Newcastle United

3
 

Middlesbrough

0

 

Starting Lineup

  

Starting Lineup
 

1.
18.
3.
24.
5.
4.
8.
11.
32.
17.
9.

 Given, Shay
Hughes, Aaron
Elliott, Robbie
Distin, Sylvain
O'Brien, Andrew
Solano, Nolberto
Dyer, Kieron
Speed, Gary
Robert, Laurent
Bellamy, Craig
Shearer, Alan
Goalscorers
Newcastle United Middlesbrough
Alan Shearer 27
Gary Speed 57
Oliver Bernard 82
 		  
Substitutions
Newcastle United Middlesbrough
Oliver Bernard Laurent Robert 79
Robert Lee Nolberto Solano 79
Lomano Lua Lua Kieron Dyer 84
 		 Andy Campbell Noel Whelan 46
Paul Okon Carlos Arturo Marinelli
Hamilton Ricard Alen Boksic
Bookings
Newcastle United Middlesbrough
Yellow
none Ugo Ehiogu 69
 
Red
none none
 
Additional Notes
Referee: M.R. Halsey
Attendance: 52,217
  25.
27.
37.
17.
6.
9.
7.
23.
12.
26.
11.		 Crossley, Mark
Stockdale, Robbie
Queudrue, Franck
Ehiogu, Ugo
Southgate, Gareth
Ince, Paul
Mustoe, Robbie
Marinelli, Carlos Arturo
Greening, Jonathan
Whelan, Noel
Boksic, Alen

Substitutes

Substitutes
  7.
20.
35.
2.
13.		 Lee, Robert
Lua-Lua, Tresor Lomano
Bernard, Olivier
Barton, Warren
Harper, Steve
  14.
18.
19.
15.
28.		 Okon, Paul
Campbell, Andy
Ricard, Hamilton
Beresford, Marlon
Cooper, Colin
Match Report
In a derby match which local rivals Middlesbrough never seemed to be winning, Newcastle grabbed all 3 points to return back to the top of the league. The 3-0 home win stretched Newcastle's unbeaten run in the Premiership to 7 games, and they look to increase that run.

Newcastle dominated right from the whistle, and could have produced an almost immediate goal, when a Nolberto Solano cross found the head of Alan Shearer, which forced 'Boro goalkeeper into making a fine save. In the next 5 minutes, Newcastle could have been at least 2-0 up, but Shearer headed another Solano cross narrowly over the bar, and Crossley yet again saving well from Laurent Robert.

Newcastle finally took the lead in the 27th minute, when Alan Shearer smashed home a rebound, following a Crossley save. Middlesbrough lacked creativity and depended too much on Alen Boksic, who worked tirelessly. Boksic had a great chance to even things up when he was one-on-one with Shay Given, but Given managed to save the shot.

Middlesbrough's woes continued in the second half, as Newcastle kept their stranglehold on the game. The lead was doubled when Gary Speed headed the ball home in the 57th minute. Newcastle could have increased their lead by much more as they continued to dominate the field. Craig Bellamy ran half the length of the field before pulling the ball back for Laurent Robert whose shot took a deflection. The Frenchman could only watch as it trickled just past the upright, with Crossley stranded. Robert then unselfishly released Bellamy, who saw his shot beaten away by Crossley, although he should have passed to Shearer who was standing in oceans of space on the penalty spot. The ball finally found the back of the visitors net yet again, when substitute Oliver Bernard converted his first touch of the ball to a goal. Man of the Match Dyer had produced some fine playmaking to pass the ball the Bellamy, who crossed it in perfectly from the right for Bernard to tuck it home.