Chelsea (a) Premier League
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Date: Saturday 11th September 1999, 3.00pm Venue: Stamford Bridge Conditions: Fine and warm Admission: £tbc Programme: £tbc |
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Chelsea |
Newcastle United |
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1 - 0 |
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| Half time: | 1 - 0 | |
| Score Sheet: | ||
(38) Leboeuf(pen) |
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Teams |
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De Goey |
Wright |
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| Substitutes: | ||
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(46)
Petrescu for Goldbaek (57) Poyet for Le Saux (68) Flo for Sutton |
Robinson
for Ferguson (74) Maric for Lee (77) Hughes for Solano (87) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Cudicini Hogh |
McClen Harper |
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| Bookings: | ||
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Wise Leboeuf Ferrer |
Solano Barton Dabizas Dyer |
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| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Attendance:
35,092 |
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Goals |
38
mins Newcastle's Gary Speed was penalised for defending an
incoming free kick from Gianfranco Zola by tugging on the shirt of
Celestine Babayaro.
Frank Leboeuf sent Shay Given the wrong way from the spot in front of the Shed End. 0-1.
Half time: Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0
Full time: Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0
We Said |
The incoming Bobby Robson:
"How many games left, 31? We need at least 40 points to stay up so an
average of a point a match is not going to be enough.
"We didn't lose
the game on character. The league table shows a great gulf between Chelsea
and Newcastle but that was not the case this afternoon.
"I can work on what I've seen today. I said to the players
afterwards: `Give me what you gave me today - I can work on that and we'll
get out of trouble".
On Alan Shearer:
"We had a long chat last night and I have worked with him in
training. He has been playing too much with his back to goal. He has got
into this static position where he backs into defenders and concentrates
on winning free-kicks. I want him to go and meet the ball and be on the
half-turn.
"If the defender can see his number, he's in the wrong position. We
need to build up his power so he can go on those diagonal runs and not
just down the gullies. I'm confident we can see him back at his
best.
"He doesn't need to be backing into defenders all the time. When the
ball is played up to him slowly he can come short and then take on the
centre-back. I'll say to him, make the defenders chase you. I also want
Alan to make more diagonal runs, which will create more chances for (Duncan)
Ferguson."
They Said |
Gianluca
Vialli:
"It's been a difficult game and probably not the best we've scored this
season, but that was understandable as it's always quite difficult to play after
an international break - and we still won.
"Newcastle have got the potential to stay up, they've got to try and get a
result to made their confidence grow and then take it from there."
Stats |
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Newcastle's winless start to the season was extended to seven games as Bobby Robson took charge of the side for the first time. The Magpies have now played ten times in all competitions at Stamford Bridge since their last victory: 1986/87: Won 3-1 Thomas 2, Beardsley 1987/88: Drew 2-2 Goddard, Wharton 1992/93: Lost 1-2 Lee (LC) 1993/94: Lost 0-1 1994/95: Drew 1-1 Hottiger 1995/96: Lost 0-1 1995/96: Drew 1-1 Ferdinand (FAC) 1996/97: Drew 1-1 Shearer 1997/98: Lost 0-1 1998/99: Drew 1-1 Andersson 1999/00: Lost 0-1 |
Waffle |
It's difficult to know which is worse: being lambasted by a nation and its media or cuddled and patronised to death by it. From arch villains to loveable victims in the space of just two weeks.
You could be mistaken for thinking the Smurfs had arrived at Stamford Bridge under the stewardship of the snowy-haired father Abraham. The Chelsea fans afforded Bobby Robson (probably those same fans that joined the tabloids in hounding him out of the country) a generous welcome and the general consensus appears to be how well we did to just lose 1-0.
What a load of crap.
Personally, I think the defeat is just as bad as the Old Trafford demise. Chelsea were there for the taking - players returning from internationals had their minds on a big game against AC Milan and this was a good time to play them. At the end of the season, a narrow defeat will be as damaging as a 4-0 thumping - our goal difference is already abysmal.
I suppose a reasonable performance does count for something, although it should be remembered that for 45 minutes at Old Trafford we also matched the treble winners. At the end of the day, we need points and soon.
The goal came from yet another decidedly dodgy decision from the arse
known as Graham Poll. Apparently Gary Speed pulled back Babayaro, although noone
else seemed to see it. At the other end Kieron Dyer was denied a definite
penalty when keeper De Goey tripped him. I guess decisions like this just don't
go your way near the bottom of the table.
The simple solution is to get some points against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds
United and find the haven of some mid-table obscurity.