonda, Lee, Gunter, Stalteri, King, Kaboul, Dawson, Rocha, Huddlestone, Jenas, Boateng, O'Hara, Tainio, Taarabt, Lennon, Malbranque, Defoe, Keane, Berbatov, Bent.
Sunderland (from): Gordon, Ward, McShane, Halford, Harte, Evans, Collins, Yorke, Whitehead, Richardson, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.
REFEREE
Lee Mason (Lancashire)
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Tottenham utility man Teemu Tainio:
"We know there are big games coming up like Arsenal in the semi-final but our focus has to be on Sunderland. "Losing that focus on the league can be a danger sometimes when you are playing in all the cups, but we can't do that. "We lost against Sunderland on the first day of the season and that's one we want to put right."
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon:
"It would be nice to go into a home game on the back of an away win.
"The players are happy with the work they put in at the weekend and we have to try and carry that into the Spurs game. "We know that we need to start picking up points away from home. Our poor away form puts a lot of pressure on our home games." -
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan will have few selection decisions to make as he prepares for the visit of Bolton.
Keegan has just 12 senior players from which to choose, with Emre, Alan Smith and Nicky Butt suspended and four men away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Right-sided defender Gretar Steinsson and midfielder Matt Taylor could make their Bolton debuts at St James' Park.
Gavin McCann is doubtful following an injury in the defeat by Blackburn, while Gerald Cid has returned to Nice.
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Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Carr, N'Zogbia, Enrique, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Taylor, Edgar, Milner, Duff, LuaLua, Viduka, Owen, Carroll.
Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Hunt, J O'Brien, A O'Brien, Gardner, Michalik, Steinsson, Taylor, Campo, Cohen, Guthrie, Nolan, Davies, Giannakopoulos, McCann, Samuel, Wilhelmsson, Braaten, Alonso, Al Habsi.
REFEREE
Alan Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire)
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Newcastle defender Steven Taylor:
"It's amazing. The fans are on a high and the Keegan days are back.
"I used to watch from the Sir John Hall Stand when players such as Les Ferdinand, David Ginola, Tino Asprilla and Philippe Albert were playing. "It was an exciting time and that's what the fans want to see. "The roof is going to lift off on Saturday and we just can't wait to get out there."
Bolton defender Andy O'Brien:
"I think it's good that Newcastle's new manager was introduced the other night, so that side of things has been done. "Newcastle is not an easy place to go but I'm looking forward to go there and we're looking to catch Newcastle. "Kevin Keegan has made a big impression with his appointment and I hope he's successful but only after Saturday." -
Final Whistle:
Birmingham 0 Chelsea 1
Blackburn 1 Middlesbrough 1
Fulham 0 Arsenal 3
Portsmouth 3 Derby 1
Reading 0 Man United 2
Tottenham 2 Sunderland 0 -
Roon with a view.. Wayne Rooney gets into space to lift home his opener at Old Trafford
WAYNE ROONEY left it late to keep Manchester United top of the table.
The England star netted on 77 minutes to finally kill off Reading, who will feel gutted they did not take a point.
Cristiano Ronaldo made sure of the win a minute from time.
But the Royals were left to rue a host of missed chances as they slumped to their third straight home defeat.
United boss Alex Ferguson admitted he was relieved to have won the game.
He said: “By the end we were quite happy to get through it.
“Considering the number of opportunities we had, maybe our decision-making in the final third of the field wasn’t at its best.
“We kept making chances, but you do start to worry when the game goes on and you haven’t scored.
“Credit to Reading, they keep going at you all the time and I think that’s an important result for us.”
Reading boss Steve Coppell conceded United's class finally told in the end.
He said: “For 70 minutes we gave as good as we got.
“If we had nicked three points it would have been history here, that is how big the opposition are. A point here would have been terrific for us.
“But you look at their incisive individuals - and by that I mean Ronaldo and Rooney.
