Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland – Premiership Live Blog – 1 February 2009

Newcastle United hover just above the relegation zone and need to win maximum points from local rivals Sunderland, also looking over their shoulders at the bottom three. There is always a lot at stake in matches between these two, but this afternoon’s battle is a true relegation six-pointer. Don’t miss a kick of the North East derby at Daily Soccer Blog.

Match Preview

This is the 130th Tyne-Wear league derby and neither Newcastle or Sunderland are in great shape going into Sunday afternoon’s fixture. The Magpies are in freefall, sitting just one place above the bottom three after claiming just one point in their last five matches. Sunderland are fairing a little better, they are three points better off and beat Fulham midweek, their first victory in five attempts.

However, Newcastle have the better recent record and are looking for a fourth consecutive home victory against Ricky Sbragia’s side. The Magpies will be galvanised by this week’s arrival of £4.5 million midfielder Kevin Nolan from Bolton, but wantaway duo Charles N’Zogbia and Shay Given will not feature. Key striker Michael Owen and Danny Guthrie are out injured.

For Sunderland, dead-ball specialist Kieran Richardson has recovered from an ankle injury and George McCartney should also be fit to play. Paul McShane is definitely out with a hamstring injury and Teemu Taino may not have shaken off the knee injury picked up against Fulham in midweek.

Line Ups

Newcastle: Harper, Taylor, Bassong, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Butt, Nolan, Duff, Carroll, Ameobi.
Subs: Krul, Xisco, Geremi, Lovenkrands, Edgar, LuaLua, Donaldson.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Edwards, Whitehead, Richardson, Malbranque, Cisse, Jones.
Subs: Colgan, Murphy, Chopra, Leadbitter, Yorke, Reid, Healy.

Goals

Newcastle United: Ameobi (69′ pen)

Sunderland: Cisse (32′)

Live Blog

90+5′ Jones races towards goal but Harper is equal to it, rushes outside of the area and clears the ball into the stands. Andy Reid picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box and sends it just wide. It was a better chance than it first looked and could well have won the match in the last second. Howard Webb blows the whistle at honours even.

90+4′ A flurry of late substitutions as both managers try and run the clock down sees David Edgar replacing Coloccini and Grant Leadbitter come on for Malbranque.

90+3′ Still Newcastle press for a winner. There is a big penalty shout from the home supporters after Gutierrez’s cross looks like it may have been handled by Bardsley. Ameobi has an effort from just inside the box blocked as Sunderland hang on in the dying moments.

90+2′ The oddly-highlighted Peter Lovenkrands turns in the box and sends an effort on goal which unluckily just goes over the bar.

90′ There could still be a winner in this match if either side actually try and get an effort on goal. It’s getting very scrappy towards the end with both teams perhaps happy with a point. The North East is the graveyard of ambition it seems.

86′ A terrible error of judgement by sub Chopra could well cost Sunderland the match. He charged down a weak tackle from Coloccini and found himself clear in the penalty box, but instead of going for goal himself, he played an awful ball across the face of goal for Jones who could get nowhere near it. For a “goal poacher”, Chopra did not look particularly hungry to score against his old club.

82′ End to end stuff now. Gutierrez sens the ball into the box and Nolan stabs it to Duff who curls it wide. Peter Lovenkrands comes on for Andy Carroll who has been struggling for some time with an injured ankle.

81′ Reid jinks into the box after a pass from Chopra but his optimistic effort from the outside of his foot sails high and wide.

79′ Duff crosses in from the right into the path of Ameobi, who, with the goal at his mercy, misses the ball completely, allowing a relieved, and possibly amused, Fulop to pluck the ball from their air.

77′ Taylor, Ameobi and Taylor again fail to score from Duff’s whipped in corner. Sunderland look about as sure defensively as their North East opponents. There has to be a winning goal in this match?

72′ Defensive uncertainty threatens to throw the match away for Newcastle yet again. Jones has a shot in the box blocked and instead of putting his foot through it, Taylor attempts to shepherd it to Harper who doesn’t want to know. Reid waddles in and thrashes at it but Harper is up to the task and blocks well.

70′ Andy Reid replaces Carlos Edwards, who has shown less interest in this match for the Black Cats than Damien Duff has for Newcastle.

