This was a well balanced game and Newcastle certainly had their chances to win it, but a late error by 22 year-old Spaniard Jose Enrique let in Stuart Elliott, who made no mistake and shot past a helpless Tim Krul to give Doncaster the win.
But Newcastle should probably have had the game wrapped up by then and only poor finishing from Shola Ameobi cost Newcastle a couple of goals.
Danny Guthrie again looked good in central midfield for Newcastle and Sebastien Bassong looked sound at the back in his first appearance for the team.
Seb is on trial with Newcastle from French side Metz, who were relegated last season from the French First Division.
Stuart Elliott - scored Doncaster’s winner on 87 minutes
Newcastle had goalkeeper Steve Harper to thank for keeping the scores level at half time, after he made a magnificent finger-tipped save from Gareth Taylor’s header, which appeared though it was a goal, before the goalkeeper amazingly clawed the ball away after 35 minutes.
Charles N’Zogbia looked menacing at times, and made some of his surges from midfield but was a little wild in his final show otherwise he could have scores a couple for the Magpies.
Tim Krul, David Edgar and Ben Tozer all made substitute appearances in the second half for Steve Harper, Claudio Cacapa and Geremi.
An even game overall and Keegan will have learned more about his players from this game, which is really what these pre-season games are all about.
New signing Danny Guthrie continues to look the part for Newcastle, and 22 year old Seb Bassong looked more than adequate in the center of the Magpies defense.
But Newcastle were nowhere near as good as they were last week, and this has to be a rather disappointing performance for both the fans and the manager.
Teams:
Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan; Robbie Hall, Trialist, Trialist, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Richie Wellens, James Hayter, Martin Woods; Gareth Taylor, Lewis Guy,
Subs: James O’Connor, Adam Lockwood, Mark Wilson, Stuart Elliott, Paul Heffernan, Craig Nelthorpe,John Spicer;
Newcastle United:Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, Sebastien Bassong, Jose Enrique, Damien Duff, Danny Guthrie, Geremi (c), Charles N’Zogbia, Shola Ameobi, Alan Smith
Subs: David Edgar, Frank Wiafe Danquah, Ben Tozer, Callum Morris, Tim Krul, Mark Doninger, Ryan Donaldson, Jonny Godsmark
54 responses so far ↓
1 Taiwantoon // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:03
No big deal as it is a friendly, but it still hurts.
2 Oba // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:04
Enrique crap.
3 Kenneth // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:04
Wow, we need players asap.
4 HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:05
IT’S A JOKE!!! ASHLEY’S A JOKE!! OUR SQUAD ARE A JOKE!! KEEGANS MOVED FROM ONE CIRCUS TO ANOTHER!!!
5 euanpolo // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:08
Its only a friendly but its still annoying, Bassong was a plus though. I hope Ashley realises we’re going to need more players!
6 51times // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:08
Ameobi and Smith, worst strike partnership ever.
7 The Second Coming // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:10
Oh dear. No goals against a newly-promoted Championship outfit with 3 trialists in their back 4.
This is surely the message needed in the Toons boardroom that our squad need another dependable striker. We could cover some of the costs by selling Ameobi and Smith.
I don’t think this result will lift the confidence of anyone associated with Newcastle United, pre-season friendly or not. The media will lap this up!
8 Robert // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:10
get bassong in,if he looked good than he’ll be at least good backup player,or even make it in the first 11,and he is cheap,as for the game,little dissapointed but because of attackers good ability to shot wide of the goal,and i’m sorry for enrique,you had to clear it
9 Lacedaemonian // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:10
I was going to go to this match with my woman’s uncle (he is a Doncaster fan) but decided not to as I realised we would have most of our team out.
10 G // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:11
This might be a good thing, might make the tight wad owner realise we need serious investment to get anywhere near the current top 10 clubs.
11 normski1930z // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:11
if is not the wake up call to billy bunter that we are in desperate need for players then i dont know what is….. spent the money ye fat c**t………
12 bell jan // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:13
51times i was about to say the same thing i mean what is the point of those 2 they couldnt score if their life depended on it total garbage!!
it is going to be another long hard season all cos of that greedy ba$tard mike ashley
13 Donegal toon // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:13
wow, a little epic maybe
Liverpool & Man City have both lost pre seaosn freindlies to minnow teams, and they fielded teams better than ours today
Not big deal at all, at least Bassong’s looking the part
14 G // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:14
Bassong can’t be that good if his team got relegated and Wenger hasn’t been sniffing like he usually does.
15 Terry // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:14
Ameobi and Smith, those’ll be the two to push us into the top 4, you heard it here first!
16 Robert // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:17
i saw on youtube,when bassong missed penalty for metz,but that’s not important,it’s not bassong’s fault because of his team’s relegation,one player doesn’t make a team
17 Donegal toon // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:17
at G
Out of curiosity, did you want Aimar to come here, because his team were relegated, yet hes a good player…one man doesnt get a team relegated,
and as much as Wenger’s a true master he doesnt know every player in the French League
18 michael // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:19
Ameobi and Smith really did themselves a favour showing their clinical finishing. That Shola doesn’t want to leave the EPL when he can’t score against Donny is a joke.
