The game was all square at half time at Ewood Park this afternoon with Newcastle looking much improved from hteir performance last week against Liverpool at home. They probably just shaded the first half from Blackburn Rovers.
Newcastle had more of the play but Blackburn had the better chances.
Blackburn’s best chance came after 15 minutes when Santa Cruz found himself straight through in the center but then put a weak shot by Given’s right hand post. The Paraguay International should have done better, and it was a let off for Newcastle.
Faye seemed to have a knee problem after 24 minutes and had to be replaced with Stephen Carr coming on at right back for his first appearance since late August. Habib Beye was switched to center-back with Rozehnal.
Newcastle were quite solid in the first half and were picking up the loose balls and looked much better organized than last week.
Barton then put a beautiful cross field ball through to Martins on the right and Martins almost got clean through, but was dispossessed. Oba Martins was causing the Blackburn defense some problems with his speed, and Smith was challenging for every ball up front.
Just before the break Shay Given came out of his box and passed the ball out this his left, but Newcastle lost possession and Bentley seemed to have a free shot on goal. However he ut the ball wide of Newcastle’s right hand post, when it looked easier to score, as Given scrambled back. It was the second let-off for Newcastle and some poor defending by the Magpies.
Certainly Sam Allardyce can be pleased with this first half performance from his team but it’s any body’s game and Newcastle will need to show a little more attacking spirit to get all 3 points.
Martins then scored Newcastle’s first goal a minute after the restart, when he headed home from Geremi’s free kick.
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Friedel (c), Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay, Mokoena, Dunn, McCarthy, Santa Cruz.
Subs: Brown (GK), Savage, Pedersen, Reid, Roberts.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given, Rozenhal, Barton, Martins, N’Zogbia, Milner, Smith, Geremi (c), Beye, Butt, Faye.
Subs: Harper (GK), Carr, Enrique, Emre, Viduka.
138 comments so far
Howie
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:03 PM
Comment #1the game is on a knife edge could go either way. lets hope we nick a 1-0.
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:06 PM
Comment #2DO NOT GO TO SLEEP LADS
Rob Kirton
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Comment #3Strange game. Not bad. No periods of sustained pressure & no corners forced by either team.
Bugger me Martins !!!!! get in..
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Comment #4I’m not I’m not lol come on the TOON
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Comment #5GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #6OBA new it go on son
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #7Well done bonny lad
Eve
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Comment #8Yes!! Now lets not do what we do best, fall asleep and concede.
ToonKing
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Comment #9Good boy Oba….now go get another one……
big pea ov the weab
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Comment #10go on oba
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:12 PM
Comment #11fookin el why is oba so hesitant and undecisive..
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Comment #12Quality move, never offside, bloody ref
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Comment #13Come on guys. And another interesting point; it is fully deserved. Good work guys, get a 2nd one. Again a fantastic attack, Milner should have passed it earlier and it was no offside…
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Comment #14You know Zog’s got all his actim point things at lb maybe when duffs back infront of him might be a great combo
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Comment #15ObaFan2 I totally agree m8
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #16B*st*rd
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #17typical
aztec
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #18stupid goal to concede
toonfan1
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #19oh f**k bentley
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Comment #20What the f*ck. Milner have you seen how to take a free kick.
toonfan1
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Comment #21bloody bentley
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Comment #22im afraid i’ve to tell you guys.. i told you so!!.. i told u yesterday.. bently is oging to score a screamer. hahaha realistic my man realistic
Craig Allen
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Comment #23unbelievable series of events in the box just now!
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Comment #24get it in man fgs lmao
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Comment #25How the f**k did Barton not score there?
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Comment #26hahaha but bloody ref that wasn’t a foul from zog!
ToonKing
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Comment #27đ
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Comment #28Barton, you fool , pass the ball back to Martins and he would have scored. My god, why on earth!! It was so easy to score there.
toonfan1
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:17 PM
Comment #29did any1 see that chance
ToonKing
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Comment #30to cheer things up, did u guys see the goal Bramble gave away at Wigan ?? classic
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Comment #31we are mid table team.. right.. that’s what big sam has set out to do.. do better than last year.. so why would he want to go for three points today? it doesn’t makes sense. that’s the boo point about being a mid table team.
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Comment #32wsq stop ur stupid comments and watch a porn movie or so to get a bit positive, you frustrated fool.
ToonKing
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Comment #33AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Barton omg what a chance….
Hadrian
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:20 PM
Comment #34germei need to go off, switch milner to the right and pop emre on the left .
other than that , been a bloody great game !
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Comment #35fuctchin milner what does he do in training?? can’t get a cross with his left foot.. he is told to play there time and time again.. still time and time again can’t use his left foot to save his life!!!
ToonKing
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Comment #36thats the second time Bentley fouled Joey hard ….i think he’s gonna get a cigar in he’s eye very soon…
Steve_48
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Comment #37Yep, quality, see again on MOTD
ObaFan2
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Comment #38Shearer must’ve been spotted in the crowd lol
wsq
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Comment #39ur the frustrated fool… i dont watch porn.. im not deprived like you.
Obafan
Dec 1, 2007 at 4:22 PM
Comment #40Hadria u re so right. the only one who can’t follow or doesn’t reach a good level is our captain. Get Emre in to create more chances.