So a happy Chris Hughton gets a second (caretaker, but see below for breaking news) Manager of the Month Award on the trot, Newcastle United stay there-or-thereabouts for October, and as always news and non-news away from the squad fills up column inches and news reports.

  “It’s very pleasing, but it’s very much an award for this group of lads and the staff I’ve got working with me. It’s very much a team award.
“I’m certainly enjoying it at the moment. It’s very difficult not to when you’ve got a group of lads performing as they are, and we’re at the right end of the table.
“I’ve enjoyed the challenge, and it has been a real challenge at times, but there are certain aspects which have been made easier by the staff that we have and the group of players that we have.”
 
Well said, Mr. Hughton: here’s our highlights round-up for October, with results and snippets from St. James’ Park.

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Saturday 17th October 2009
 
Nottingham Forest 1 – 0 Newcastle United
 (Blackstock 45)
 
Dexter Blackstock’s first-half strike gives Forest a slender victory at the City Ground.

Blackstock had already had a couple of chances, and Marlon Harewood hit the woodwork at the other end before the winner went in.

Newcastle came out better in the second half, but the best effort from Kevin Nolan was ruled offside, and the visitors left with nothing.

Afterwards Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton was unhappy but pragmatic: “We paid the price for a poor first-half performance when they were much better than us.
“Forest scoring just before half-time left us with a bigger challenge and although we responded to it, we just could not get the break.
“It’s not pleasant to be leaving here without something but we are still at the end of the table where we want to be.”

Newcastle United: played 12, won 7, drawn 3, lost 2, gd 12, points 24, position 2nd
 

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Tuesday 20th October 2009
 
Scunthorpe United 2 – 1 Newcastle United
 (Woolford 53, 79)                (Nolan 65)
 
Martyn Woolford gets a brace for Scunthorpe as the Toon lose two successive league games and are now four matches without a win.

Scunthorpe’s first goal came from a mistake by Zurab Khizanishvili leading to an easy tap-in for Woolford, but Newcastle struck back ten minutes later after Danny Guthrie put in a long run and laid on Nolan for the equaliser.

But a bit of skill from winger Woolford got his and his team’s second and guaranteed all three points to the home side.
 
Chris Hughton, who seems to have picked up a MoM curse this month, spoke of the pressure on his squad: “I think this is a pressure on us. “
We are a side in this division that everybody expects to do well and certainly our own supporters expect us to do well and that’s the pressure that we carry with us in every game. That’s a pressure that we’ve got to live with.”

Newcastle United: played 13, won 7, drawn 3, lost 3, gd 11, points 24, position 2nd
 

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Saturday 24th October 2009
 
Newcastle United 2 – 1 Doncaster Rovers
 (Carroll 67,                        (Shiels 18)
     Nolan 90+2)
 
An injury-time winner from in-form Kevin Nolan gives Newcastle their first win in five games, with a dramatic victory that takes NUFC back to the top of the Championship.

Doncaster went in at half-time ahead after Martin Woods slotted into an empty net. Newcastle were uneasy for periods of the game, giving the ball away cheaply and squandering chances.

Andy Carroll got Newcastle’s equaliser, then Woods fired a penalty wide following a handball by Steven Taylor.

Newcastle United went down to 10 men when Zurab Khizanishvili was sent off, but a stoppage-time strike from Nolan secured the points.

Afterwards a relieved Chris Hughton said: “I’m certainly relieved that [the penalty] didn’t go in.
“In the first half [Doncaster] played a good tactical game but they will keep possession against any team.
“I thought over the 90 minutes that if there was a side that was going to win the game I felt it was us but at 1-1 and with the penalty you think the worst.”

Newcastle United: played 14, won 8, drawn 3, lost 3, gd 12, points 27, position 1st

 …Then late on Tuesday 27th october, the current subplot of the St. James’ Park drama ends: Mike Ashley has taken the Toon off the market – again. Promising to invest some more of his money (£20million) into the club, maximizing Newcastle United’s sponsorship potential and renaming the home ground.

Better news, perhaps, is that caretaker Chris Hughton has been given an 18-month contract to be the manager proper.