“By and large we handled the other nine well but over the course of 90 minutes their appetite will create openings and opportunities. In the end it was one too many.”
Ronaldo was up to his old tricks from the off as he worked space on the edge of the box before pulling his shot, while another run from halfway ended with a strike just over the bar.
Leroy Lita forced Edwin van Der Sar to rush off his line to block, with Nemanja Vidic diving in to divert Dave Kitson's follow-up.
Carlos Tevez was next to try his luck but Marcus Hahnemann turned his effort behind.
Reading responded and after Van der Sar's weak punch on Stephen HuntÂ’s deflected free-kick, Kalifa CisseÂ’s low shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Hahnemann then produced an astonishing diving save from an Owen Hargreaves free-kick which looked destined for the corner until the American hurled himself across goal and tipped it wide.
Van der Sar had the backtracking Rio Ferdinand to thank for clearing Kitson's first-time 40-yard effort after the keeper had scuffed a clearance.
Ryan Giggs replaced Park Ji Sung at half-time and virtually his first act was to swing in a dangerous corner which had Reading at sixes and sevens.
HahnemannÂ’s punch hit KitsonÂ’s back and the ball was on its way in when Cisse made an acrobatic interception to hook it clear from under his own bar.
Ronaldo ballooned a shot over the bar and Hahnemann was at full stretch to deny Rooney.
Hunt then threw himself in the path of a Giggs shot from the edge of the area, while at the other end Van Der Sar got up to keep out Kitson's attempted lob.
United finally made the breakthrough 13 minutes from time when Rooney directed Tevez's lofted centre beyond Hahnemann.
Carrick headed wide as chances continued to arrive.
Hahnemann saved from Ronaldo before Royals winger James Harper broke from midfield only to drag his shot wide of the far post.
Reading continued to pile forward but Ronaldo skipped clear and coolly slotted past Hahnemann to wrap up the win.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Shorey, Doyle, Hunt, Harper, Convey (Matejovsky 80), Lita (Long 83), Kitson. Subs not used: Federici, Rosenior, De la Cruz. Booked: Convey.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Hargreaves (Nani 70), Park (Giggs 46), Rooney, Tevez (Fletcher 81). Subs not used: Kuszczak, OÂ’Shea. Booked: Ferdinand. Goals: Rooney 77, Ronaldo 90.
Att: 24,135
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
All ads up.. Emmanuel Adebayor is congraluated at Craven Cottage
ARSENAL kept the pressure on Man Utd thanks to Emmanuel Adebayor's double.
The Togo hitman struck twice before Tomas Rosicky's goal as the Gunners eased past struggling Fulham.
The victory kept Arsene Wenger's side joint top but the Cottagers are in deep trouble in the dropzone after this latest setback.
Wenger could afford to joke afterwards when discussing Adebayor's availability during the African Nations Cup.
He said: “I must confess I wasn’t devastated when Togo didn’t qualify.
“In the past, he has sometimes ended up going out to the flanks because he so wants to be involved in play.
"But that drags him away from where he can be lethal. We have been telling him that for a while and he was more focused on being central today which is good.
“He has an unbelievable jump, he times his jumps very well and he’s terrific in those situations.”
The home side started brightly and after Seol Ki-Hyeon stumbled, Danny Murphy blasted a loose ball wide from 20 yards.
Arsenal were struggling to get a firm hold of the game, although Cesc Fabregas dragged his shot wide from the edge of the area.
The blustery conditions also did little to help the GunnersÂ’ passing game but they were ahead on 19 minutes.
Gael Clichy broke down the left before sending over a high cross into the Fulham box.
Adebayor got up in between two markers to nod the ball into the bottom right corner for his 14th goal of the season.
Another Clichy delivery picked out Eduardo but the Croat could not guide his glancing header on target.
Fulham were left shell-shocked after going behind but it got even worse in the 38th minute.
