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WEST BROMWICH ALBION V NEWCASTLE UNITED
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MATCH THOUGHTS:
Having secured our spot in next season Champions League qualifiers with the win against the Brum last week how do you approach a game like today? It's the last day of the season, more than often these games turn into just a day out for the fans and the lads on the pitch don't put it all in as they don't want to risk injury. But at the same time, we know the Baggies will be up for it, it's their last game in the Premiership as their getting relegated and they'll want to go out on a high note. So if we don't treat the match with the respect it deserves are we then just essentially slapping the Baggies in the face?
Personally I think there must be allowances for a final day of the season game which outcome doesn't affect either teams, or those around them position. But those who take the field cannot make the game a farce, it must still be played hard and true as it is still a Premier League fixture and the fans in the stadium paid good money, their hard earned money, to see their team play, not ponce about.
So anyway, after the match it was a case of the match panning out much the way we had hoped. Some were rested for the obvious reasons, no teams went in too hard and created any injuries, both though did push the ball about and gave it their best shot at getting all 3 points and the end result was a good signal off for both teams. The crowd was wonderful, good banter of songs between both sets of fans, before and after the match all there enjoyed each others company and created a real carnaval atmosphere. All in all a great day enjoyed by all and an end to a rather memorable season for the Toon. |
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PRE MATCH:
Coming into the game Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Gary Speed, Jonathan Woodgate, Olivier Bernard and Laurent Robert were all missing for one reason or another. Be it injury, suspension or just being rested the Toon fielded almost it's youngest ever team. The likes of Darren Ambrose and Michael Chopra were on the bench awaiting their first ever Premiership appearances for Newcastle while Stevie C got another opportunity to start for the Toon as he continues to try and impress Sir Bobby and earn a new contract with the club. Kieron Dyer was named captain again with both Shearer and Speed out while Viana got another opportunity from the start after scoring the only goal for Newcastle in our 1-0 win over Birmingham City at St James' Park which assured us a Champions League spot and to finish 3rd on the table no matter what happened today. |
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GOALS:
With the half time whistle approaching fast and the score still at 0-0 it looked like the first half was certain to end scoreless. But then again we do score some late goals in halves, all too often it seems. And sure enough we popped up to score yet another late goal. We won a corner on the right side of the pitch after some good movement forward by the team. Solano whipped it in and Jermaine Jenas, rising high above all around him, met the cross and headed home the opening goal of the match in superb fashion. |
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Early in the second half West Brom came forward and managed to equalise thanks to some good work from McInnes in the Baggies midfield. The midfielder caught the Toon flat footed and slipped a ball across them into the box which picked out substitute Scott Dobie who calmly slotted the ball home with ease, making up for a simple missed chance he blew just minutes earlier.
Dobie then completed his fine day and a Baggies come back when he sent West Brom 2-1 up. We were completely dominating the play and creating some good chances, but our failure to put the ball in the back of the net came back to punish us as a ball was sent into the box which struck one of our players and the richochete fell kindly for Scott Dobie who once again calmly placed the ball into the back of the net, sending Baggies fans wild.
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After the Albion goal we responded well, came straight back at them with a few attacks of our own and we broke them down to get the equaliser. LuaLua was with the ball, taunting the Albion defence with another one of the famous runs of his. Unable to get the ball off him Albion fouled him on the edge of the area and from the resulting free kick Hugo Viana struck the ball up and over the wall and into the back of the net for his second goal in a week, almost identical to the first.
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ROBSON'S REACTION:
"I would have been very angry had we finished the season in third place and lost to a team that has already been relegated - that would have meant we were going nowhere. I would have been really cross. I would have been just as disappointed losing a game where the three points made no difference to our position in the league as I would have if we'd needed the three points and missed out on the Champions League. It was a good job that didn't apply but the job was done last week."
"We did not have to have any sympathy for West Brom and we did not have to lose to a team which was already relegated. That would have meant we did not approach the game in the right way. Look what Arsenal did at Sunderland as a comparison. At half-time we looked quite secure and I said to the players: 'A good team would not lose this match. Arsenal would not lose this match - now can we match Arsenal?'"
"We had a series of decent chances just after half-time and we only needed one to go in and we would have been home and dry. But we showed a great attitude during the game and to be fair the players have given this club and the fans a fantastic season. You cannot crib at the players because they did go out and give a spirited display and a sensible performance against a battling Albion team."
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FINAL STATS:
Goals
 Jermaine Jenas 43'
Scott Dobie 57'
Scott Dobie 72'
Hugo Viana 80'
Subs
 Darren Ambrose 76'
 Nolberto Solano 76'
Michael Chopra 82'
Lomana LuaLua 82'
Brian Kerr 90'
Kieron Dyer 90'
Cards
None
Stadium
The Hawthorns
Attendance
27,036
Referee
G. Barber
MATCH TEAM AND RATINGS:
Starting XI
Shay Given - 7.5, some good saves but had better days
Andy Griffin - 7, good tackling as usual
Andy O'Brien - 7, good battling display
Steve Caldwell - 7.5, organised things well
Aaron Hughes - 6.5, not his usual self
Nolberto Solano - 8.5, man of the match
Kieron Dyer - 7.5, great runs and kept pressure on WBA
Jermaine Jenas - 7.5, good performance and top goal
Hugo Viana - 7, looking better on the wing and good goal
Shola Ameobi - 8, very unlucky not to score
Lomana LuaLua - 6.5, had much better days
Subs
Steve Harper - 0, did not play
Titus Bramble - 0, did not play
Darren Ambrose 5, did well for last 15 mins after coming on
Brian Kerr - 2, not enough time to make impact
Michael Chopra - 4, not enough time to make impact
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