Congratulations Chris.

Newcastle United FC Carling Cup Third Round Result

Tuesday 22nd September 2009
 
Peterborough United 2 – 0 Newcastle United
(Mackail-Smith 20,
             Williams 31)
 
Nine changes and a lack-lustre display for Newcastle see the Posh reaching the fourth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in fifteen years.

Craig Mackail-Smith and Tom Williams goals by the half-hour mark were enough to seal the game, but the home side could easily have had more, Newcastle United’s woodwork saving the visitors from any further blushes.

Danny Guthrie was red-cared for NUFC in the second half, making things so much easier for Peterborough.

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Saturday 26th September 2009
 
Ipswich Town 0 – 4 Newcastle United
                                    (Nolan 30,32 and 51,
                                                        Taylor 34)
 
A dramatic and emotional match began with tributes to Sir Bobby Robson at Portman Road, with Kevin Nolan claiming a hat-trick and Newcastle pulling two points clear at the top of the Championship.

Nolan headed in his first, then immediatley got a second. Ryan Taylor’s free-kick made it three goals in an astonishing four minutes, making the game all but over as a contest with an hour’s worth of football still left to play.

It was only five minutes after the restart when Nolan headed in his third and sealed the points, condemning Ipswich to their worst start to a league capaign with no win so far this season.
 
It was the home side’s worst defeat at Portman Road in six years, which saw Newcastle keeper Steve Harper make only one save over the ninety minutes.
 
During the half-time break, Lady Elsie Robson officially renamed the North Stand ‘The Bobby Robson Stand‘, while both sets of players wore specially made shirts for the tribute that will be auctioned for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation charity.
 
Newcastle caretaker Chris Hughton said after the match: “I am delighted with the approach with which we went into the game. From start to finish we were excellent.
“It speaks volumes for Kevin Nolan that a midfielder has scored a hat-trick. He has always been with one with an eye for goal
“The lads showed a great desire. We were fortunate enough to get the goals early enough to let us go on.”

Watch Kevin Nolan talk of the team’s great spirit to the BBC.

Newcastle United: played 9, won 7, drawn 1, lost 1, gd 13, points 22, position 1st

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Wednesday 30th September 2009
 
Newcastle United 1 – 1 Queens Park Rangers
(Harewood 70)                 (Watson 7)
 
Newcastle United Football Club make it three points clear at the top with a hard-fought draw at St James Park against QPR.

Ben Watson’s shot from 30 yards put the visitors in front in just seven minutes, and Newcastle could have gone level immediately but for Danny Guthrie’s penalty getting saved by Radek Cerny.

Eventually substitute Marlon Harewood got a scrappy equaliser for United, following chances for both teams at either end.

Newcastle United’s Chris Hughton said after the game: “It’s a reminder to anybody of the quality of this league.
“You are up against Championship-hardened teams who are used to playing the amount of games we will play.
“If I look at the games we have played so far this season, we have had to fight hard for everything we have got.”

A point was enough for Newcastle to extend their lead at the top of the Championship however, as Preston, Middlesborough  and West Brom all lost the night before.
 
It was an end to the Toon’s 100% home record this season.
 
Newcastle United: played 10, won 7, drawn 2, lost 1, gd 13, points 23, position 1st

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Saturday 3rd October 2009
 
Newcastle United 0 – 0 Bristol City

The Magpies clearly had the most chances, with Marlon Harewood striking the post early on and both Danny Guthrie and Kevin Nolan each having their shots saved by City’s substitute keeper.

Steven Taylor and Nolan both headed against the woodwork as Bristol held on for the point.

An afternoon of wasted chances was capped by the referee turning down a penalty claim following Harewood being brought down  in the box before the end.

An unhappy Chris Hughton: “For me, it was an absolute certain penalty.
“There are some penalties where you are not sure whether the referee is going to give it or not.
“I could have almost looked away because my first impression was just one of waiting for the referee to point to the spot.”