Mathieu Flamini sent Alexander Hleb racing down the right and the Belarus star's weighted cross was again headed home by the lurking Adebayor.
Fulham created their best chance three minutes before the break when Steven Davis got down the left flank and cut the ball back to the edge of the box.
Murphy latched on to it but his side-foot effort flew just over the bar.
Fulham introduced Jimmy Bullard at the break as he steps up his return from a serious knee injury.
But it was Arsenal who had the first chance after the interval when Eduardo headed wide at the far post.
And Rosicky was then unfortunate to see a first-time effort come off the outside of the near post.
Fulham had the ball in the net thanks to Clint Dempsey but it was ruled out with three players in an offside position.
Rosicky then wrapped up Arsenal's latest triumph by firing home a third goal in the latter stages.
Eduardo pulled the ball back across the six-yard box where Rosicky flew in to volley home.
Fulham boss Roy Hogdson, who faces an uphill battle to keep them in the Premier League, said: “We have to get to winning matches because the later we leave it, the harder it will become.
“I think we can do it. I don’t think the players have given up and if we bring in some new faces, that will improve the spirit even more.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a work in progress and we’re up for that work. We know where we have to improve.”
Fulham: Niemi, Volz, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Ki-Hyeon (Healy 61), Smertin (Kuqi 78.), Davis (Bullard 46), Murphy, Davies, Dempsey. Subs not used: Warner, Baird.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky, Adebayor, Eduardo. Subs not used: Lehmann, Diaby, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte. Booked: Clichy. Goals: Adebayor 19, 38, Rosicky 81.
Att: 25,297
Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). -
Winner.. Claudio Pizarro
CHELSEA'S title dreams were kept alive by Claudio Pizarro's late winner.
Avram Grant's side struggled to break down resilient Birmingham at St Andrews.
But Peru striker Pizarro grabbed a priceless goal with just 10 minutes to go to save the West Londoners.
A relieved Grant said: “Birmingham played with a lot of spirit and determination and fought very well but we deserved the win.
“We were aware that Birmingham had picked up points against Liverpool and Arsenal this season and it was very important to win here.
“It is very difficult to play against them. They know how to defend and make good counter-attacks so you need to be patient against them.
“We were patient because in these games you don’t get many chances - especially against them at their place.”
City had the first real chance on 15 minutes when Gary OÂ’Connor got on the end of Sebastian LarssonÂ’s cross but the striker failed to keep his header down.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech then dealt comfortably with a Olivier Kapo header from another Larsson delivery.
City were on the back foot for the majority of the time and Stephen Kelly got an important touch on a fierce free-kick by Michael Ballack.
The visitors were hampered just before the half-hour when Shaun Wright-Phillips had to be replaced by Claudio Pizarro after picking up an ankle knock.
Alex then got on the end of a cross from Florent Malouda but glanced his header wide.
Yet Cameron Jerome could have put Birmingham ahead in the 38th minute after a blunder by Cech.
Cech made a mess of his clearance and it flew at pace towards Jerome, whose instinctive header from 18 yards hit the outside of the post.
Birmingham started to build up some momentum and Jerome was twice more denied by blocks in front of goal from Juliano Belletti and Alex.
In the second half Cech had to react quickly to fly-hack the ball away from OÂ’Connor.
Nicolas Anelka then gave a glimpse of his class when dummying Damien Johnson but he dragged his 20-yard shot wide.
Birmingham were now having much more possession and a half volley from Larsson was not too far off target.
Chelsea created their best opening to date after 68 minutes when Florent Malouda played in Anelka, who found himself with only Taylor to beat.
But Rafael Schmitz got across just to make a vital touch on his eventual shot and keeper Maik Taylor was able to make the block.
Brum's £6million signing James McFadden was introduced and soon forced Cech to beat away his low drive.
Yet Chelsea eventually broke the deadlock on 79 minutes when Pizarro fired home a crucial winner.