69′ Goal! Newcastle United 1 Sunderland 1. Much-maligned Shola Ameobi steps up to the plate and smashes the ball into the top corner. The Magpies have been handed an unthinkable lifeline when Sunderland looked so comfortable. Game on!

67′ Penalty to Newcastle. Unbelievable decision. Steven Taylor races into the box with Steed Malbranque giving chase. There didn’t seem to be much contact between either player as they both hit the deck, Taylor could just have easily lost his balance, but Howard Webb points to the spot.

65′ Newcastle are looking short of ideas. Gutierrez is fortunate to win a free kick but Duff’s effort is confidently headed away by Ferdinand. If the Magpies don’t win today they will slip into the bottom three and next week they have a massive game against fellow relegation-fodder West Bromwich Albion.

59′ Panic over. Jones returns to the field of play and tries to run off his injury. Carroll for Newcastle doesn’t want to feel left out and goes to ground after jumping for the ball with Ferdinand. It looked as though there was nothing in it but the replay showed he may have twisted his ankle on the way down. Newcastle have already lost Martins, Owen and Viduka to injury, where are the goals going to come from?

57′ The uncompromising Bassong clatters into Jones, leaving the big Trinidad & Tobago international writhing on the ground. A stretcher is called for but Jones walks off. Worrying times for Ricky Sbragia who could lose his first choice strike-partnership to injury within the space of five minutes.

55′ Michael Chopra gets a chance against his former club and replaces the injured Djibril Cisse.

53′ Sustained pressure by Newcastle encourages a roar from the home fans. Duff  races into the box, takes on Ferdinand, but leaves his foot trailing and goes down in the hope of a penalty. Howard Webb is having none of it and books the former Blackburn winger for diving, but at least he is showing some interest this half.

49′ Seconds later Gutierrez crosses in, Fulop missed and McCartney headed behind for a corner. Duff whips it in and it’s punched away by Fulop. This is a much better display by Joe Kinnear’s side.

48′ Cisse charges half the length of the pitch with the ball at his feet. Instead of squaring the ball to Richardson in the centre he nudges the ball towards goal but it goes wide.

47′ New signing Kevin Nolan has his first shot on goal for Newcastle, but it’s weak and easily gathered by Fulop. Nolan had a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder for Bolton and boy, do the Magpies need a goal from somewhere this afternoon.

46′ Newcastle get the action underway and they will need a marked improvement from the first half if they are to get something against a better Sunderland side.

Half Time. Sunderland have been the better side but Newcastle responded well after falling behind and their effort cannot be faulted. The Black Cats are struggling to cope with Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez down the left side and that is just as well because bar one decent turn, Damien Duff has been anonymous on the right. Andy Carroll is trying to scrap but is fighting a losing battle it seems. Kieron Richardson and Steed Malbranque are both having excellent games for Sunderland and the former was unlucky not to score from his free kick. Cisse and Jones always look dangerous given half a chance and that’s all one of them will probably need against an uncertain Magpies back line.

44′ Ferdinand heads a corner down to Richardson who strikes 10 yards from goal but straight at the relieved Harper. It looks like Sunderland will go into the break on top.

41′ Gutierrez again finds himself in acres of space down the left. He pulls the ball back to the awaiting Carroll on the edge of the box but he hits it high and wide. If the Magpies can sustain this sort of pressure they could well get an equaliser before half time.

40′ Enrique is causing Sunderland all sorts of problems down the left and is linking up well with Gutierrez. Ameobi and Butt both see shots blocked by Sunderland who are defending in numbers.

38′ The imposing figure of Kenwyne Jones outjumps the excellent Bassong but his header is easily caught by Harper.

35′ Full marks to Newcastle for trying to get back into the game straight away. Enrique puts in a cross from the left but it goes behind for a goal kick. The Magpies need to keep their heads up, they are not out of this match by a long chalk.

33′ The goal was the 40th Newcastle has conceded this season, only leaky ship Hull City have gifted the opposition more. Richardson has a brainstorm and trips up the advancing Gutierrez, earning him an uncessary booking.

32′Goal! Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1. Frenchman Djibril Cisse looked offside from Whitehead’s ball until the replay showed Coloccini played him on. His first effort was blocked superbly by Harper but the former Liverpool striker tucked away the rebound for his tenth of the season.

29′ Cisse puts in a cross, or perhaps it was a shot from the right hand side, but either way it deceived the backtracking Harper who had to tip it over for a corner.