Newcastle United: played 11, won 7, drawn 3, lost 1, gd 13, points 24, position 1st

 

After an unbeaten start taking Newcastle United to the top of the Championship, the 12th September saw caretaker manager Chris Hughton and striker Shola Ameobi take the manager of the month and Championship player of the month awards for August.

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Sunday 13th September 2009
 
Cardiff City 0 – 1 Newcastle United
                              (Coloccini 18)
 
Newcastle United end Cardiff’s unbeaten record at home with a solitary goal being enough.
 
Fabricio Coloccini’s header on 18 minutes came after the home side failed to deal with an NUFC corner-kick.
 
Cardiff pushed the Magpies without creating any definite chances, which meant that  
 
Newcastle kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet in the league.
 
Unfortunately for the visitors, captain Alan Smith received a second yellow late on after an excellent showing.
 
Newcastle caretaker Chris Hughton said after the match: “These are very tough games for us, but we limited Cardiff to only a few chances throughout the game.
“I think Alan Smith was very unlucky to be sent off, and possibly his reputation went before him.”
 
He then added: “The games are coming thick and fast, but we now have to maintain the impetus as we have started well. It will be a few weeks before we know exactly how we are doing.”
 
Newcastle United: played 6, won 5, drawn 1, gd 8, points 16, position 1st

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Wednesday 16th September 2009
 
Blackpool FC 2 – 1 Newcastle United
(Ormerod 45+2,       (Caroll 40)
      Euell 65)
 
A Jason Euell second-half goal dealt NUFC their first defeat of this season.
 
Newcastle’s Andy Carroll put the visitors in front against the run of play, heading in a cros from Joey Barton.
 
But Blackpool’s Brett Ormerod put the home side on level terms just before the break.
 
Blackpool were relentless through the second-half, with Eull making sure of the three points – a deserved win for the battling team.
 
Blackpool had given themselves plenty of chances throughout both halves, and the first-half equaliser was Newcastle’s first goal conceded in 545 minutes of Championship football.
 
Newcastle pushed for the equaliser, with Geremi and Kevin Nolan having the best of the chances but to no avail.
 
Magpies’ caretaker manager Chris Hughton said after the game: “I am bitterly disappointed, Blackpool were better than us in every department, especially in the first half.
“We need to regroup quickly as we have another big game at the weekend.
“We came into the game a lot more strongly after the break but over 90 minutes we were not the better side.”
 
Newcastle United: played 7, won 5, drawn 1, lost 1, gd 7, points 16, position 3rd

Newcastle United FC Coca-Cola Championship Result

Saturday 19th September 2009
 
Newcastle United 3 – 1 Plymouth Argyle
(Taylor 6,                        (Duguid 50)
    Nolan 61,
    Carroll 84)
 
Newcastle bounced back following their mid-week upset with victory over Plymouth.
 
The Magpies went into the break with a one-goal lead, after Stephen Taylor nodded in Geremi’s corner, but Karl Duguid equalised after the break for a spirited Argyle side.
 
Newcastle keeper Steve Harper kept things level with a save from a Gary Sawyer shot, before Kevin Nolan headed in a Danny Guthrie cross.
 
Andy Carroll then clinched all three points with a fantastic strike, capping an excellent game that was fought hard by both teams in all areas.
 
Newcastle United: played 8, won 6, drawn 1, lost 1, gd 9, points 19, position 2nd

 
2008 – 2009 saw arguably more excitement behind-the-scenes with the comings and goings of various Newcastle United employees, managers included, than on the pitch, and a final day capitulation guaranteed our relegation, with a squad on the field that, frankly, looked like they would rather be anywhere else than standing in the North East sun wearing a black-and-white strip.

NUFC May 2009

• 24th – Relegation and Reflection: Newcastle United Football Club slip out of the Premier League after 16 years of entertaining football in the top flight.
• 31st – Ashley To Settle For Quick Sale: Magpies owner Mike Ashley puts the club up for sale again, apparently for around 80million, having paid 134.4million in 2007. Ashley is quoted in the Sunday Times: “It’s been catastrophic for everybody. I’ve lost my money and made terrible decisions, now I want to sell as soon as I can. I am genuinely sorry for everybody for what has happened.”

