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It’s yet another disappointing draw I’m afraid. Chris Hughton drafted in Van Aanhort at left back for the injured Enrique, Ryan Taylor returned at right back with Simpson injured, Wayne Routledge made his full debut wide on the right which meant Danny Guthrie moved out to the left. For some reason Nicky Butt’s services were required alongside the defensive Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan played behind Andy Carroll.
When Carroll is in the team our game plan is to launch balls for him to flick on and this almost paid dividends when he found Nolan running in behind, but he rather snatched at the chance and his left footed shot flew wide of the near post. There was then a spell of inactivity before on 17 minutes Richie Wellans caught Alan Smith to go into the book. The lively Matty Fryatt had a shot saved well by Harper. Martin Waghorn had a few forward surges which caused us problems but things seemed to be going for us when on 30 minutes Wellans pulled back Routledge for a second yellow card. An hour plus stoppage time against 10 men? Piece of cake? Not where NUFC are concerned. A dazzling Fryatt run ends in a blockbuster shot which hit van Aanhort with Harper going the wrong way. The action swung up the other end, van Aanhort sent a top corner bound, left foot rocket but Weale turned it over and Guthrie’s corner was met by Smith but his header was cleared from the line. At half time our thoughts were of making our numerical supremacy count however the opinion was that Butt needed to make way for Gutierrez as Berner was also yellow carded and wingers attacking the full backs would result in a breakthrough.
Sadly this did not materialise. Berner tested the Ref’s leniency with a foul on Routledge before Nolan beat Weale to the ball but his header drifted over the bar. Surprisingly, just after the hour mark Smith made way for Ranger which left Butt on and meant Nolan moved back to centre midfield, where he is awful. On 70 minutes Routledge got one on one with Weale in a wide position and with Weale stranded he tried to curl the ball home from a tight angle, with Carroll in space. After spending 75 minutes get any fluidity, Hughton evened up the numbers by replacing Nolan with the shambolic Pancrate. This man is not a footballer. He is dreadful. Ranger had a goal disallowed after drifting offside and he sent a shot wide moments later. Butt shot wide from distance but the game ended 0-0. If Gutierrez was injured then his inclusion on the bench was very strange.
Nottingham Forest’s earlier defeat means we go 4 clear of Billy Davies’ side but WBA won and reduced the gap to 3rd place to 6 points.
If we are unsuccessful in our pursuit of Victor Moses then I’ll suggest Matty Fryatt as an alternative
Newcastle Team:
Harper,
Ryan Taylor,
Williamson, BOOKED
Coloccini,
Van Aanhort,
Routledge,
Butt, (Captain)
Smith, (Ranger 62 mins)
Guthrie,
Nolan, (Pancrate 75 mins)
Carroll.
Subs not used:
Krul,
Kadar,
Gutierrez
Lovenkrands,
Hall.
Leicester City:
Weale,
Morrison,
Hobbs,
Brown,
Berner, BOOKED
Gallagher (Dyer 66),
Wellens, SENT OFF
King,
Oakley, BOOKED
Fryatt (Solano 84),
Waghorn (Howard 71).
Subs Not Used:
Logan,
Neilson,
McGivern,
N'Guessan
Referee : Andre Marriner
Man of the Match: Probably Williamson
Attendance: 29,067
League Position: 1stRe
