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Sheffield United (a) Friendly
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Date: Sunday 26th July 2015, 1.00pm. Venue: Bramall Lane Conditions: rained throughout Admission: £15 (£10 NUFC ST holders) Programme: special testimonial issue £2 |
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Sheffield United |
Newcastle United |
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2 - 2 |
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| Half time: | 0 - 1 | |
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| Score Sheet: | ||
McNulty (49)
Freeman (86) |
Wijnaldum (40) De Jong (79)
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Teams |
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Long Freeman Collins McEveley McFadzean Woolford Basham Baxter Murphy McNulty Adams |
Krul |
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| Substitutes: | ||
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(46) Campbell-Ryce for Woolford |
Aarons for Perez (46) Obertan for Anita (59) Lascelles for Taylor (69) De Jong for Wijnaldum (73) Armstrong for Cisse (79) Abeid for Sissoko (79) Gouffran for Colback (88) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Willis Di Girolamo Calvert-Lewin |
Darlow Satka |
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| Bookings: | ||
| None | None | |
| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Attendance: 12,002 including 2,207 away followers in the upper tier of the Bramall Lane Stand.
After initially refusing to sanction matchday sales for away fans, the Blades did put unsold places returned by NUFC on public sale - but kept quiet about it, leaving the likes of us to tell the world.
Only
three sides of Bramall Lane were open to the public, with the John
Street Stand (above) closed, save for the corporate boxes and disabled
areas.
Among those present were ex- Newcastle coaches John Carver and Steve Stone - both guests of Chris Morgan, having played their part in arranging this game while in post at SJP. Carver's link to Morgan dates from when they worked together at the Blades during Gary Speed's time in charge.
PS:
The clapping - or lack of it - in the game is worth a brief mention.
Some pre-game mention of John Alder and Liam Sweeney by the announcer
brought a round of applause, while the eleventh minute of the first
half saw away fans clapping, presumably reviving the Gary Speed
tribute. |
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Goals |
40 mins Papiss Cisse's blocked effort stemmed from a poor backpass but fell nicely for Georginio Wijnaldum to tuck the ball home from 15 yards for his second goal in as many games. 1-0
Half time:
Blades 0 Magpies 1
49 mins
The Blades
swept upfield and exposed our static midfield and defence, Che
Adams playing in Mark
McNulty to draw Tim Krul and slide the ball home.
1-1
79 mins
Substitute
Siem de Jong restored Newcastle's
lead when a Jack Colback
corner was flicked on by Cisse and the unmarked Dutchman converted with a close
range shot in front of the away contingent.
2-1
86 mins
Kieron Freeman spectacularly hammered the ball home from distance in front
of the Kop with Tim Krul getting a slight touch as it flew past him. 2-2
Full time: Blades 2 Magpies 2
We Said |
Steve McClaren commented:"For two weeks we have done nothing but travelling. We have been going through time zones and it takes a few days to get over that.
"We have talked about just focusing now and the intensity of games. We did that today and we have to just get ready for Southampton.
"As always with new signings - we said at the beginning - we have to be patient. We have to get the right players and when the right players are available we will try to get them in.
"We have done that so far.
"We were quite
fortunate with Wijnaldum and Mitrovic will have 10 days with us.
And Mbemba, we are hoping, will finally
secure the visa to get to join us as well.
"Gini getting a couple of goals in the two games that he's played, showing his
quality and that's what we’ve got in Mitrovic and Mbemba. That’s what the
club promised at the end of last season and the club have delivered on three
very good players.
"I don’t know (if there will be
more to come). As I said before, we've got to be patient, they've got to be
the right players. I'm happy with the players that we've got here, I'm happy
with the additions."
On the absent Fabricio Coloccini:
"We've had no official approach. Colo's been working with us on and off, nursing his Achilles at the present moment and getting through some work as well but he’s been a first-class professional.
"I've come through the door, he's the captain and like everybody else we want to see him on the field and playing for this team."
They Said |
Nigel Adkins said:
"We've still got a couple of weeks to go before we kick off the league season, but the players have been superb. We have played Premiership opposition in our first game at Bramall Lane and it was an excellent game for us. We had a great defensive shape, put ourselves in positions where we want to go forward, have created some good opportunities and scored good goals.
"There is still a lot of work to do, we are building for a whole season but the application and attitude has been spot on so far in all of the games. It was another good progressive performance and you have to take into account the standard of the opposition."
Chris Morgan said:
"I’m truly
honoured to have represented this fine football club. After finishing as a player, I was lucky enough to be granted the chance to
coach. In the 12 years I’ve been here, I’ve been privileged to work with some fine
managers and people.
