Even though Kevin Nolan has been off form lately, it didn’t stop the Liverpudlian from adding to his goals tally for the season yesterday, when he notched his 12th goal of the season for the Magpies.
Kevin Nolan – 12th goal of the season
Seems like it’s shades of his early goal-scoring form at Bolton Wanderers, and he is still top scorer and two goals ahead of both Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands.
And Chris Hughton was pleased with the performance of his Newcastle side:
“I was pleased at the way we came back and did not let our heads go down and created some chances.”
“Even when Kevin Nolan has not been playing well and stopped scoring goals, he has always worked hard for the team. He has been a big player for us this season.”
“But I have to say for a large chunk of this game it was a very tight affair.”
No doubt that Kevin has been huge for us this season, but we still think he deserves a rest for a game or two, so he can come back fresh for the final run-in.
Alan Smith took his chance back in the side, when he set up Peter Lovenkrands for the first goal after just 3 minutes.
Alan won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and put Lovenkrands through on the left.
Peter hit what looked like a cross to the uneducated, but the ball looped over goalkeeper Andy Lonergan and into the net.
We reported it was a shot from Peter and that he actually meant it – and we hear that Peter agreed with that view. 😀
It was Peter’s 10th goal of the season – and all of them are at St James’ Park interestingly, but he went off injured after 14 minutes with a hamstring strain, and we await the verdict on the injury.
Peter has been red-hot this year with 8 of his 10 goals, and he will be missed, there’s no doubt about that.
Newcastle added their second goal after 55 minutes through Kevin Nolan, and then added a 3rd goal in injury time.
And this time all 3 substitutes were involved in the goal, and it was eerily like Wednesday night’s goal in injury time.
Fabrice Pancrate crossed from the right, and Best mis-kicked the ball right in front of goal, but he will argue (rightly) that was just to set up Ryan Taylor, who slotted the ball home at the far post.
We of course believe Best – but thousands wouldn’t. 😀
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
Tom4Nufc
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Comment #1I want to see these goals!!!!!!! Anyone got a link? 🙂
pearceet
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Comment #2Ed, I am afraid I for one do not believe that Lovenkrands meant to score just look at his celebration of him shrugging his shoulders. That says it all
However a great result and nice to see us scoring lots of goals!
pearceet
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Comment #3Tom4Nufc // Feb 21, 2010 at 2:19 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2rY2RfD4U4
Might take 20 seconds to load but they are good quality
Tom4Nufc
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Comment #4Cheers mate, much appreciated!
pearceet
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Comment #5No Worries! Enjoy
AngerOfTheNorth
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Comment #6I’m not convinced by Best yet. He’s not been prolific elsewhere and isn’t doing brilliantly here. Don’t get me wrong, he’s young and will need time to settle, but if we go up I can see him being sold reasonably quickly…
AngerOfTheNorth
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:28 PM
Comment #7Great quality video btw
Tom4Nufc
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Comment #8I am afraid I find myself agreeing with you AngerOfTheNorth, lets just hope he proves us wrong! 😉
MacToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:43 PM
Comment #9We lost our shape when Loven came off, he provides the team with good runs, supporting wingers, making space for others etc. Carroll and Best didn’t basically.
It was strange signing Best, imo Carroll, Shola and Loven all ahead of him in the pecking order and then again imo on a par with ranger. I understood having Harewood on loan as he did provide something different, experienced and scored but I hope Best starts knocking them in soon.
Why doesn’t Hughton have more faith in our youngsters like Ranger, LuaLua, Kadar etc. Even Man U, Arsenal etc are always bringing youngsters through their teams.
murvar
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Comment #10“To the uneducated”!!?? No, Ed, it’s the uneducated who think Lovenkrands’s goal was intentional! It was a fluke, and we have seen many like it over the years. Interesting that when there’s a perfect cross headed in by the centre forward you never hear the winger say, “Well actually I was trying to put it across the goalkeeper and into the far corner”!
MacToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Comment #11Murvar, I think it was said with tongue in cheek, hence the smilley, same with the “Best” bit at the end!
Steve_48
Feb 21, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Comment #12Bristol 2 1 – WBA
RESULT [sadly half hour to go]
MacToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 3:55 PM
Comment #13It’s a result, well done Bristol…. 🙂
2-1.
Tom4Nufc
Feb 21, 2010 at 3:56 PM
Comment #14Get innnnnnn!!!! 🙂
SGToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 3:57 PM
Comment #15Opposition Watch
Full time score: Bristol City 2 WBA 1
WBA prolly heard our collective prayers and dropped points 😀
SGToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Comment #16As it stands, we’ve 6points over WBA who have played the same number of games (32) as we have, and we have a +5 GD better than them.
We have 5 points over Forest, with Forest having played 1 more game than we have.
Good round of results this weekend. Hope I get to go to bed happy like this every week 😀
MacToon
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:02 PM
Comment #171 Newcastle ——32 -34- 66
2 Nottm Forest –33 -24- 61
3 West Brom —–32 -29 -60
Daverism
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Comment #18Lovenkrands goal was definately not intentional, however, if it was…. give him Goal of the Season sharpish.
Good news that West Brom lost, though I was looking forward to a dramatic final few games! Silly me.
dutchy
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:43 PM
Comment #19goal of the season daverism? dont think so.. 🙂
danny simpsons goal with his left foot, routledge’s volley are just 2 that r better imo
Charlietoon
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Comment #20Cmon Ed we all say the replay. Best was facing way from goal and had to stretch that far that if he did hit it would have gone nowhere near goal. You could see his face just after and he was gutted for a second. Hopefully it will inspire him.