The game was fairly even in the first half, and Birmingham City went closest to scoring several times in the first 30 minutes, before going ahead.
Then in the 33rd minute James McFadden put Birmingham ahead and yes – it was terrible defending again from Newcastle United.
It was appropriate that Birmingham’s most dangerous striker James McFadden scored, and he made it look so easy.
A fairly innocuous cross came in from the left to McFadden, and the Scot then beat Faye far too easily and put the ball casually past Steve Harper, giving the Newcastle goalkeeper no chance. It was clear that Harper was furious with the goal, another bad one to give away by Newcastle’s defense.
And so we were down again in a game through a defensive error. Having scored only 3 goals in 8 games we’ll have to score two now to win. After the goal Keegan continued to look grim in the dugout.
One goal down away from home (again), and we’ll have to see how we can fight back in a game we just can’t lose. But it will take a lot more than Newcastle showed in the first half to get anything out of this game and a defeat will put Birmingham above us in the league. It’s not looking too good for us at half time.
In the first half it’s been fairly even but Birmingham have not given us any chances through mistakes, which cannot be said for the Newcastle defense. But the Birmingham side shaded the first half and created a lot more chances than Newcastle. In fact we can’t remember a chance Newcastle created in the first 45 minutes.
The midlands side have looked a lot more dangerous in attack too, which is a little worrying.
Another disturbing aspect in the first half is that Birmingham are much sharper than Newcastle, and the Magpies have had only one shot at goal, and that was a 30 yard speculative shot over the bar from Owen.
The final 45 minutes will be a test of Newcastle’s character and courage, but we have to say things are not looking good for Newcastle.
We need some men in black and white stripes to stand up and be counted in the second half, otherwise this will be yet another defeat. 🙁
Where’s the fight? Where’s the passion? Where’s the guts? Where’s the pride? Where’s the goals?  We look a very sterile team and we have to wonder what’s going on at the club, because this is turning into a disaster – a real disaster for Tyneside.
If we lose this game relegation will start to look a probability rather than a possibility, but we still have 45 minutes to turn this game around.
171 comments so far
GP
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Comment #161The only players who were poor all game were Geremi and Barton. Viduka needs match fitness and did what he needed to do – keegan is just too thick to see he was knackered by the end.
Frankie Wild
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Comment #162Dunc
At least you have your head screwed on
Agreenent
CJ
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Comment #163I have to disagree about people saying Geremi had a bad game cos if you have seen us this season you will know he had an absolute great game to his usual.
Mick G
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Comment #164Spyro your probably right,I should give KK a break as I keep saying I like him but I think he should be more ruthless with some of the players.I agree the game was crying out For Nzogbia but not at the Expense of Martins.He add something different to the side and tonight he was the one who could have won it for us.It should have been Viduka , Geremi , Barton or dare I say it Owen, But never Martins, The poor blokes confidence will be shot to bits now.Just look at his team mates reactions when he was substituted none of them could believe it.
Frankie Wild
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Comment #165Ok, Im bored of it.
The whole team ba a few playears were again below par! But what par are we now.
Ask yourselfs.
No Heart and no desire.
If im wrong i would appreciette your concerns.
Ok by the way Viduka was shit Bartin should just get him self ready for table tennis and butt needs a crutch.
again sorry to be so morbit.
but im sure you know how i feel
CRAIGG
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Comment #166“i rather we lose it and sack useless KK. i am so angry to the Stupid KK. if he cant do the job well, don accept this job when Ashely offer. ”
What an idiot, Had we lost we would be in the shit.
It was good tactics by KK to take the point and not take the risks of losing it like we did against blackburn.
Oba was unlucky maybe Owen should have come off but to go to 442 when under pressure is a good tactical move
Bell end
Frankie Wild
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Comment #167Craigg
Speak sense do you have a opinion or
do you just agrree with every bull shit idea
Spyro a.k.a Dragoner
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Comment #168Craigg is right, going 442 is not a bad idea considering what happened against blackburn where we went for it and lost, it was a very hard decision for kk to make and the only thing he did wrong was make the wrong choice when picking the player to exit the pitch. I personally would have taken off a barton or geremi and made viduka act as a sort of attacking midfielder/second striker, this way he could flick on the long balls to owen and martins.
Frankie Wild
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Comment #169only joking
but still no one with better ideas
or management skills
hahahhah
i will take bets on if. whith loose against Fulham and I mean if…..
How many can the non wearing tops, silly geordies call his name.
and bring our team down.
use your brains (sorry non of them) sort it ou
Spyro a.k.a Dragoner
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Comment #170i also would have made the change about 10 or so minutes earlier, but again that is another difficult decision. do you make a change and hope it has a positive effect? or do you leave it if your team is playing well and you do not want to disrupt things?
Frankie Wild
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Comment #1711 wrong move taking off OBFM.