Newcastle 0 Boro 0 Match Report

By Andy Morgan
March 5 2007

The return of Mark Schwarzer after his mid-week lay-off was the big news going into this 117th Tyne-Tees derby at St James' Park. Newcastle were unbeaten in eight home League games and the Australian would be pivotal in Boro's attempts to halt the run of the home side.

James Morrison was once more relegated to the bench despite having a significant effect in improving matters at the Hawthorns on Tuesday. This meant Lee Cattermole was once more on the right, with Stewart Downing on the left and Boateng and Arca in the centre.

Stuart Parnaby however was recalled after an impressive substitute's appearance at West Brom. Andrew Davies made way whilst Abel Xavier was on the bench. Parnaby played right-back with Andrew Taylor on the left and Woodgate and Pogatetz in the centre.

As usual, Mark Viduka partnered Yakubu up-front in what was to be a 4-4-2 formation.

Schwarzer, Parnaby, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Cattermole (Morrison 59), Boateng, Arca (Euell 83), Downing, Viduka, Yakubu (Lee 64), Jones, Xavier

THE FIRST HALF

The game started in a lively fashion, with end-to-end play being the order of the day. Newcastle's backline of Bramble and Taylor looked shaky under the pressure of Mark Viduka however, which boded well for the rest of the game.

But it was James Milner who had the first shot in anger - a shot that Mark Schwarzer was fully behind. This occurred in the second minute and made the Boro keeper aware of the danger of the Geordies early-on.

Boro's first shot was quite frankly pathetic. Mark Viduka had a crack from twenty-five yards on four minutes that spooned wide. Perhaps he should have passed to Yakubu but there was no shame in having a shot. Unless it was a Kanu effort from one inch out…

On nine George Boateng decided to add to his collection of shots from range by blasting an effort towards goal on nine. It just about cleared the bar - perfect for rugby but not particularly useful on the football field. It was still worth the effort though particularly as it enlivened a game that could be described as tepid at best, scrappy at worst.

Possession football was the order of the day. In other words the match was as dull as hell. On thirteen Downing could have been away, and this time not to Spurs. A late (and incorrect) offside decision prevented him from going through into a one-on-one situation with Shay Given.

In other news I am trying to crochet a windmill pattern from a cross-stitch magazine. I got some beige thread for the sails today - it will allow me to finish it and then I can hang it on my wall. I may go and get a frame for it too, haven't yet decided. The match meanwhile was typified by bad passes. Indeed when an incorrect offside decision is all we have to talk about it must be quite bad.

On nineteen Newcastle had their best opportunity of the game, after Boro's defence went missing. From six yards out Obafemi Martins decided to go for the chip as opposed to the volley but Schwarzer was up to it, pawing the ball over the bar to concede a corner. A Müller Fruit Corner was more interesting than the ensuing set-piece.

Boro were playing counter-attack football but that didn't limit Boro's attacking options. On twenty-two a Newcastle handball gave Boro a free-kick some twenty yards out in a central position. Downing took it but only managed to cannon the ball into the wall.

On twenty-five Yakubu's lack of gambling showed as a Newcastle defensive error could have let him in. However the Nigerian did not gamble so the home side could comfortably clear.

A poor back-pass was the next instalment of this exciting affair, with Arca's ball threatening Schwarzer. The Australian cleared though and the excitement was over.

An unmarked Taylor header on twenty-eight threatened Boro but Schwarzer caught comfortably.

Ten minutes later (yes, that long), James Milner launched a dangerous cross into the Boro box but Schwarzer comfortably gathered.

Boro's best chance in the derby came on thirty-nine. The ball came over the top to Yakubu who laid it square to Viduka. He turned and rolled his marker before launching a shot narrowly wide of goal. It was the closest the Boro had come so far but still no coconut. Or other fruits - excepting one poor Bramble of course…

Boro were getting livelier. On forty-four Arca set off Viduka who tried to dink the ball over the onrushing defender. His ball was too heavy however and he had to settle for a corner.

Downing whipped the ball in and Cattermole snatched a shot that was deflected wide. Another corner invited more pressure on Newcastle and also resulted on our first genuine cross of the game - from Arca. Pogatetz missed the ball completely and the move broke for Newcastle. And then the halftime whistle, which quite frankly couldn't have come sooner.

THE SECOND HALF

The first action of the second half came six minutes in with a James Milner free-kick that had been awarded for a poor Cattermole challenge on Martins. It looked like it was destined for the top-right hand corner after he had curled it beyond Boro's three-man wall but fortunately it clipped the crossbar. Milner however had been a constant threat all day and Boro were right to single him out as their main cause for concern.

Schwarzer's punching - just like at Bristol City - was causing the Boro problems. A lack of distance from his fists invited further Newcastle pressure as the game threatened to light up. Schwarzer comfortably gathered.

On fifty-eight James Morrison came on for Lee Cattermole in a like-for-like swap. Cattermole had been limping but the substitution was more tactical than out of necessity - and now the side was identical to the one that terrorised West Brom in the second half of last Tuesday's game.

On sixty-two Newcastle went close with a Scott Parker effort. He darted into the box and with Schwarzer rooted he launched his shot across the goal and ever so narrowly wide.

On sixty-four manager Gareth Southgate went for a surprise substitution, with Dong Gook Lee replacing Yakubu in attack. Boro had been poor up-front this game - with neither Yakubu nor Viduka seriously troubling the Newcastle defence. The hope was that Lee could provide the spark that Boro had been lacking.

On sixty-five Pogatetz broke from defence and should have fed Lee. Unfortunately Pogatetz never looked up and decided that running into a defender would be far more profitable.

On sixty-nine Martins should have scored on the tail end of a free-kick but his touch deserted him in the box, allowing Schwarzer to comfortably gather.

On seventy-eight the tricky Milner was replaced by Antoine Sibierski - relieving many Boro fans who would be glad to see the back of the midfielder. A corner ensued, one that had been sloppily conceded by Boro, which ended in a scramble in the Boro box that Schwarzer eventually gathered.

On eighty-three Julio Arca was substituted to a chorus of boos such is the narrow-mindedness of some Newcastle fans. Arca had picked up a knock and in preparation for the Manchester United match next week, he was replaced by Jason Euell to recover.

On eighty-seven Newcastle threatened once more, and again it was Martins. He ghosted through the Boro defence and blasted his shot high and wide twelve-yards out and under pressure from both Woodgate and Pogatetz.

Boro's best move of the game, playing from left to right set Boateng off for another one of his infamous shots. This one wasn't too bad but it still only brought out a comfortable save from Given.

In the final minute Scott Parker got in behind the Boro backline and forced a magnificent save out of Schwarzer, who kept Boro's hunt for a precious away point on track. His effort was a powerful header in the region of the penalty pluke.

And that was that. Boro earned a positive point away from home in a game where defences dominated. Viduka, Yakubu and Lee were never really in it, which was unfortunate against a side who before today had not kept a clean sheet in fourteen League games.

At the other end Boro limited Newcastle to half-chances with only James Milner and occasionally Obafemi Martins causing us problems. Ultimately however it was a poor, patchy game that was more about tactics than entertainment. A positive result then, if not a positive game.

FULL TIME FAN REACTION

"I'd take the point any day"
Boro1876

"A decent result, it's always hard going to St. James' Park to get one over on the Geordies, but with Man Utd coming up, this was a good result"
Juno

"If we had scored one more - we would have won!"
Deeno


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