Everton Vs Newcastle United Match Report

A match report I found from 2008, at sixteen years of age. Thought I'd post on here...

Everton Vs Newcastle United        Goodison Park       05/10/2008

Its been a strange few weeks for Newcastle United football Club; troubles in the boardroom followed the resignation of popular manager Kevin Keegan, Mike Ashley announced his willingness to sell the club, 4 straight defeats, rumours of numerous takeovers near completion and the appointment of interim manager Joe Kinnear. 35 minutes into their away clash at Everton, few would have betted on Newcastle adding to their point’s total of four.

Everton came into today’s game with problems of their own, albeit only minor compared to the havoc surrounding Tyneside. With manager David Moyes causing unrest in the boardroom by failing to sign his new contract offer in a respectable period of time. However, it was time to let the football do the talking and for each of the teams to put their off-field troubles to one side – at least for the next 90 minutes.

It was Everton that came out onto the pitch all guns blazing. Newcastle continued the way their fans had grown used to, unable to string any sort of passing moves together. Everton may have found themselves two to the good in the first opening minutes had new injury-prone striker Louis Saha regained his goal scoring touch, and prolific strike partner Yakubu kept a tight-angled effort down, as opposed to firing his effort into the Everton fans behind the goal.

Newcastle’s recently formed centre back pairing of Cacapa and 10-million pound signing of the Argentine Collocini appeared somewhat unconvincing as they conceded needless free kicks and failed to prevent promising openings for an off-form Everton side.

Newcastle finally managed a sniff at goal themselves, Left-midfielder N’Zogbia found himself in space to drive a left footed strike, only for it to fire across the goal and past the far post.

That was about as good as it got for this demoralised Newcastle side in the opening half an hour, and Everton’s persistence paid off in the 16^th minute. Some neat interchanging between Everton pair Pienaar and Osman play Leighton Baines in down the left hand side, only for Newcastle’s tireless midfielder Nicky Butt to bring him down inside the penalty area. It was a close call for referee Howard Webb, which is more than what can be said for Shay Given in the Newcastle goal, helpless as Spaniard Mikeal Arteta slotted home the penalty with ease to open the scoring.

Newcastle responded to their one goal disadvantage by showing a positive sense of grit and determination; however it was falling to pay off, Everton were almost gifted their second of the night, following more unconvincing defending from Cacapa and Collocini. The curly-haired argentines clearance ricochets off the former Lyon defender, and narrowly wide for a corner.

Newcastle’s task soon became a whole lot worse as they slumped to a 2-0 deficit, just as they had the following week against Blackburn Rovers. Leighton Baines was at the heart of it again, this time his lofted ball found Marouane Fellaini’s clever run towards the front post. The young Belgium midfielder was on hand to apply the finish, and as a result, open his Everton account.

Newcastle’s frustration began to shine through, with Nicky Butt picking up a needless yellow card for a cynical trip on powerful striker Yakubu. Although what followed was completely out of the blue, Newcastle found something to build on 2 minutes into first-half stoppage time. Geremi’s cross arched towards the unlikely source of right-back Steven Taylor, who directed his header neatly past Tim Howard, and into the back of the net forming what had seemed a very unlikely response from the travelling side.

Half Time: Everton 2 Newcastle 1

The importance of Steven Taylor’s stoppage time strike was soon clear to see as Newcastle came out of the dressing room as a team with new found confidence. And they responded in style. Goal scorer turned provider as Taylor found himself in aches of space down the right hand side almost straight from kick off. Simply squaring the ball to Michael Owen who was unable to connect, but Damien Duff was on hand with a tidy side footed finish, to unexpectedly pull Newcastle level, and put Everton back to square one.

For Everton to see their comfortable lead slip either side of the half time whistle was demoralising for them, to say the least. Their persistence they had shown throughout the first half was fading and their confidence was rubbing off them and onto Newcastle, who were suddenly causing Everton big problems as they searched for an opening to take the lead.

Louis Saha repeated Collocini and Cacapa’s party trick of the first half, as he sliced a clearance narrowly wide of his own goalkeepers net.

Both teams were now breaking down each others attacks, with neither able to conjure up much of a chance at goal. For a vast period of the second half, chances were few and far between. Leon Osman eventually giving Newcastle goalkeeper Given some shot-stopping practise, which he passed with flying colours as he palmed Osman’s rifled shot away to safety.

Just past the hour mark, both teams began to up their tempo and pick up the pace of the game, which created fast flowing, attacking football. Everton brought on youngster Victor Anichebe in place of the somewhat ineffective Saha to add some bit in the Everton final 3^rd.

The game was quickly gaining a competitive spark from both sides, Everton goal scorer Fellaini picked up a yellow card, shortly followed by Geremi, who was awarded with Newcastle’s third booking of the evening as he brought down the tricky Steven Pienaar.

Newcastle substitute Shola Ameobi wriggled his way through the Everton back-line to carve out a clear opportunity for Charles N’Zogbia only for the impressive Leighton Baines to save Everton’s blushes with a magnificently committed block just as the scoreboard operator must have been preparing to make obvious amendments.

