Barclays Premiership - Match 33
 

Season 2007-2008

NEWCASTLE UNITED

3 v 0

READING

  Obafemi Martins 18
Michael Owen 43
Mark Viduka 58

 

  
     
  Date: Saturday 5th April 2008
  Venue: St James' Park
  Kick Off: 3:00pm (BST)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 2 active
  Attendance: 52,179
  Referee: Lee Probert
     
   

Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Faye (Diatta 82), Edgar, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt (Smith 79), Barton, Martins, Owen, Viduka (Duff 74)

Subs Not Used: Forster, Carroll
  Booked: None
   

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Oster (Convey 60), Harper, Cisse (Fae 72), Hunt, Kitson (Long 72), Doyle

Subs not used: Federici, Duberry
  Booked: Bikey
     
 

Post Match Comments:

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said:
"The players deserved everything they got. Without ever reaching the heights of the Tottenham performance, we played some good football, we defended well when we had to, and we limited a committed Reading side to one shot on goal.

The front three all got a goal apiece, and the midfield I thought were superb. Joey Barton got man of the match but I think you could have given it to four or five players.

I thought Habib Beye was outstanding. If there's a better right-back in the Premier League than him, I'm sure there are one or two, but I'm not sure they are playing as well as he is.

We've got the confidence and belief that comes with getting a few results. There's no way you could look at that squad of players, with the quality and experience we have, and say they can't play good football.

They just lost their way a bit. Some results hurt, like conceding six goals in the second half against Manchester United. They've taken a lot of knocks, even since I've been here, but they've not felt sorry for themselves and they've bounced back.

I would have thought we're safe, though mathematically we're not. We have taken 10 points from four games and we're starting to play with the confidence and style this group of players should be playing with. It's confidence more than anything.

Michael is a very clever player, Obafemi has great composure and Mark scored after some great play. They are like chalk and cheese – the third must be something else. With all the movement we've got, we need someone to stand still, and (Viduka) he's the one.

You'd like to think we are at the start of something that can be good again.

It would be nice if we can finish this season by continuing to play our football and send the people away from here for their holidays thinking: 'Wow, next season could be very good for Newcastle United.'

This will still be a poor season for Newcastle United - it won't be remembered with pleasure by the fans, but we can plant the seeds for next season. I don't want to be known as the manager who got the lowest points.

Tayls came in with a virus and we took him out on the pitch but it was obvious he was too weak to play in a game like this. But there were no problems putting David Edgar in. He tried to win a couple of balls that Franz Beckenbauer in his prime wouldn't have won, but the longer the game went on the more assured he looked. He's been terrific since I've been here. He's captained the Reserves, and I felt he deserved his chance."

Reading boss Steve Coppell said:
"Each game now takes on critical proportions. But with five games we still control our destiny.

Until you get 40 points every manager feels uncomfortable and now we need to make sure we are here last season. I thought we placed some promising football but we did not really have that cutting edge."

  
     
  Match Report:  
  The positive feeling continued to flow on Tyneside, as Newcastle ran out as comfortable 3-0 winners against Reading. The three pronged attack again proved to be the difference with all 3 strikers getting on the score sheet.

First to strike was Obafemi Martins, on 18 minutes he latched onto a smart pass from Nicky Butt, wrong footed the defence and then coolly slotted the ball home with his right foot.

For the rest of the half, Newcastle dazzled the opposition with fine possession football, a remarkable turnaround in styles, given what was witnessed a month or so ago.

Making it 4 goals in 4 games, Michael Owen doubled Newcastle’s lead with a smartly taken goal just before the interval. Attacking full back Habib Beye charged down the flank, played in an excellent ball, and Owen cleverly clipped the ball first time into the far corner of the net.
 		  
 
The Newcastle player’s reaction to the goal was significant. The obvious jubilation again proving that they have a new found desire to play for the club under Keegan. However, there would have been a few hearts in mouths amongst the fans, as Owen’s head dangled a few feet above the ground, after Beye had lifted him over his head!

The second half started as the first had finished. Newcastle kept possession and attacked Reading at every opportunity, much to the delight of the smiling masses.

They didn’t have to wait long for the next goal, and on 58 minutes, Australian Mark Viduka made it 3 for 3 for the Newcastle strike force.

Again it was Beye who was the provider, another marauding run down the right flank saw him unselfishly square the ball to Viduka, who took one touch before coolly smashing the ball in the corner of the Gallowgate End net.
 
 

For the home fans you could almost sense the 2nd Keegan era officially arriving, as the jubilant fans relaxed and enjoyed the football for the first time this season. A chant of "are you watching Big Fat Sam?" emphasising what they want and what they had expected from their former manager.

Further chances to make it four came and went, but the smiles on the faces stayed, as Newcastle’s relegation fears disappeared into a distant memory.

Making it 3 wins out of 3, and 4 games unbeaten, sees us on 38 points in 12th place, which is 2 points behind Spurs in 11th and 2 points ahead of Sunderland in 13th.
 

  
 

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