The list of absentees is rather extensive today.
Given, Beye, Faye, Barton, Butt, Owen, Martins, Viduka, Gutierrez, Carroll, Kadar and Zambrela. I won’t read much into how are 7th and 8th choice strikers repectively performed, but glad to see that Bassong is actually on trial.
19 Ross // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:20
the sad thing is, i expected a draw today, because with smith and strolla up front, i was actually incredibly confident we wouldnt find the net.
20 G // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:20
At Donegay toon,
I didn’t want Aimar as he is past his best, if we are going to go for a attacking cm then we want proper quality not a has been.
Yeah Wenger only knows of the decent players….
21 浪å // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:22
Its not a big deal.
But here’s an interesting fact:
Alan smith’s wage is more than the sum of wages of 11 players that just beated us!
U can say duff if u wan
22 D.C. // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:23
Top 10? Have you not seen the last two season? We need more players just to ensure we stay up.
23 dougnufc // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:23
We better get some good signings for Hertha Berlin and Mallorca because we will not stand a chance because Smith + Shola = Game Over
We really need a striker, creative midfielder and a top class defender by next week
24 ToonEskimo // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:24
Not much to add really, just watching Chelski highlights on Sky sports….scary….
25 9 Shearer // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:28
Enrique has failed to improve it hurts. if Bassong can play LB that wld b good
26 Petey // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:28
@Donegal toon
man city lost to hamburg…..not doncaster rovers….
but yer, liverpool did suck the other day..
its ok, our keepers played well, and defense wasnt THAT bad apart from typcially falling asleep at one stage….
its just our attack 5today tht was the worst…smith and ameobi need out….fact
27 VeryNorthernMag // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:28
I really cant wait to go to Old Trafford for our first humiliation of the season.
Make no mistake, it will be embarrassing if this squad is not added to.
28 Ginkoh // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:28
i wonder why we never have full team for pre-season training, Because this is time to gel every players but check our squad
Ok just only friendly but Shola and Smith toothless to score lower devision team.
29 Fandi // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:32
mikey made a profit on net transfers last season and it looks like he’s going to do so again this season. if you are not going to make any serious investment in this club, by that i mean 20-50m for players, i’d rather you sell the club to anyone
30 beessi // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:32
http://www.footballfansunited.com/news/N1217074687-461-551.php5
again Enrique
31 51times // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:32
9 Shearer - Enrique is fine, one mistake in a meaningless pre-season friendly means nothing.
32 toonjon // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:33
Losing to Doncaster can only be a good thing.
At least now Mike Ashley may realise we NEED MORE PLAYERS ASAP and NOT SECOND RATE ONES.
Hopefully this will open ashleys eyes and wallet.
Bassong sounds good tho.
33 shearer4pm // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:34
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES - steady on mate, it’s only a friendly not like its a cup final, doncastor do have a half decent squad, not saying that we should of lost but thats a bit over the top, i mean at best it would of been 0-0 cus them 2 up front would take till we win a trophy to score lol, but you mate are a lil hyped up i think, and we did have a cb at right back and a left winger on the right, but we do need more players
34 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:34
What happened with the new super Duff?
With so many players to come back I’m not panicking yet. Might be soon though!
35 toonarmy08 // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:34
hey guys ,i went to the game ,and we played some nice stuff at times ,guthrie big future imo,bassong played well ,zog and duff were ok ,but yeh we definately need more numbers with QUALITY .We had a number of players missing though like -beye faye butt milner jonas(barton)oba owen viduka ,krul came on 2nd half and pulled 2superb saves off ,looks a great talent !!
36 HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:35
IT IS A BIG DEAL!! BECAUSE MOST OF THE SQUAD THAT WERE OUT WERE YOUTH / RESERVES! THESE ARE OUR FUTURE!! ASHLEY GET REAL AND SPEND SOME MONEY!!
37 beye the great // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:41
why is every one over ereacting when we won at hartlepool i admit i got a little carried away but come on it is a pre season friendly against doncaster no matter what happened whether we thrashed them or got thrashed other than for fitness the game is absolutely irrelevant to the rest of the season last year didnt we beat juve and then lose to some minnows then the comments about enrique are quite harsh yes he made a mistake but an uncharactaristic1 and for ameobi and smith leave them alone coz at the very least they show a good attitude and determination which we could have done with a lot more off last season so remember its a friendly chill out
38 9 Shearer // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:45
I thought we didnt need another striker hopin that Smith will get his form. Does anyone know wat Duff did today? We now need a striker, CB, Am and Bassong.
39 ToonRich // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:48
Guys, I’ve just got home from the Keepmoat Stadium (as I live in sheffield) and I’m a TOON fan! Just like to say, for a friendly our fans were great as always, kept the noise up all game, couldnt hear a peep out of the home support!