27′ A great turn from Duff releases Taylor, who crosses superbly into the box. Unfortunately the ball finds the feet of Shola Ameobi who comically scoops the ball some distance over the crossbar. Welcome back Shola, we have missed you.

23′ Nicky Butt earns a booking for a foul on Dean Whitehead in the centre circle. There didn’t look to be a lot in it.

22′ Newcastle respond positively and the move ends with the bustling Carroll directing a header towards goal which unfortunately bounces off the top of the crossbar and behind.

20′ What a let off for Newcastle! Richardson curls in a free kick from the edge of the box, it deceives Harper and comes back off the post. Kenwyne Jones fires in the rebound but it’s blocked off the line by the debutant Nolan.

17′ Gutierrez finds himself on the end of a clumsy lunge by Bardsley, earning the former Manchester United youngster the first yellow card of the game. Hopefully the Spaniard isn’t too shaken up and won’t go into his shell even more.

15′ At least Carroll is trying to battle up front. Butt delivers a free kick which Carroll heads down into the path of Ameobi. The returning striker turns and shoots but it’s easy for Fulop to gather.

14′ Spanish connection Gutierrez and Enrique both put in poor crosses into the box. It all looks a bit half-hearted and it is not surprising Newcastle are in the mess they are.

12′ Newcastle try and make things happen, it’s only taken them 10 minutes to realise they are involved in this match as well. Ameobi shoots in the box but it’s blocked. Gutierrez, who began the season so well, attempts to drive forward but is tackled.

10′ The frenetic, if scrappy, opening takes a momentary pause as Richardson lays on the ground clutching his groin. He’s been out for a while, perhaps he needs a rest.

9′ Bassong gives Harper an awkward backpass and the keeper slices it out for a thrown in. This started from good work by Malbranque who outmuscled Duff twice down the left hand side. Sunderland are having the better of the opening so far.

6′ Cisse lets fire from 25 yards out, but the effort is weak and off target. The leading scorer for the Black Cats with nine goals will have to do better.

4′ Edwards swings in a free kick and Anton Ferdinand floors keeper Steve Harper going up for a challenge. The replay shows there was hardly anything in the challenge regardless of the crowd’s disapproval. This one is warming up nicely.

2′ Local boy Andy Carroll is obviously up for this game and puts in a crunching tackle on Phil Bardsley. He gets a warning from Howard Webb but nothing more. Both sides need to be careful despite tensions running high.

1′ Sunderland kick off and get us started for Tyne-Wear derby number 130. The crowd are in full voice and nothing has even happened yet.

0′ Kick off is just a few moments away. Newcastle are in wretched form but have won the last three derby fixtures at St James’ Park and victory today would take their win tally against Sunderland to 50 in the league.

0′ Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear may have been deprived of 12 first-team regulars but Fabricio Coloccini is the only remaining Magpies player to have featured on the pitch for every single minute of each of Newcastle’s Premiership matches this season. Who says foreign players do not have the stomach for the fight?

0′ Sunderland are on the verge of their first “double” over Newcastle since the 1966-67 season but have not won at St James’ Park since November 2000. Niall Quinn, now chairman at the Stadium of Light, scored the winner that day and Alan Shearer missed a late penalty.

Reaction

Newcastle United should think themselves very fortunate to have come out of the game with something against a superior Sunderland side. A very soft penalty decision gifted Newcastle an equaliser and while Sunderland were not the same attacking force when Cisse went off injured, the Black Cats squandered two very good chances to wrap up the game. Michael Chopra’s lack of bottle to take responsibility and shoot when given the opportunity, is unforgiveable at this level and his ball to unmarked Kenwyne Jones was terrible. In short, it was a dreadful error. Andy Reid could have snatched it at the death aswell. However, a Sunderland winner would have been unfair on the likes of Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez for Newcastle, who were excellent throughout and were at least willing to fight for the cause. The result sees Newcastle edge their way up the table to fifteenth, while Sunderland remain in thirteenth position.

Man of the Match

Two Newcastle players stood out today – Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez and it’s the latter I am going to award as Man of the Match. The Argentinian player bought from Mallorca last summer was head and shoulders above his team mates this afternoon. He was the one player who never gave up going forward and was at the heart of all Newcastle’s attacks. If only Joe Kinnear had another 10 players at his disposal who displayed the same heart then the Magpies would not be in danger of relegation this season.