Newcastle scorer Joey Barton admitted to Setanta Sports after the game, that he to win the opportunity to take the penalty with team-mate James Milner, before putting Newcastle ahead with his injury-time winner against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Joey Barton – took the ball off James Milner to take penalty
We suspect James Milner was probably first choice penalty taker once Oba Martins was replaced by Mark Viduka after 77 minutes, but in these situations it’s usually who wants it that can take the kick.
Joey Barton took the ball from James Milner before putting the penalty kick rather easily past Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi, giving the Fin no chance at all. Referee Howard Webb had awarded the penalty after Alan Smith had been clearly fouled by Elliot Omozusi.
Joey Barton told Stenata Sports after the game:
“James Milner was on it. He wanted to take it but I said to him I wanted it and I was confident I would score.†“I’m glad I did that, I just wanted to get it in and I really, really fancied it.”
“It was ugly but a ‘W’ is ‘W’.†“We kept a clean sheet and that’s testament to Claudio (Cacapa) and (David) Rozehnal.†“We’re all here together and everyone loves playing together. The team spirit has never been questioned, not for a moment.”
He’s right about that. A win’s a win, but we will not be reviewing that game too many times tomorrow. We didn’t play well – but we won the game – and we’ll take it, thank you very much.
Comments always welcome.
15 comments so far
Stamford Toon
Dec 15, 2007 at 8:31 PM
Comment #1Thought Cacapa did well!!!
Zero Cool
Dec 15, 2007 at 8:52 PM
Comment #2Much agreed Stamford Toon, Cacapa was probably best in the back today. With competition from Habib Beye for such honor, but definitely making up for the Pompey game. my MotM is James Miler/Alan Smith.
But much praise to Joey, hopefully more goals to follow
Aussie Dave
Dec 15, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Comment #3Cacapa and Beye were brilliant, and Rozy was pretty good, the midfield struggled to really control the game as Fulham kept it pretty scrappy but they worked hard all game.
Great stuff Joey, the lads gots some balls, stepping up in the last minute, well done son!!
We have to give Same some credit today, good substitutions as Emre did quite well and our boy Dukes laid on the beatiful ball to Smith for the pen.
Owen and Duff back next week, we should be on the way up now!!
ToonKing
Dec 15, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Comment #4great result, a tough win while we were not playing our best, a sure sign of champions 😉 .
Dragoner
Dec 16, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Comment #5After seeing so many games i would say our current best defense is:
Enrique Cacapa Taylor Beye
Nicky Butt continues to annoy me with his constant losing possession. The times of DM’s who can’t pass a ball is long gone so he needs to either up his game or move on.
Geremi is really underperforming. He is a good, composed player but WE have not seen that yet. He just keeps losing possession.
Leo
Dec 16, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Comment #6i loved that one, a double U is a double U. quality
Dragoner
Dec 16, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Comment #7I think we are really struggling in the central area, Emre NEEDS to play. He is our bext midfielder so either Butt or Geremi need to be shifted in order for him to play.
Personally i would like to see Butt sit on the bench as i have seen Geremi play on good form and he is very useful.
Milner and Zog are getting better but in truth we should have better, more experienced wingers in the first team that they can learn from, as they are only young.
Dragoner
Dec 16, 2007 at 12:30 AM
Comment #8I love Oba, but he is really frustrating me lately. Bad finishing, bad positioning and bad reaction. We need another, taller and more consistant striker to partner him. I thought Viduka was that person but my mind has changed
chuck
Dec 16, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Comment #9If this is the garbage football we are to expect, god help us!
Probably the the most boreing game I have had the misfortune to watch in years.
Can someone explain to me why Milner is playing left wing, replaced by a holding mid-fielder and our best left winger gets relegated to left back, boggles the mind?
Felt sorry for Sanches, Fulham got robbed.
Got to admit though Sam`s some kinda Spinmeister.
Ausgeordie
Dec 16, 2007 at 1:00 AM
Comment #10Oba has stopped shooting and taking his first touch quickly and looks stuck for ideas when on the ball. I think Viduka and Martins need a game together with both boys playing near the middle. Oba is not a winger
malaysian youngster
Dec 16, 2007 at 3:48 AM
Comment #11smith martins/owen
n zogbia barton faye milner
Enrique Cacapa Taylor Beye
i think this is a good line up
Toon_Under
Dec 16, 2007 at 4:38 AM
Comment #12Was a bit surprised to see Joey take the penalty – but he took it well I think..
For mine, Oba has gone too much the other way and needs to get back to basics. It always annoyed me how he got the ball a ways from the box in a bad spot and would always shoot. Now he’s being too much of a team player and not shooting!
Still not sure on the backline, Taylor needs to be there, and if this wasn’t a one off from Cacapa then he could be the one to partner him, but Rozy is still much better when going forward and at set pieces. Next game I would have:
smith – owen
zog – emre – barton – milner
enrique – cacapa – taylor – beye
with Duff coming on after around 70 for enrique or zog, and hopefully shola being included and getting a run!
phoonck
Dec 16, 2007 at 7:09 AM
Comment #13Shola? my god, please NO..
Newcastle had a poor game, but so do Fulham. Looks like a draw game for me, but if there is to be a winner, then WE should be the one, with more bite in the last third.
Was expecting Barton to take it though. But i was keeping my fingers crossed, and mind you, Niemi had gone the right way but just didn’t manage to get a touch. Lucky Barton, lucky US..
Now on to the next game..
Stamford Toon
Dec 16, 2007 at 3:55 PM
Comment #14I stll think our best back four is
Beye, Ros, Cacapa , Enrique
with Faye playing holding midfield just in front of them. (Taylor a useful sub for the 2 CB’s.)
In front of Faye for midfield(Butt his sub)
Milner Barton Nzogbia (Emre as sub)
Up front Smith and Owen.
(Martins as sub for Owen and Viduka as sub for Smith)
Stamford Toon
Dec 16, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Comment #15Forgot to say Faye as holding player behind the 3 midfielders