The much-maligned forward headed home from Belletti's corner to send the travelling support wild.
Grant said: “It was one of his best games. He did a very good job for us and deserved the goal. It was well taken.”
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, Kapo, OÂ’Connor (Forssell 72), Jerome (McFadden 72). Subs not used: Doyle, McSheffrey, Parnaby. Booked: Muamba.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 29), Makelele, Ballack, Joe Cole (Sidwell 85), Anelka, Malouda (Bridge 90). Subs not used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim. Booked: Pizarro. Goals: Pizarro 79.
Att: 26,567
Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
100 Club.. Robbie Keane completes a century of goals for Tottenham
ROBBIE KEANE hit his 100th Spurs goal with an injury-time clincher at the Lane.
The Republic of Ireland striker had been sitting on 99 goals for six games.
And he thought he might have to wait another few days after being named among the substitutes in a puzzling team sheet from Juande Ramos.
But after replacing shock captain for the day Jermain Defoe with 16 minutes remaining, Keane finally chalked up the landmark goal to kill off Sunderland.
Aaron Lennon also celebrated a century by netting a second-minute opener on his 100th Spurs appearance.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane was critical of his side for their slow start.
He said: “If you give two goals away like we did you don’t deserve to win any football match.
“Their goalkeeper obviously made some outstanding saves - credit to him.
"But if you concede a goal after 111 seconds itÂ’s not ideal with our away record.
“The game is 90 minutes - you’re not going to dominate any game from start to finish but you have to start well.
"Every manager wants a decent start and at the top level it is about concentration. That wins and loses football matches.”
The Spurs fans must have wondered what was in store when Ramos named wantaway striker Defoe as his skipper, with Keane on the bench.
Ramos explained: “The first three captains were out of the first XI and I needed an alternative - I had to choose somebody.”
And the Spaniard praised Keane for reaching his milestone. He added: “I think it’s a great achievement for him, the club and the Spurs family.”
Ramos also puzzled the home fans by selecting Tom Huddlestone in defence alongside Michael Dawson.
But the Lane was rocking on two minutes when Jamie O'Hara's cross from the left eluded Dimitar Berbatov and Lennon was on hand to prod home.
Defoe looked desperate to score but his header from another O'Hara cross lacked power and he also volleyed wide.
Jermaine Jenas found space beyond the Black Cats' backline but his shot drifted just wide with Berbatov unable to reach it.
Spurs were knocking it around with ease and Berbatov almost capped a fine move involving O'Hara, Defoe and Lennon but his shot his the bar.
Daryl Murphy finally got in a shot for Sunderland but Radek Cerny had no problems dealing with his long-range curler.
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Craig Gordon tipped a Defoe chip wide and also saved a shot from Berbatov with his feet.
Sunderland thought they had found a way back when Paul McShane met Michael Chopra's corner but Dawson cleared off the line.
Murphy almost levelled three minutes into the second half when Dawson and Paul Stalteri ran into each other but the finish curled wide.
Kenwyne Jones netted on 52 minutes but was pulled back for offside and McShane headed over.
The hosts went close through Defoe and Berbatov, while Huddlestone had a free-kick saved.
Dwight Yorke drilled wide for the visitors before Keane took the captain's armband off Defoe.
Cerny had to save from ChopraÂ’s header and Jones was denied by a Dawson block with the rebound.
Dawson and Huddlestone somehow cleared off the line when Jones and Chopra had close-range efforts, Chopra completely missing the ball when just a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Cerny also denied Liam Miller with a brilliant save but Keane secured the points in injury time with a low shot that slipped under Gordon.
Tottenham: Cerny, Stalteri (Chimbonda 79), Lee, Dawson, Huddlestone, Jenas, Boateng, OÂ’Hara (Tainio 55), Lennon, Berbatov, Defoe (Keane 74). Subs not used: Robinson, Rose. Booked: Lee, Chimbonda. Goals: Lennon 2, Keane 90.
