Season 2007-2008

MANCHESTER CITY

3 v 1

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Post Match Comment:

Sam Allardyce said:
"We committed defensive suicide. All our defenders have to do is clear the ball back up the pitch for Mpenza's goal and we just didn't. After that, they contained us and played on the break, which was exactly what I had asked my players to do.

We got ourselves into a position to win the game thanks to Oba's great goal and we could've won had we contained Man City. As it is their second goal less than two minutes after half-time has killed us because after that they have sat deep and made it hard for us.

Our away form has begun to slip a little. We won at Bolton on the first day of the season and then drew at Middlesbrough which was a game we should have won having led twice. But then we lost at Derby, Arsenal and now Manchester City so we've got to put it right."

Newcastle United lost 1-3 to Manchester City, despite taking the lead through Obafemi Martins, as past defensive frailties came back to haunt them at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Martins put Newcastle ahead with a clever lob after 28 minutes when he pulled down Geremi's long ball instantly with left foot and then lobbed the advancing goalkeeper to score with his right foot. It was nearly 0-2 a few minutes later when the City goalkeeper Joe Hart miscontrolled a back-pass and was forced the hack the ball to safety on the goal-line.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing before then though, with Newcastle grateful to Shay Given for still being on level terms. Given had been preferred to Stephen Harper by boss Sam Allardyce and that decision was rewarded on 11mins when Brazilian Elano unleashed a fine strike, forcing Given into a world class one-handed save with the ball heading towards the top corner.

Manchester City’s pressure finally told with a superbly-constructed goal from Martin Petrov 8 minutes before the half-time interval. Elano caught out emergency left-back Charles N’Zogbia, by releasing Stephen Ireland down the City right flank and with the Newcastle defenders drawn to the ball, Ireland crossed perfectly for Petrov to score unmarked at the far post.

There was still time before half-time for Given to be forced into making another vital block from Ireland, after Newcastle's defence was unlocked by another killer pass from Elano.

Man City started the second half as they finished the first half and took the lead within two minutes. Petrov's pace left Steven Taylor trailing hopeless in his wake, and once again the delivery was perfect for Emile Mpenza to head home past a stranded Shay Given.

Newcastle struggled to get back into the game after this and was forced into chasing the game. Martins did have one good chance but he fired his shoot narrowly wide. However, City was looking very dangerous on the break and after wasting several chances a third goal did come.

On 87 minutes Elano, who had dictated most of City’s good play all day, rifled a 25 yard free kick into the top right corner of Shay Given’s goal. If Allardyce had picked both Given and Harper I doubt they could have spotted this goal, the strike was that good.

As mentioned in the match preview this match marked the first official Aussie Mags meets, with one in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

In Melbourne the Charles Dickens proved to a decent location for the meet. Despite a few Geelong supporters (who had just won the AFL Grand Final) singing in the corner of the pub, the main screen was switched over to the proper football and the 7 of us were able to grab the best table in front of the screen. We had 4 Geordies, 2 Aussie’s and a Swede, so plenty of beer was drank (including Newcastle Brown Ale which is on tap) and despite the result we all seemed to enjoy the occasion. With 2 further meets lined up in November, hopefully that was just the start for the Melbourne Aussie Mags.

From all reports the Sydney meet was just as successful and the two Aussie Mags posters that were put up in both bars, have already yielded some interest, with 4 new forum members in Melbourne joining this week.

AUSSIE MAGS