"Truly, I’m honoured and humbled at what has gone on and I want to thank everyone from Newcastle as well. Just like those wearing
red and white, those wearing black and white are true football supporters.
"From what we’ve seen so far,
it bodes well. The lads gave as good as they got going forward against a really
strong Newcastle team. You can see the little bits of play, little things that
they’re working on during training, coming to fruition."
Stats |
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Rolando Aarons 45+18+21+90+45=219 Mehdi Abeid 0+0+0+65+11=76 Vurnon Anita 45+90+90+25+59=309 Adam Armstrong 45+18+0+45+11=119 Gael Bigirimana 45+18+0+90+0=153 Remy Cabella 0+0+0+0+0=0 Papiss Cisse 45+72+69+45+79=310 Jack Colback 45+90+90+0+88=313 Fabricio Coloccini 0+0+0+0+0=0 Karl Darlow 45+45+0+45+0=135 Siem De Jong 45+72+69+15+17=208 Paul Dummett 0+0+0+0+0=0 Rob Elliot 0+0+0+0+0=0 Shane Ferguson 45+18+0+90+0=153 Curtis Good 45+0+0+0+0=45 Yoan Gouffran 45+72+0+75+2=194 Massadio Haidara 45+72+65+0+90=272 Daryl Janmaat 45+72+90+45+90=342 Tim Krul 0+45+45+0+90=180 Jamaal Lascelles 45+90+45+0+21=201 Sylvain Marveaux 0+0+0+0+0=0 Gabriel Obertan 45+18+69+45+31=208 Ayoze Perez 45+18+21+45+45=174 Emmanuel Riviere 45+0+0+0+0=45 Lubo Satka 45+0+0+90+0=135 Moussa Sissoko 45+72+90+45+79=331 Steven Taylor 0+0+45+0+69=114 Cheick Tiote 45+0+0+0+0=45 Haris Vuckic 0+0+0+0+0=0 Georginio Wijnaldum 0+0+21+45+73=139 Mike Williamson 45+90+90+0+90=315 Freddie Woodman 45+0+45+45+0=135 Our last friendly meeting with the Blades also ended in a draw, with a 1-1 stalemate at SJP in August 1985 memorable for some abuse from home fans of Newcastle manager Jack Charlton, which led to his resignation. Given that there were less than 5,000 there, he had good ears... Newcastle failed to beat a team managed by Nigel Adkins on their travels for the third time, following competitive visits to his Scunthorpe (lost 1-2) and Southampton (lost 0-2) sides. |
Waffle |
Steve McClaren blamed his side's lethargic display at a soggy Bramall Lane on fatigue caused by the
ir North America tour itinerary, but the lack of imagination and inspiration on show was only too familiar for regular Magpie watchers including former boss John Carver.Just over 2,200 away fans made the journey for an early afternoon (1pm) kickoff against third tier opponents, but there were no different faces in the Newcastle squad, with Aleksander Mitrovic yet to join his new colleagues and Chancel Mbemba awaiting the outcome of his work permit hearing.
And in terms of existing players, fitness concerns meant there was no sign of messrs Coloccini, Tiote, Dummett, Cabella, Riviere, Marveaux or Good while Haris Vuckic was otherwise engaged with the U21 squad in Holland. The fate and future of Rob Elliot means unmentioned.
A bright start from Newcastle saw Papiss Cisse curl a shot off the goal frame within the first three minutes. However the Premier League side soon lost their way and were slightly fortunate to have kept their goal intact before taking a 40th minute lead on a brand new pitch installed at a cost of £1m, but already looking worn in places.
Cisse's blocked effort stemmed from a poor backpass to send United in ahead at the break, but parity was restored within four minutes of the restart when Mark McNulty beat Krul with the Newcastle defence all at sea.
A rare piece of cohesive play on 52 minutes saw Wijnaldum, Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko link up well, but Massadio Haidara end his run into the box by shooting into the side-netting. At the other end, Steven Taylor kept the scores level in the 61st minute with a headed intervention after Krul came off his line but was beaten by Matt Done's shot.
Substitute Siem de Jong looked to have won it with a close range finish, only for the Blades to find a second equaliser late on, Kieron Freeman spectacularly netting with a first-time effort. Ex-Forest player Freeman was given his senior debut by McClaren during his stint at the City Ground in 2011.
And with the rain continuing to fall, testimonial recipient Chris Morgan was introduced for the final three minutes, during which Newcastle saw strong spot kick appeals for handball ruled out and Morgan tried his luck with a late free kick outside the box conceded by Mike Williamson.
However there was to be no dream winner for the long serving defender and the game ended all square, two local charities and the Gary Speed Trust benefiting from the proceeds.
Biffa