September 2009 Archives

NEWCASTLE United drew 1-1 at St James's park and there was no doubt who was happiest with the draw.

Newcastle's 100% home record came to an end and a first half penalty miss was certainly not lost on Toon fans from Danny Guthrie.

Newcastle created a few chances in the second half but Marlon Harewood's late equaliser ensure their unbeaten record is still in tact.

However, the positives for Newcastle are that they have a three point cushion over West Brom in second place.

They can extend that even further on Saturday against Bristol City before they sign off for the international break too.

Replay chief sports writer Lee Ryder's live coverage by clicking the link below.

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MARLON Harewood wants Newcastle United fans to judge him on goals - not his horror collision with a Gallowgate legend.

Harewood is set to make his first appearance in black and white at St James's Park tonight hoping United fans have forgiven him for his challenge on Shay Given.

The incident happened at Upton Park in the 2006/07 season, when both players went for the ball and the coming together left Given hospitalised and out of the game for two months with a perforated bowel.

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JONÁS Gutiérrez says that helping Newcastle United get back into the Premier League is equally as important as keeping his flickering World Cup dream alive.

Gutiérrez returns to the Newcastle side against Queen's Park Rangers tonight after a month out with a muscle injury to resume the pursuit of a personal double target - to help fire United back into the top flight at the first time of asking before ending the season in South Africa with his country.

And while United have made a near flawless start to their Championship campaign, Gutiérrez's hopes of playing in his first World Cup finals are hanging by a thread after Argentina suffered back-to-back defeats in the former Real Mallorca man's absence. It makes Gutiérrez's next four games for club and country crucially important - and he believes that there is nothing to choose between his twin aims for a vital season.

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CHRIS HUGHTON is hoping there will be no limit to Kevin Nolan's fine goalscoring form.

Man of the moment Nolan goes in against Queens Park Rangers as top scorer with six goals and in inspired form after making superb start to the season and netting his first ever hat-trick against Ipswich Town.

Many Toon supporters were hardly overwhelmed by Nolan's arrival from Bolton in January, with the Scouser only receiving a lukewarm welcome following the high-profile departures of Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia.

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THEIR renaissance may have owed a lot to player power, but Alan Smith says that the Newcastle United squad are in no doubt as to who the boss is at St James's Park.

With his quiet demeanour and without the authority of a permanent job, Chris Hughton is hardly the kind of figure to strike fear into players.

In fact, the former Republic of Ireland full-back will have you believe that Newcastle's rise to the top of the Championship is entirely down to a squad which regrouped after a tumultuous summer. And, while Smith admits a greater sense of responsibility has been crucial to the Magpies, he warned those outside the club not to underestimate their caretaker boss.

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STEVEN TAYLOR believes that Newcastle United did enough to provide a performance that the Geordie faithful will "never forget" at Portman Road.

The defender was one of just three players in the United side on Saturday who remain at St James's Park from Sir Bobby's five-year stint as boss.

And he feels that the legendary former England chief would have been proud of the performance.

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KEVIN Nolan has revealed how a pre-match pep talk from three-year-old daughter Jasmine helped inspire his first hat-trick in professional football as Newcastle cruised to a 4-0 win at Ipswich Town.

Nolan took his goal tally to six for the season at Portman Road and the former Bolton midfielder's form has been a major factor in the Magpies' excellent start to the season in the Championship.

Nolan struck twice in as many first-half minutes and completed his stunning hat-trick shortly after the break as the Ipswich defence was ruthlessly dismantled by United's attacking power.

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A HAT-TRICK from Kevin Nolan helped Newcastle United blitz Ipswich Town 4-0 to go top of the Championship on an emotional night at Portman Road.

Tributes were paid to Sir Bobby Robson as two teams he led with great distinction faced off for the first time since his sad passing.

There was the full fanfare of balloons, an opera singer, the parading of the UEFA and FA Cup that Robson won during his time in charge at Ipswich and the naming of the North Stand to the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

But as the Magpies went top of the Championship quietly, there was nothing quiet about the away fans from Tyneside who celebrated three points and the life of Robson in wonderful fashion.

Newcastle snatched the lead on 29 minutes when R Taylor curled in a free-kick from the right hand side and Nolan rose high to plant a firm header beyond Richard Wright from the edge of the six yard box.

And less than two minutes later Nolan added his second.

The midfielder latched on to a ball over the top down the left channel, cut inside, and calmly applied the finish with his right foot between Wright and the post.

Then it was 3-0 to Newcastle on 33 minutes when Ryan Taylor curled home a free-kick past Wright with a dipping effort.

Newcastle were starting to make it look easy and Ipswich were blown away by the three-goal salvo.

Half-time saw a poignant rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way which was sang along with gusto by both the Toon and Ipswich fans as the stadium rose to pay tribute to Sir Bobby.

Newcastle though looked in rampant mood as the second half started after scoring three goals on the road for the first time since Pompey last season.

And they made it four when Nolan headed home on 49 minutes.

This time Khizanishvili made a great run down the right and did well to keep the ball in before playing in Ryan Taylor, Ranger knocked it down and Nolan bundled home his hat-trick.

Marlon Harewood came on late on and made a good impression as he bundled his way through two defenders and struck a firm shot on target that Wright palmed away.

And with that United played out the rest of the match in relative comfort and took to the summit of the Championship with a performance Sir Bobby would have been proud of.

I was at Portman Road, and you can read my live blog by clicking below.

MARLON HAREWOOD was today handed the Newcastle United number 10 shirt and said: "I can't wait to get my career back on track."

The striker signed on a three-month loan deal with the Magpies from Aston Villa after starting just one game with the Villains in two years after being confined to the bench and making 28 sub appearances.

The Londoner told the Chronicle: "I'm delighted to sign for a club like Newcastle United.

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CHRIS Hughton has dismissed worries about Marlon Harewood's fitness and frame of mind as he backed the big striker to be an instant hit at St James's Park.

Once a highly-rated target man, Harewood's career has stalled in recent seasons and he has been out in the cold at Aston Villa since returning from an unsuccessful spell at Wolves.

But Hughton, who said he has carried out extensive checks on the striker and has been tracking him for months, believes that such fears are unfounded.

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