Sunderland: Gordon, Nosworthy, McShane (Cole 75), Collins, Evans, Whitehead, Murphy, Miller, Yorke, Stokes (Chopra 39), Jones. Subs not used: Fulop, Harte, OÂ’Donovan. Booked: McShane, Chopra.
Att: 36,070
Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire). -
Back in charge.. Keegan directs the Toon
WELL, if that's entertainment Kev, can we have our money back?
The Messiah arrived on Tyneside promising to put a smile back on the faces of the Geordie people with his attacking football.
But Kevin Keegan needed just 45 minutes to witness the mess he has to clear up at St James' Park.
The first half was instantly forgettable as Newcastle failed to muster a single shot on target.
New Toon boss Keegan admitted: "I hoped it wouldn't be 0-0 as the stadium was rocking.
"But Bolton were disciplined and we couldn't break them down. We didn't deserve to win it.
"There was plenty of effort and endeavour but we need to bring in some quality players."
Keegan insisted on Friday that the Toon Army's equivalent of a night at the theatre was a decent 90 minutes at St James'.
On that basis, they really should have pulled the curtain down before the end.
The Toon faithful will hope Keegan's own brand of theatre does not turn into a tragedy.
Keegan's men improved marginally after the break. But the bare facts are that the Magpies failed to break down a Bolton side who have not won a single league game away from home this season and who ship more than two goals a game on their travels.
Newcastle finally burst into life on 51 minutes when Bolton failed to clear their lines.
James Milner's shot was blocked and Stephen Carr's follow-up from the edge of the box was always rising.
Charles NÂ’Zogbia put a free-kick over while Ricardo Gardner's brilliant sliding challenge prevented Shola Ameobi getting what looked a certain goal.
David Rozehnal headed over from a Milner cross and the midfielder forced Jaaskelainen to tip another away as it threatened to dip over him.
But the most memorable moment of the game came in the final minute when Shay Given kept out JLloyd Samuel's close-range effort with his foot.
Bolton manager Gary Megson said: “It was a good point. But when we play as well as we did in the first half we need to sustain it a lot better than we did."
Newcastle: Shay Given, Claudio Cacapa, Stephen Carr, Sanchez Jose Enrique, David Rozehnal, Steven Taylor, Damien Duff(K LuaLua 90), James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Shola Ameobi, Michael Owen. Subs not used:Steve Harper, David Edgar, James Troisi, Andrew Carroll. Booked: Damien Duff.
Bolton:Jussi Jaaskelainen, Lubomir Michalik, Joey O'Brien, Andrew O'Brien, Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Ricardo Gardner, Danny Guthrie, Gavin McCann(T Cohen 75) , Kevin Nolan(I Campo 67), Matthew Taylor(J Samuel 79), Kevin Davies. Subs not used: Ali Al Habsi, Stelios Giannakopoulos. Booked: Kevin Nolan, Matthew Taylor.
Att: 52250
Ref: A Wiley -
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Liverpool
* 25 Reina
* 17 Arbeloa
* 23 Carragher
* 04 Hyypia
* 12 Aurelio
* 11 Benayoun
* 20 Mascherano
* 08 Gerrard
* 07 Kewell
* 18 Kuyt
* 09 Torres
Substitutes
* 30 Itandje,
* 14 Alonso,
* 15 Crouch,
* 19 Babel,
* 37 Skrtel
Aston Villa
* 13 Taylor
* 04 Mellberg
* 05 Laursen
* 15 Davies
* 03 Bouma
* 26 Gardner
* 19 Petrov
* 20 Reo-Coker
* 07 Young
* 10 Carew
* 11 Agbonlahor
Substitutes
* 01 Sorensen,
* 09 Harewood,
* 16 Knight,
* 21 Cahill,
* 27 Osbourne -
Half Time
Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa
18th min: Goal by Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool)