In what turned out to be an amazing game of football tonight, in which Coventry scored both their goals in added time – one in the first half and the second, a full 70 seconds after the 2 minutes maximum allotted time, after 90 minutes – Newcastle kept their nerve and Michael Owen hit the winner after 13 minutes of extra time.
This was a game for the ages.
But the scares for Newcastle were not over and Coventry managed to hit the cross bar after 16 minutes of extra time, and Given also made a great save down to his left, to keep Newcastle ahead.
But Newcastle deserved this win, basically because they had the extra class that matters in games like this – but with any luck we could have been 4-0 up at half time.
After 45 minutes Newcastle looked to be cruising, and had a 2-0 lead with goals from Charles N’Zigbia – which was made by James Milner, and then James himself scored when he shot home from the left wing, when Geremi worried the goalkeeper, so we were 2-0 up after 41 minutes and looking for a third goal.
Then out of nowhere, a ball into the center of Newcastle’s box wasn’t cleared, and fell nicely to Clinton Morrison, who shot home with a wonderful shot.
That brought Coventry back into the game and the second half was just as exciting, but it looked like Newcastle had the game won after two minutes of injury time – which was the alloted time by referee Bates.
But then after 93 minutes and 10 seconds Coventry equalized again, when captain Scott Dann beat Coloccini in the air from a throw in, and headed down into Shay’s bottom left hand corner.
Referee Bates will need to explain how he managed to add an extra 70 seconds of injury time onto the maximum two minutes allotted. 🙁
But not only did Newcastle play very well tonight, and will probably not get the credit for it, because of the unbelievable two comebacks by Coventry, the lads also showed everybody they are made of stern stuff.
Most teams would have crumbled with the unbelievable bad luck, but not this group of fighters.
They picked themselves up, and Michael Owen showed again why Mike Ashley needs to sign him onto an extended contract, by again playing a captains part, and scoring another poacher’s goal.
After the game Kevin said the referee didn’t tell him why he didn’t blow for time after 92 minutes, and then he joked that the referee was enjoying the game too much.
But then he said he thought Newcastle had won the game tonight 3 times tonight.
Man of the match was James Milner, and Kevin wasa full of praise for his player after the game. Kevin believes James is way under-rated, and thinks he has played too many England Under-21 games, and should step up to full honors.
This tough game may hurt us against Arsenal on Saturday, since the lads may have taken a lot out of themselves.
But let’s give the lads full credit, they got the job done under unbelievable difficult circumstances.
In one of these games we are going to wallop some team by scoring with the many chances we create, and we’ll score 8 goals.
The lads did us proud again tonight, and we can hardly ask for anything more – they were great tonight in many ways, and remember good teams always find a way to win.
Well that was round 2 of the Carling Cuip – phew – now for round 3. 😀
142 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Comment #121If we signed Malouda i’d sh–it a chicken in anger!
Spyro
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:09 AM
Comment #122hmmm, little willie is starting to sound a bit fernando-esque now, the mentioning of Corluka has got me wondering considering Corluka is a natural LB
Warwick Hunt
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Comment #123I watched the game on the Radio tonight and have to say we sounded good. Cant comment on the referee as like I say I watched it on the Radio and never really saw him do anything wrong but he sounded crap.
As for the result WE WON. HAHAHA
buddy
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:25 AM
Comment #124richards? get off the media bandwagon that has built up richards. he is good yea and better then taylor yes but hes no great shakes yet nor is taylor but the two will be
give him time lads and stop bein so f##king fickle. stop gettn on his bak as we have helped ruin so many centre halves before.
support him, give him time. its the least he deserves and he is a geordie after all;)
richie
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Comment #125malouda wouldn b my ideal choice spyro but he could do a job
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:31 AM
Comment #126testing
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:32 AM
Comment #127Ed – The site is buggered again.
richie
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Comment #128bassong looks v good, im well happy with how are defense is shaping up finally looks solid and gives the team a great shape
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:35 AM
Comment #129TESTING!
buddy
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:36 AM
Comment #130oh yes and 3 more signings minimum please as our squad is desparatey thin, one only has to look at the bench as this early stage of the season to see that 2 or 3 injuries could ruin and god forbid have a repeat of lasst year
THIS TIME there are NO excuses watsoever
kevin knows we need more, as does ashley, as do the players and the fans. IF it duznt happen and an injury crisis threatens our season i will find it hard to forgive ashley as it will be nothing short of a disgrace
rant over
GREAT start to the season, as good as we cd have hoped for
work rate, commitment, passion, tenacity and even skill and attacking football in abundance. long may it continue
but kevin watch out, a few injuries as we all know is all it takes to turn a season on its head
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 1:36 AM
Comment #131This is getting silly now, work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Raffles
Aug 27, 2008 at 2:00 AM
Comment #132No NUFC haven’t accepted a bid for Milner or he wouldn’t have played. FFS.
Raffles
Aug 27, 2008 at 2:06 AM
Comment #133We need a striker and a creative midfielder, or at least a midfielder with experience, nous and proven ability who can tackle without thinking about where the next McDonalds is coming from. End of. If not, boo hoo, not the end of the world.
Spyro
Aug 27, 2008 at 2:10 AM
Comment #134site is having problems again
A.L 9
Aug 27, 2008 at 2:50 AM
Comment #135I cannot for the life of me understand why we have been hitting the first man from a corner for the past year, why on earth has this not been sorted out, it’s just wasting a cracking oportunity and setting yourself up to be counter attacked.
Geremi should be banned from taking corners.
Milner should be ony allowed to take corners in emergencies
Zog, the same as Milner
Guthrie should be our corner taker, other than Beye’s near post header against Birminham I cannot remember another game where we scored from a corner (I think Cacapa may have against Spurs?), and even that never technically beat the first man. Guthrie comes in has set up 2 goals from corners straight away, just let him take them all. Rant over.
WesToon
Aug 27, 2008 at 7:37 AM
Comment #136@ Tom_Toon // Aug 27, 2008 at 0:46
Mate i am from South Africa 🙂
Teko Modise,isnt a bad player,very quick BUT he is very inconsistent… often goes hiding in games!
I thought u were pro Lua-Lua though??? In him we already have a Teko Modise
Also would rather have Per Skjelbred…better all round player
Hope that helps mate
Ho’Way The Lads!!!
The Entertainers
Aug 27, 2008 at 7:41 AM
Comment #137Cracking game, just like the good olds days.
Well done Kev, no strikers…..but still played positively!
Coloccini and Jonas are legends in the making.
Bassong was impressive and will get better.
Enrique was outstanding, as was Zog and will be surprised if those two dont hold the left side at the Emirites.
Milner was the star man…..hope we can keep hold of because he is a gem.
So i still standby my choice to get an experienced LB, some one who Enrique can learn from and add a bit of competion. Enrique is our long term option and would not like to see an up and coming LB as it would dent Enriques confidence.
AND WE NEED A STRIKER!!!!
Leon
Aug 27, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Comment #138Enrique is amazing had an outstanding game and N’zogbia look twice as good playing left wing rather than left back. FABRICIO COLOCCINI is a legend he is world class. The only player who had a poor game was Geremi he gave the ball away every time he touched it. MOTM either Enrique or Coloccini.
Davies
Aug 27, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Comment #139I thought Bassong was excellent and is easily a match for Taylor. I’m not saying Taylor’s crap like a lot of other’s do, he’s definitely not, but Bassong will provide him with the motivation to fight for his place. Perhaps he’ll stop handling in the area as well. He’s done it a few times now.
Tom_Toon
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Comment #140testing, its just this page that is buggered!
Tom
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Comment #141Bassong should definitely be pushing Taylor for the place alongside Colo.
JONNY
Aug 27, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Comment #142a great performance from the lads last night.
i couldnt believe that the game went to extra time as i honestly believed that we deserved to be 3 or 4 up but thats the cup for you!!
Given 7/10 – didnt really have that much to do but pulled of a good save in extra time .
Beye 7/10 – people have been saying that beye hasnt been at his best and i would agree but he is still a great player and a consistant performer, he looked a little shaky last night but i am sure of his ability.
coloccini 9/10- i think this guy is immense and the start of newcastle building a solid defence.
his positioning is great, he wins nearly every header and his tackling is first class .
He is a great buy and he is already printed on my new newcastle top!!
Bassong 8.5/10 – Again played very well last night, looked a solid defeder, good in the air and quick and strong.
very impressed , he looks like great cover for taylor or even a replacement!!
Enrique 9/10 – He was excellent last night, i didnt really rate him but lats nights performance made me believe he is actually a good player.
he looked better on the ball and never let his man past him.
Geremi 7.5/10- played pretty well but at times he looked the weak link in our side.
overall he played well but at times gave the ball away cheaply .
Butt 8/10 – Butt put in his normal great shift last night, winning the ball back and controlling the centre of the pitch.
Guthrie 8.5/10 – This guy looks great!!
he has set up a great partnership with Butt in midfield and looks very comfortable on the ball and can also tackle.
WHAT A BUY !!!
N’zogbia 9/10- finally, he gets played in his real position…. LEFT WING.
he played very well last night , making some great runs with the ball and linking up well with enrique down the left flank.
Hope we keep him as he is a gem of a player.
Gutierrez 9/10 – As always jonas put in a great perfomance.
looked comfortable on the ball, ran ant the coventry defence, held the ball well and as always he tracked back to win the ball.
Milner 9.5/10- milner was my man of the match.
he looked comfortable playing up front and put a great balls in for our 1st and 2nd goal.
He put in a great shift and proved how fit and how much of a quality player he is.
Owen 8/10 – Same old owen always scoring!!
you know when you give owen a chance he will score.
he held the ball up well and did what he does best by timing his run and putting the ball in the back of the net.
Please give him a new contract!
Great perfomance and likei said a fair score-line after 90 minutes would be 3-0 to newcastle.
BRING ON ARSENAL!!