Ok, here’s my marks( /10) and comments on the team…
Steve Harper - 7, hardly had anything to do!
Steven Taylor - 7, played comfortably at RB 1st half, and cb in 2nd half.
Claudio Cacapa - 6, looking better than last season.
Sebastien Bassong - 8, fast, strong & composed. Looked like he was keeping Cacapa in line GET HIM SIGNED…
Jose Enrique - 6, was playing ok up until being brushed aside for the goal
Damien Duff - 6, no end product, but plenty of good darting runs off the ball.
Danny Guthrie - 7, he can pass, not scared to dribble at opponents, hope he keeps improving.
Geremi (c) - 6, steady game, putting some good deliveries into the box.
Charles N’Zogbia - 7, Scared Rovers to death when running with the ball, but he cant shoot to save himself, and looks to run with head down so he misses the opportunities to play a through ball.
Shola Ameobi - 5, missed 2-3 chances which I think Oba/MO/Vid would have put away with ease.
Alan Smith - 5, waste of space. hardly any movement from him IMO.
Subs:
Tim Krul - 7, made 2 good stops and cant be held at fault for the goal (it was a decent finish)
Ben Tozer 7, Looked strong from right back, would def like to see KK play a youngsters team in one of the cups like Gunners do, we have some promising reserves
David Edgar - 6, not sure where he played, but didnt do anything wrong. Played nice simple balls.
Yes the scores seem a bit high maybe! But its pre-season and I’d rather encourage than dishearten!!!
Overall even though it is a friendly, I was disappointed with the performance. Duff didnt look a patch on how people described him last weekend. I was happy with the back 4 today (but need to remember it was lower league opposition!) need more creativity in mid, and PLEASE at least 1 new striker!
40 ToonEskimo // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:49
OOOhhh, Kev’s on Sky sports…..
41 Ross // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:50
just saw the goal on skysports there, hopefully thats a one off mistake from enrique cos he was shrugged off the ball really easily.
42 ToonEskimo // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:51
Basically he said Doncaster had a week’s extra training, that made all the difference, phew here’s me thinking we had a threadbare squad….
43 ToonRich // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:51
toonarmy08 (#34),
I think Krul is going to be a huge success if we can bring him through the ranks properly, and not keep him in the reserves…
Definately agree we lack quality.
Bill F, there was no super Duff this week!! He made plenty of runs, but no-one had the vision to pick him out.
44 NUFCAl // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:51
LOL it’s bloody hilarious how some people have turned against Enrique now that he’s dropped a bollock in one meaningless pre-season warm up game. Some people really are pathetic, call yourselves fans.
Even though it was meaningless, I hope this is a wake-up call that they need if they weren’t planning to add to the squad (a story which I don’t believe because Keegan has stated many times that he does plan to add new faces). I do not, repeat, do not EVER want to see Smith and Ameobi play in the same Newcastle team. Especially Smith.
45 catawbamag // Jul 26, 2008 at 17:52
Not worried about a preseason game, but from what I hear we didnt manage a shot on goal till the 73rd minute.
In a way I’m glad we were shite. Hopefully Wise and Jimenez will get their cans in gear and make some buys.
46 9 Shearer // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:00
@ToonRich, I agree with u Zogs is good but selfish or doesnt pass when needed. He makes football look difficult.
47 9 Shearer // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:07
@NUFCAl, I have belief in my club especially KK. Enrique is a good defender that i trust and dont want to replace he does 90% right when he plays for us but he does a mistake that really costs us. Pennant goal, today,………..
48 ToonRich // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:13
Jose had a decent game, yes he made the one mistake…I’d say that was partly down to his physique, I heard over the summer he lost too much weight and now he needs beefing up again! remember he’s only what, 21 - he will keep on improving under KK
49 figsdad // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:14
Enrique lost some weight ive seen sky sports as well for the goal he needs to put it back on with mussle and hopefully he wont get knocked off too easly,,,
50 azim // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:33
MR ASHLEYYYYYYY…..release the cashhhh…and sell smith,ameobi(worst partnership ever) and geremi and we have to buy 4 players…CF,AM,CB,LB
51 Toon1978 // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:43
Worrying times ahead i am afraid.
52 Ross // Jul 26, 2008 at 18:49
we just need to get the cash out, today proved that.
the squad is far too thin and ameobi and smith are rotten,lol.
if ashley genuinly has the intention of transforming our club and any indication that money needs to be spent was required, it was given today.
53 Rubber Guard // Jul 26, 2008 at 19:21
It sounds like Steven Taylor should be playing second fiddle to this new wonder kid at CB !! Use Taylor as cover for Beye, I’ve never rated him as a CB
54 shirts // Jul 27, 2008 at 0:49
I saw the replay just now and it looked like Enrique was fouled, didn’t it? Sure he shouldn’t fanny around like that and he should be prepared for that kind of play, but a foul’s a foul… Dunno. I thought he really improved and played well at the end of last season, so hopefully he just had a one-off mistake.
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