Claims for a second penalty in the Everton camp were waved away by Howard Webb who saw nothing in Steven Taylors tussle with Anichebe, who claimed to have been tugged down as he attempted to get on the end of Yakubu’s cross come shot.

The talented youngster then came inches away from restoring Everton’s lead with a neat turn and placed effort dropped the wrong side of concerned goalkeeper Given’s far post.

Everton fans throughout the ground felt the 3 points had been won as Nigerian Yakubu powered a header at Shay Given, only for the reliable Irishman to thankfully clutch the ball to his chest.

The final whistle was met with a chorus of boo’s. Everton fans clearly dissatisfied with the result, which will equally frustrate manager David Moyes. Newcastle on the other hand, will be glad to put a poor run of 4 straight defeats behind them.

Full Time: Everton 2 Newcastle 2

Aston Villa Vs Liverpool Match Report

A match report I found from 2008, at sixteen years of age. Thought I'd post on here...

Aston Villa Vs Liverpool                  Villa Park                   31/08/2008

In a match that was always overshadowed by the on-going transfer saga regarding Liverpool’s persistent interest in Villa’s Gareth Barry, neither of the two teams were able to win the battle for revenge, forcing the two sides to share the points in a frustrating game at Villa park.

Shown live courtesy of Sky Sports, this was not a game any neutral viewers would remember as a classic. Chances were far and few between with both teams finding it equally as hard to break down the oppositions back line.

The opening 25 minutes were frustrating for both teams, neither able to show any real quality in the final 3^rd. The likes of Spanish hero Torres and new 18-million pound signing Robbie Keane were filtered out at every opportunity by Villa’s impressive defensive pairing of Martin Laursen and Curtis Davies. Liverpool’s troubles worsened mid way through the second half as star striker Fernando Torres limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. An incident not only to worry all associated with Liverpool football club, but one for new Spanish coach Del Bosque to take notice of. 19-year-old David N’Gog was the man given the job of replacing Torres in Liverpool’s front line.

Aston Villa’s best chance of the half came in the 35^th minute. Some excellent build up play down the left involving Liverpool’s long-term transfer target Gareth Barry, carved out an opportunity for Ashley Young; Young unselfishly laid it back to Villa striker John Carew, only for the big Norwegian to fire straight at the legs of Liverpool Goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Liverpool’s mid-week champions league goal hero Dirk Kuyt found himself with an opportunity for a rare Liverpool shot at goal when a cross from the left was poorly headed clear by Villa defender Nicky Shorey; Only for Kuyt to find the wrong side of the net.

Liverpool new boy Robbie Keane showed great awareness to set up Liverpool’s second clear cut chance of the first half, when he played a neat ball into the path of the on-running substitute N’Gog – all though his effort ended up landing on the top of Brad Friedel’s net to the disappointment of the travelling Liverpool fans.

The half ended on a sour note for Liverpool as Martin Skrtel picked up the first yellow card of the evening, via a foul on Villa’s John Carew.

Half Time: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool came out from their half time team talk far more positively. A number of Liverpool set-pieces, most notably corners – creating reason for panic in the Villa defence. Liverpool’s gained positivity appeared to rub-off on Aston Villa who began to create opportunities themselves. A wonderful corner from set-piece specialist Ashley Young was headed goalwards by John Carew before deflecting off the head of Martin Skrtel. Referee Martin Atkinson and his assistants failed to notice this, awarding a goal kick; much to the displeasure of Villa and John Carew in particular.

Liverpool continued to carve out further opportunities, with creative midfielder Xabi Alonso firing a shot into the outstretched legs of Jamie Carragher, and winning a another corner for his team. Friedel was called into action for the first time in the 52^nd minute as Liverpool wing-back Dossena’s attempted cross diverted towards goal, forcing the American stopper to tip it over the bar.

Villa fans were given reason to gain excitement when new signing James Milner was introduced just over the hour mark. All though a Stiliyan Petrov effort on the volley that creeped past Reina’s right hand post was all Villa could create as Liverpool began to ever so slightly dominate the play.

2 minutes later and every Liverpool and Villa fan alike must have thought new signing Robbie Keane was about to make the score 1-0 in Liverpool’s favour after a perfectly weighted ball over the top from Javier Mascherano; but the striker showed a distinct lack of confidence when he dallied on the ball, allowing Villa’s stand in right back Reo-Coker to produce an excellent recovery challenge. Keane was later substituted for Israel international Yossi Benayoun.

Villa ended the game the stronger of the 2 teams. Debutant James Milner finding himself with an opportunity to win the hearts of the Villa faithful after Mascherano was unable to clear, only for his effort to prove too weak for Spaniard Pepe Reina.

Martin Laursen almost had the last say when another Young set-piece was met by the towering defender – whos header dropped narrowly wide of the mark. 4 minutes later and Gareth Barry followed in Ashley Young’s footsteps. Planting a free kick directly into the danger zone, all though Dossena was in place to clear and save the point for Liverpool.

It ended a point each; with neither team able to break the deadlock. A game dominated by the defence of both teams, which was verified as Villa centre-back Martin Laursen was crowned man of the match.

Full Time: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0