Season 2010/2011 – Match 6
Date: Sunday 27th September 2010
Kick-off: 4:10pm (BST)
Venue: St James’ Park
Attendance: 41,915
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)
Teams
Newcastle: Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Nolan, Carroll
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger
Goal: Nolan 43 pen
Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins, Whelan (Delap 57), Whitehead, Diao (Fuller 49), Etherington, Jones, Walters, Fuller (Gudjohnsen 67)
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Higginbotham, Wilson, Faye
Booked: Diao
Goals: Jones 67, og (Perch) 85
Manager Chris Hughton spoke afterwards:
“It’s a learning curve for us. We’ve got to make sure on the lows – and it’s a big low today – that we bounce back. We didn’t defend well enough from set pieces which are Stoke’s strength. It does put pressure on us. We know we have to pick up results at home. There have been a lot of surprise results and at the moment every team seems capable of getting a shock result. As a team that has got promoted we are probably going to lose more than we will win. The teams that have more consistency are those who have the better players. That is why United, Arsenal are up there. This is a learning curve for us and we have to make sure that from the lows we bounce back. I am realistic to know where we are at the moment. My thoughts wouldn’t change. It would be nice to say we will win more than we lose, but I am realistic. We coped with them for the majority but it was all about pivotal moments, we also felt that we needed to get that second – and third goal. We were up against a Stoke team that upped their intensity and we didn’t do enough to get that second goal. Stoke had a very resilient backline and we weren’t able to break through. We didn’t create enough. All you can do is prepare the team. There is not a team that face Stoke who do not prepare for the long throw, that’s a strength of theirs. You are reliant on players doing their jobs and marking individuals. It is normal to be angry. You are frustrated when you let a lead slip. You need to get back into the game and you need to carve out opportunities. It was not through a lack of effort but we were up against a resilient Stoke side.”
Match Report
Newcastle United crashed to their second successive home defeat after surrendering a one goal lead to Stoke City at St James’ Park yesterday.
Manager Chris Hughton restored the starting XI that won last time out at Everton and the Magpies dominated the first-half without creating many clear cut chances. The crisp and precise passing was again in evidence with the Newcastle midfield dominating the play but failing to get in behind the heavily packed Stoke defence. Hatem Ben Arfa and Jose Enrique linked up well down the left, however the individual flashes of inspiration that were evident in the last two games didn’t materialise among the team.
Towards the end of the first-half the breakthrough finally came. Stoke centre-half Robert Huth’s clumsy block of an Andy Carroll run brought the striker down in the box and referee Mike Jones had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Captain Kevin Nolan stepped up and coolly slotted home the penalty to give Newcastle the lead. Half-time 1-0.
In the second-half it was a different story. Stoke upped their intensity by applying more pressure onto the Newcastle back four with their usual direct long ball style and the home side crumbled.
Kenywne Jones was proving to be a handful in the air. The tall striker twice hit the woodwork with headers which the Newcastle defence were unable to deal with. Midway through the half Jones finally found the net, a Stoke corner found Huth at the far post and his header back across the face of the goal found an unmarked Jones who headed home from close range.
The goal sparked some life back into the home side but the appearance of throw-in specialist for Stoke, Rory Delap, meant the visitors were able to force the Newcastle defence back at regular intervals.
With five minutes to go Stoke grabbed their second goal curtsey of a James Perch own goal. A Matthew Etherington corner was whipped into the near post where a diving Perch got his head to the ball before Huth but he couldn’t prevent the ball sailing past the hapless Tim Krul.
Nolan had a great chance to level things up after good work from substitute Jonas Gutierrez down the left, but the midfielder screwed his first time shot wide of the post. Perch also had a late chance to make amends for his own goal however his shot was deflected wide. A classic game of two halves with Stoke good value for the win giving their dominance of the second half.
Much to ponder then for Newcastle manager Chris Hughton.
Too many of his midfield players were ineffective, Wayne Routledge and Kevin Nolan never really got into the game and contributed little. An decent first-half by Joey Barton was then backed up by a woeful second that included sloppy distribution and inaccurate final balls. This all makes the decision to substitute his other two midfielders, and incidentally his most consistent performing, Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote even more of a baffling one.
Hughton also needs to reassess the flexibility of the 4-4-1-1 formation at home. Far too often Andy Carroll was left isolated upfront making it easy for the Stoke defence to nullify any treat. Right-back James Perch place in the team must also be considered with in-form Ryan Taylor and the returning Danny Simpson hot on his heals.
Something has to change because for all the good work done winning at Everton and Chelsea away, defeats at home to the likes of Stoke and Blackpool will put the team under extra pressure at the wrong half of the table.
Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army