NUFC June 2009

•   8th - Price Hike For Toon?: Newcastle United confirm that the Championship club has an asking price of 100million. Keith Harris, appointed to broker a deal, said: “I’m confident there will be offers to consider in quite short order; it’s a decent guess that there are two or three interested parties.” He added that he expected to complete a deal before the end of June.
• 11th – Probable Profitable Interest: Singapore-based Profitable Group has confirmed interest in a takeover bid for Newcastle FC.
• 29th – Freddy’s Cut-Price Offer: Former NUFC Chairman Freddy Shepherd is heading a consortium with a 60million offer for the club. The BBC reported that the offer “is likely to be accepted”. Two years ago, Shepherd sold his shares to current owner Mike Ashley, who in September 2008, had asked for 300million for the club, having invested an estimated 244million himself.

NUFC July 2009

•   1st – Newcastle United sell David Edgar to Burnley for an undisclosed amount.
•   3rd – Michael Owen leaves Newcastle on a free, signing for Premier League Champions Manchester United.
•   6th - Newcastle Bids Meet Price: MD Derek Llambias claims that at least two acceptable offers have been received. A Malaysian consortium is now beleived to have entered the running.
•   9th – Barton’s Back?: Controversial midfielder Joey Barton, suspended at the end of last season after a dressing-room bust-up with Alan Shearer, has returned to training with the rest of the squad.
• 12th – Black Cat Bid Planned: Charlie Chawke, whose Drumaville consortium sold Sunderland to Ellis Short in May, told RTE: “We’re trying to put together a syndicate interested in football and then investing with us in Newcastle,” Before adding “Newcastle would fit very nicely into our portfolio. It is a great club.”.
• 16th – Newcastle sell Ignacio Gonzalez to Valencia for an undisclosed amount.
• 20th – Time Running Out For Toon Sale: Singapore-based Profitable Group remain hopeful of a sale, but commercial director Steve McMahon says:“It’s got to be in the near future, I would imagine this week would be crucial. If we don’t hear anything by the end of the week, it doesn’t look hopeful.”
• 21st – Midfielder Nicky Butt is reported to be likely to miss the start of the Championship season, after partially dislocating his thumb.
• 26th - Thousands of fans descend on St James’ Park to see an England XI beat a Germany side 3 – 2, the proceeds of the match going to The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Les Ferdinand, Alan Thompson and Alan Shearer get the home team’s goals.
• 28th – Profitable Group Gone: The BBC reports that the Singaporean Profitable Group has pulled out of the race to by Newcastle United.
• 31st – Footballing Legend Sir Bobby Robson passes away aged 76, after a long battle with cancer.

NUFC August 2009

•  1st – Newcastle United striker Obefami Martins joins Wolfsburg for an undisclosed fee.
•  5th – Joe Kinnear speaks on the BBC, saying he has turned down a two-year contract to return to St James Park.
•  5th – Sir Bobby Robson is laid to rest at a private family service.
•  6th – Businessman Barry’s Bid: Newcastle Academy investor and friend of Alan Shearer, Barry Moat has emerged as a new favourite to purchase the Championship club.
•  6th – Sebastien Bassong is sold by Newcastle to Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee.
•  7th – Habib Beye moves to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.
•  9th – The BBC report that Mike Ashley is having second thoughts about the sale, and that David O’Leary may return from the wilderness to take the reigns at United.
• 14th – Defender Danny Simpson joins NUFC on a loan deal from Manchester United.
• 18th – Damien Duff is sold to Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
• 24th – Sale Deadline Extended: Barry Moat, favourite to buy the Toon from Mike Ashley, has been given more time to secure the necessary funds to complete a buy-out.
• 31st – Newcastle United give Xisco to Racing Santander on loan.
  

NUFC September 2009

•  1st - Newcastle agree to loan keeper Fraser Forster to Norwich City until January.
•  1st – Peter Lovenkrands returns to Newcastle on a free, signing a three-year contract.
•  1st – Fabio Zamblera goes to AS Roma on loan.

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

 
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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The Newcastle United Blog
 
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