Saturday 8th August 2009
West Brom 1 – 1 Newcastle United
(Martis 39) (Duff 55)
Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion played out an exciting draw to mark their return to the second tier of English league football.
After missing a great chance in the opening minutes of the match, Shelton Martis put the Baggies ahead at the end of the first half after Newcastle failed to clear a set piece: a scary flashback to United’s last season’s woes.
But a new hero for the Magpies took centre stage after the break, when 21-year-old Tim Krul came on for injured keeper Steve Harper.
The Dutch goalie made four excellent saves to keep the visitors in the game, which saw Damien Duff’s right-footed equaliser enough to see the points shared.
WBA may have thought they had nicked all three points in stoppage-time, but Jonas Olsson’s goal was disallowed for offside.
The afternoon had begun with a minute’s applause in memory of Sir Bobby Robson, who would have been pleased to see a match played at a high tempo that was kept up until the last 20 minutes, when tired legs set in.
Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton was satisfied with starting this season’s campaign with an away point: “We got what we deserved today.
“To come here against a very good side, a side I’m sure will do very well in this division, and to get a draw on the opening day is credit to this group of lads.
“We went 1-0 down but I think we showed a lot of character to come back. I thought we deserved the goal, I thought some of our football at times was good and it was certainly an entertaining game to be sure.”
Newcastle United: played 1, drawn 1, gd 0, points 1, position 11th
Saturday 15th August 2009
Newcastle United 3 – 0 Reading FC
(Ameobi 38, 61, 75pen)
A crowd of almost 37,000 fans came to St. James’ Park to watch NUFC’s first Championship home game since relegation from the Premier League, and gave the late Sir Bobby Robson a rousing minute’s applause before kick-off.
Local boy Shola Ameobi got a hat-trick that ensured Newcastle all three points in a fantastic display over visiting Reading Football Club.
The Toon’s Jonas Gutierrez had already threatened the Reading goal twice when Ameobi headed in his first just before half time.
Newcastle picked up where they had left off in the second half, piling as much pressure onto Reading FC as before the break.
A cross from Ryan Taylor on the hour mark saw Ameobi get his second.
Reading keeper Adam Federici tipped over another Ameobi header, but was only delaying the inevitable: Shane Long handballed, and the home team striker capped off a superb afternoon with his third from the penalty-spot.
Caretaker manager Chris Hughton said afterwards: “[Shola Ameobi] is a local lad, and for any striker to come away with a match ball is always a very, very proud moment for them.
“What we wanted first and foremost was to win the game, and if we were able to do that by scoring goals and putting in a performance, that was certainly going to be a bonus.
“We had good periods of the game against a very, very good passing side, and the first two goals were of the highest quality.”
Newcastle United: played 2, won 1, drawn 1, gd 3, points 4, position 3rd
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Newcastle United 1 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday
(Ameobi 15)
Newcastle United FC get back-to-back home wins, as a single Shola Ameobi goal is enough to secure maximum points from Sheffield Wednesday.
Ameobi volleyed past keeper Lee Grant on the quarter-hour mark, giving the striker his fourth goal in front of the Toon Army in two games.
Grant was kept busy, keeping out another header from the striker as well as stopping a Ryan Taylor free-kick.
The Owls came close to a late equaliser, but keeper Steve Harper kept Francis Jeffers at bay.
Overall, the Magpies dominated the match for most of the time, with chances for Kevin Nolan and some excellent play in midfield.
A home crowd of just under 44,000 left St. James’ Park happy, with their team still unbeaten after three games of the new season.
Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughtonsaid afterwards: “I don’t think it was the prettiest win, but nevertheless it was pleasing.
“We’ve got the win and that’s the most important thing.”
Newcastle United: played 3, won 2, drawn 1, gd 4, points 7, position 3rd
Saturday 22nd August 2009
Crystal Palace 0 – 2 Newcastle United
(Nolan 2, Taylor 21)
Newcastle’s great start to the 2009 – 2010 season continued apace, with their first away win in the Championship at Selhurst Park.
After an excellent game against Sheffield Wednesday mid-week, midfielder Kevin Nolan got his first goal of the season after just two minutes, slipping the ball through Eagles’ keeper Darryl Flahavan’s legs.
Another Toon player on form, Ryan Taylor made in two after twenty minutes with a shot from 25-yards out.
Crystal Palace went close with a header from Alassane N’Diaye, and the Magpies’ Steve Harper kept out a Freddie Sears shot.
United boss Chris Hughton: “I’m very happy to do this job for as long as I am asked to.
“It’s not about me putting down a marker for the job, it’s about winning games and the players have responded.
“We are not far off. We have quality here. I’m hoping we don’t lose any more players over the next week.”
Newcastle United: played 4, won 3, drawn 1, gd 6, points 10, position 2nd
Wednesday 26th August 2009
Carling Cup Second Round
Newcastle United 4 – 3 Huddersfield Town
(Guthrie 36, (Robinson 37, 39pen,
Geremi 48 Rhodes 47)
Ameobi 64pen,
Nolan 84)
A fantastic and open game of free-flowing football sees Newcastle progress to the Carling Cup Third Round draw.
Kevin Nolan’s second goal in a week, five minutes from time, saved NUFC’s blushes and avoided extra-time, although most watchers of the game would have happily watched another thirty minutes of a fantastic tie against League One’s Terriers.
Danny Guthrie put the Magpies ahead on 35 minutes, but Theo Robinson equalised just a minute later and put the visitors ahead before half-time from the penalty spot, just two minutes later.
An upset looked to be possible when Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes made it 3 – 1 after the restart.
Geremi had other ideas however, getting a goal back seconds later, then just after the hour Shola Ameobi scored a penalty to draw the teams level once more.
Kevin Nolan capped off a great football match with the home side’s fourth, with both teams playing open and attacking football for the full 90 minutes.
See highlights on the BBC website.
Newcastle will play Peterborough United in the Carling Cup Third Round, Tuesday 22nd September at London Road Stadium.
Monday 31st August 2009
Newcastle United 1 – 0 Leicester City
(Guthrie 52)
After a seven-goal thriller in the Carling Cup Second Round, one goal was all it took to put Newcastle United FC top of the Championship before the International break.
Leicester started well with both Paul Gallagher and Steve Howard testing keeper Steve Harper in the home side’s goal.
Newcastle then had two penalty shouts turned down, after the Foxes looked to have handled the ball in the box on two occasions.
After half-time, Newcastle came out stronger: Danny Guthrie’s strike enough for the win, and Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith all going close.
So NUFC end August top of the league with four wins out of five, and are still unbeaten in the Coca-Cola Championship.
With an eye on the end of the transfer window, which has seen his squad thinning out, Chris Hughton said of any new faces coming to St James Park: “I am hopeful that we will bring certainly one or two in tomorrow [Tuesday]. I am even more confident that nobody in this present squad will be leaving us.
“We certainly have good players here and it is only right that the young lads are given an opportunity in this squad, because we feel they deserve that.
“But we need… to make sure we have got a squad that’s strong enough to compete for a whole season.”
See highlights on the BBC website.
Newcastle United: played 5, won 4, drawn 1, gd 7, points 13, position 1st
Newcastle’s next match is against Cardiff City on Sunday, 13th September at Cardiff City Stadium
Check Out Newcastle United FC’s Home and Away Fixtures for the 2009/10 Season:
NUFC Fixtures List 2009/10
Read More About Newcastle United Football Club
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