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VIEW MATCH REPORT
Newcastle United 2 - 0 Portsmouth, Sat 4th Feb, 2006 Sunday 5 Feb 2006
Newcastle United 2 - 0 Portsmouth, Sat 4th Feb, 2006
Alan Shearer nets his 201st Newcastle goal as Newcastle cruise past a Portsmouthat St James' Park.

Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer once again wrote his own fairytale script as he claimed his club-record 201st goal just when the Magpies needed it most.

Shearer’s 64th-minute strike doubled the advantage given to Newcastle by Charles N’Zogbia’s first-half opener to get Glenn Roeder’s caretaker reign off to the perfect start just three days after Graeme Souness’ departure.

It was the Magpies’ first Barclays Premiership win in seven attempts and eased their relegation fears, although there were several reasons to be cheerful for the black and white faithful.

Shearer’s milestone goal as he eclipsed Jackie Milburn’s record was always going to spark wild celebrations, but Newcastle played well for the majority of the match.

They were also able to welcome back midfielder Kieron Dyer as a substitute for the first time since October 30.

But ultimately, it was the three points which mattered most as Pompey slipped deeper into the mire and the Magpies eased themselves away from the scrap at the bottom.

Souness’ exit on Thursday once again left the Magpies in limbo and as the search for his replacement got under way, there was only one thing that mattered.

A return of just one point from the last 18 on offer, culminating in an abject display in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in midweek ultimately accounted for the Scot as the prospect of a relegation fight became ever more likely.

Injuries have been a major factor so far this season, but more worryingly, so too has under-achievement, and if it was Souness who paid the price for failure, his players knew they had to take their share of the blame.

But from the moment they walked on to the pitch, there was something different about them, and when skipper Shearer called them into a huddle seconds before kick-off, the crowd took up the theme.

Newcastle have lacked organisation and enterprise at times, but both were in evidence and it made a change to hear them cheered from the pitch at the break.

The reason was not difficult to see: Scott Parker’s tigerish approach in central midfield set the tone, Emre’s delicious touch on the ball was pleasing on the eye and the endeavour of Nolberto Solano and N’Zogbia on the flanks was hugely influential.

Had it not been for the brilliance of Portsmouth goalkeeper Dean Kiely, the game might have been over long before half-time.

Kiely’s brilliant double stop from the lively Shola Ameobi and Shearer on 29 minutes might have suggested that, once again, it was not going to be the Magpies’ day, and the keeper was swiftly off his line 10 minutes later to deny Shearer once again.

However, even though he managed to keep the 35-year-old out for a third time four minutes before the break, his luck was finally to desert him.

Shearer’s downward header from a Solano cross looked destined for the back of the net until the keeper blocked with his legs, but N’Zogbia was on hand to slot home the rebound to claim the advantage his side’s first-half display deserved.

Harry Redknapp’s response at the break was to replace Andy Griffin and Wayne Routledge with Noe Pamarot and Svetoslav Todorov, and although his side rallied briefly, as soon as Emre started to become the central figure once again, the tide was very much in the opposite direction.

But with the scoreline at just 1-0, the visitors were not dead and buried, and the Magpies were served with a warning on 55 minutes when Sean Davis played Matthew Taylor into space down the left and his cross was just too strong for first Benjani Mwaruwari and then Todorov in the middle.

Titus Bramble suffered a lapse of concentration four minutes later to allow Gary O’Neil to reach a through-ball ahead of Shay Given, although the defender at least recovered in time to clear the cross when it came in.

However, Shearer’s big moment arrived with 64 minutes gone to ease the growing anxiety and spark a major celebration.

Ameobi held the ball up on the edge of the box before back-heeling it into his captain’s path, and the finish at the Gallowgate End where he equalled Milburn’s record last month was unerring as it has been for the last 18 years or so.

Solano curled a 70th-minute free-kick just wide and Ameobi had appeals for a penalty turned down 17 minutes from time as Newcastle threatened to cut loose, and it was then that Roeder decided to introduce Lee Bowyer and Dyer.

Ameobi went close with an 86th-minute shot and Dyer flashed the ball across the six-yard box in the final minute of normal time, but it was fitting that it was Shearer’s contribution which remained the most significant in the final stages.



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Posted by footymaniac,Sunday 5 Feb 2006
Number of views: 209
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Posted By : gavver Ratings :Rated 5
Comments : The day belonged to Shearer. Shocker for Pompey though.
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Posted By : thewiseone Ratings :Rated 5
Comments : Great match report Footiemaniac....
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