|
NEWCASTLE (England), Dec 21: Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear, who has
been linked with an unlikely move to Sunderland, led his team to a 2-1 home
victory over Tottenham Hotspur here on Sunday.
The Magpies’ boss stretched his unbeaten run to six games with the thrilling
last-gasp win at St James’s Park.
Newcastle midfielder Charles N’Zogbia opened the scoring in the 12th minute of a
frantic first half but Spurs’ Luka Modric scored his second goal in as many
games to level 16 minutes before half-time.
And just as it appeared as if the fixture was going to end in a stalemate,
United substitutes Damien Duff and Mark Viduka combined in the 90th minute with
the former sealing a famous win for the home team.
Newcastle went into the clash with five successive league victories to their
name against Tottenham. However, the Nigerian international forward, Obafemi
Martins, was missing from the United line-up with a groin injury after scoring
against Spurs in four of those wins.
Shola Ameobi, the former England Under 21 international, replaced Martins in
attack alongside leading scorer Michael Owen - an obvious target for a number of
clubs in England and across Europe ahead of next month’s transfer window.
In another match on Sunday, West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in three
months when Czech striker Roman Bednar headed in an extra-time goal to see off
fellow strugglers Manchester City 2-1.
The win gives The Baggies hope they can stay in the Premier League while it
piles the pressure on City manager Mark Hughes who has seen his expensively
assembled side slump into the relegation zone.
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray made two changes from the side beaten 4-0 at
Sunderland with Bednar and South Korean midfielder Kim Do-Heon called up to the
starting lineup.
Hughes also made two switches from the side that lost at home to Everton with
Darius Vassell and Gelson Fernandes in for the injured Robinho and playmaker
Borja Valero.
There were early opportunities for both teams in a lively start to the game but
poor finishing kept the goalsheet clean.
Best chance for West Bromwich went to Bednar after 30 minutes but his shot hit
the post and then the head of diving goalkeeper Joe Hart before being cleared.
City should have scored in the final seconds of the half but central defender
Micah Richards blasted over from close range with the home defence at sixes and
sevens following a free-kick from the right headed on by Benjani Mwaruwari.
The visitors went close again eight minutes into the second half with Shaun
Wright-Phillips hammering in a right footer from 20 yards out that Hart gathered
in at the second attempt.
The lively Benjani pulled up with a leg injury shortly after and Bednar had a
chance for West Brom but weakly shot past from inside the box with the City
defence caught napping.
Mowbray brought on talented Scottish youngster Graham Dorrans for his first-team
debut after 64 minutes and four minutes later The Baggies were ahead.
Midfielder Robert Koren was the architect sliding a perfectly judged ball
through the centre of the City defence for Luke Moore who coolly kept his
composure to stroke a right-footer under the advancing Hart.
West Brom had a couple of chances to put the game away but seven minutes from
time City were back on level terms with a clever goal from Ecuador international
striker Felipe Caicedo.
He found himself in possession of the ball eight yards out but with his back to
the goal after a long throw-in from the left. His back-heeler took the home
defence by suprise and a slight deflection helped squeeze it in at the far post.
A share of the points looked on the cards but Bednar grabbed the winner two
minutes into added time when he headed in a speculative cross from Abdoulaye
Meite after losing his marker Richards.
On Saturday, Aston Villa took full advantage of the absence of the other Premier
League high-fliers, winning 1-0 at West Ham United to climb to third.
A deflected James Milner shot 12 minutes from time gave Villa 34 points from 18
games and pushed them above Manchester United (32).
Earlier, Sam Allardyce got off to a flying start as manager of Blackburn Rovers
when his new club beat Stoke City 3-0 to claim only their second home victory of
the season.
Bolton Wanderers scored twice in the first three minutes en route to a 2-1 home
win over Portsmouth while Fulham beat Middlesbrough 3-0.
Sunderland hit four for the second successive game and climbed out of the
relegation zone when they triumphed 4-1 at Hull City.
In the evening game at Upton Park, Villa had the best of the first half but were
on the defensive for most of the second as the hosts wasted several good
chances.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Milner’s speculative cross-shot
hit West Ham defender Lucas Neill and looped over keeper Robert Green.
The own goal secured Villa’s sixth away win of the season and condemned West Ham
to their fifth home defeat.
Results:
Played on Sunday:
Newcastle 2 Tottenham Hotspurs 1
West Bromwich Albion 2 Manchester City 1
Played on Saturday:
Blackburn 3 Stoke 0
Bolton 2 Portsmouth 1
Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 0
Hull 1 Sunderland 4
West Ham 0 Aston Villa 1.
|