Ams' Newcastle v Blades Report
Monday, November 06, 2006
Newcastle Utd 0 v Blades 1
The first away goal and the first away win!
The day started worryingly with the news that both Bromby and Armstrong would miss the game through injury.
Kozzy and Geary filled in for them with Monty also coming in for the injured Tonge.
The starting formation seemed to be 4-5-1 again with Webber roaming down the left wing and Quinn just roaming.
We took the game to them in the first 25 mins and had 63% of the possession in this period, without actually threatning the Newcastle goal much.
The "Toon"came back at us for the remainder of the half, but the only chance they created was a mis hit cross which hit the bar. Paddy seemed to have it covered though.
The second half was a lot more one sided.
We seemed to have gone to 4-4-2, with Webber pushing up front with Hulse and Quinn moving to left wing.
The Blades started to pass the ball around confidently and Newcastle's only answer was to pump high long balls forward, which Davis dealt with effortlessly.
Moore took out Hulse neck high and should have been red carded , but the officials seemed to miss the incident.
Davis was booked for a mis timed challenge and Hulse also for a bit of obvious retribution on Moore.
A flowing Blades move ended with Leigterwood shooting narrowly over and the same player shot wide when left alone to run through the Newcastle defence unchallenged. He actually seemed to shoot as an afterthought , as there was no one around to pass to.
Then on 67 minutes, Monty made an exquisite turn to leave Emre for dead, ran to the edge of the area and produced a great cross for Webber to stoop and head down into the corner of the goal, giving Harper no chance.
No more than we deserved. The Blades then looked to play time out, as the threat from Newcastle was virtually non existant.
Even then, Quinn almost added a second.
Put clear down the left from a beautiful pass from Leigterwood, his shot was diverted by the keeper onto the post and back into Harper's grateful arms.
At the final whistle boos rang around the ground from the disenchanted "Toon army".
Whereas there were nothing but smiles from the Blades players and the away contingent, who did us proud again with their constant singing.
A valuable 3 points on a weekend where most of the other teams around us won.
Player ratings:
Kenny - 7/10 : Nothing to do really, but loked solid.
Kozzy - 7.5/10 : Showed good pace and a willingness to get
forward to help the attack. Defensively
sound.
Jags - 8/10 : Just gets better and better at cente half. Rarely
troubled.
Davis - 9/10 : Won everything in the air. Class defender!
Geary - 7.5/10 : Did well at left back. Only done for pace once,
and pushed forward well.
Gillespie - 6.5/10 : Had a quiet game by his standards, but
helped back well in defence when needed.
Monty - 7.5/10 : Blew hot and cold at times, but provided the
cross for the goal and never stopped running.
Leigterwood - 8.5/10 : Started off sloppily with poor passing
but improved as the game went on and
capped off a fine performance with a
wonderful defence splitting pass for
Quinn.
Quinn - 8/10 : Another full blooded high tempo performance
from him. Deserved a goal.
Hulse - 7.5/10 : Harried the defence well. First name on the
teamsheet at the moment with Davis and
Jags.
Webber - 8/10 : Great goal and strong performance
considering he had been ill all week.
Hopefully the goal will spur him on to a run
of scoring now.
Subs :
Kabba - 7/10 : Nice little cameo in the time he was on.
Hope the injury is nothing serious.
Kazim - N/A : On only a short time. Took the ball well into the
corner.
Law - N/A : Great for the lad to get a run out. Not sure he
touched the ball though.
posted by Blades Bees @ 11:03,
