Leeds United (a) Premier League
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Date: Saturday 25th September 1999, 3.00pm Venue: Elland Road Conditions: Mostly sunny Admission: £tbc Programme: £tbc |
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Leeds United |
Newcastle United |
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3 - 2 |
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| Half time: | 2 - 1 | |
| Score Sheet: | ||
(11) Bowyer
(39) Kewell
(77) Bridges |
Shearer
(42) Shearer (54)
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Teams |
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Martyn |
Harper Barton Marcelino Goma Domi Solano McClen Speed Dyer Shearer Ketsbaia |
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| Substitutes: | ||
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(73)
Huckerby for Smith (78) Haaland for Bakke |
Robinson
for Ketsbaia (43) Charvet for McClen (73) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Mills Jones Robinson |
Glass Hughes Wright |
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| Bookings: | ||
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Martyn Radebe Smith Kelly Batty |
Domi Marcelino Speed |
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| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Attendance:
40,192 - biggest attendance of the season at
Elland Road. |
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Goals |
11 mins Erik Bakke teed up Lee Bowyer to smash the ball past Steve Harper from outside the box 0-1
39 mins Harry Kewell headed home David Batty's right wing centre 0-2
42 mins Home custodian Nigel Martyn was penalised for carrying the ball outside of his area and Alan Shearer headed home Nolberto Solano's free kick 1-2
Half time: Leeds 2 Newcastle 1
54 mins Didier Domi's cross from the
right flank was helped on by a touch from Kieron Dyer and Alan Shearer
shot home 2-2
77 mins Lee Bowyer set substitute Darren Huckerby free down the left and his cross was knocked home by Michael Bridges 2-3
Full time: Leeds 3 Newcastle 2
We Said |
Bobby Robson:
"Alan (Shearer) again led by example. He has shown
great leadership qualities and great movement and proved quite firmly that
he is back on form.
"He was a national hero in Euro 96 and showed throughout the 90
minutes here some brilliant centre forward play. Yet he suffered a barrage
of name calling and you have to ask why. What does he have to do?"
They Said |
David
O'Bleary:
"No disrespect to
Newcastle but we should have been four or five goals up by the break..
"In the end we got out of jail.
But I always thought we were going to win the game because the way we
played, particularly in the first half, was superb.
"We played the way I want us to and it would have bean a crime if we
hadn't taken the three points.
"We want to get it on with anybody and everybody.
"I am hungry for success and I have a group of people who want to
come along with me. We are no fancy Dans and we do not play ridiculous
football. The signings we will make in due course will be people who will
form part of the plans for the next five years.
"We do not want people who would like to come here for a final pay cheque.
"Lots of people told me not to take this job but we are in a position where we will try to win everything this season. Whether that will happen I do not know - maybe we won't win anything.
"But we are getting the fans in
and exciting them with our brand of football. A measure of how far we have
come in a year is the recent Nike deal. Not so long ago they would not
have chosen the white of Leeds for that. They would not have been
interested."
Stats |
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To follow |
Waffle |
So, no repeat of the "Alamo" style smash and grab victory gained here last season. However, in the face of a fast-moving and potentially lethal Leeds side, Newcastle emerged with no little credit from a game that will have undoubtedly delighted any "neutrals" watching - whatever they may be....
Critics may justifiably point to a proverbial bucketful of chances
spurned by Michael Bridges, and also a gaping hole in the middle of our defence
mostly caused by Warren Barton or Marcelino going AWOL, but at 0-2 down things could
have developed into an Old Trafford-style humiliation.
That they didn't is partly due to the injection of confidence (or stimulants)
that Robson has given Alan Shearer, and some commonsense tactical tweaks that
saw a second half display worthy of a side at the other end of the table.
To come back from two down, only to throw away a seemingly secured
point may haunt us in the months to come, but I for one am glad to see the back
of Elland Road, Old Trafford, The Dell, Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane, all
recurring arenas of misery for us in recent years.
The injuries and bookings may continue to mount up and stopgaps like Jamie
McClen may not compare to some of the young stallions broken in by David
O'Leary, but the predominant mood amongst the small travelling section
post-match still seemed optimistic.
While the manager bemoaned the loss of the Georgian loon, I have to say that I
wasn't as gutted, and a quick look at his league goals tally may make Bobby
reconsider.
Some of this seasons expected strugglers may have gained early
premiership points, but enough clubs remain within striking distance of us for a
pre-Xmas run of form to dispel doubts about our place amongst the so-called
elite.
Nil desperandum, as they say in Benwell.