Championship - Morgan own goal sends Toon top

Eurosport - Mon, 02 Nov 20:45:00 2009

Fortune favoured Newcastle as a huge deflection saw them beat Sheffield United 1-0 to return to the Championship summit.

Sheffield United's Matt Kilgallon and Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez battle for the ball - 0

In a real Monday night battle at Bramall Lane, Chris Morgan was the unfortunate victim as Ryan Taylor's long-range shot took a colossal deflection to inflict a fourth straight defeat on Kevin Blackwell's side.

Morgan's own goal was typical of the Blades' recent luck, and replays showed it really should not have stood after the combative Kevin Nolan had fouled Kyle Walker in the build-up to the goal.

Blackwell had received some much needed good news ahead of kick-off, with Jordan Stewart and Andrew Davies returning from injury to boost a squad that was still missing eight first team players.

Such a catastrophic injury list meant Blackwell was chasing his first win in seven matches, yet he should have been granted the perfect start as Darius Henderson screwed his third-minute shot wide with the far corner gaping.

Newcastle had Alan Smith back from suspension in the heart of their midfield and it was his presence that allowed Chris Hughton to start Nolan behind lone striker Andy Carroll.

The formula almost paid off just seven minutes in as Nolan led the breakaway before Taylor crossed for Carroll, but twice the towering striker saw goalbound efforts superbly blocked by Walker.

It would be the only chance of a tough first half for Carroll, who often found himself the target of aimless long balls, allowing Morgan to rough him up as both men picked up bookings before half time - ruling Morgan out of United's next game against Barnsley.

Sheffield United were playing most of the early football, and the best move of the half saw Henderson tee up Keith Treacy from Stewart's cross, but the former Blackburn man leant back too much as his volley flew over.

Moments of quality became increasingly limited though as the half wore on, with Stephen Quinn and Ryan Taylor both snatching at half chances as the game grew progressively more attritional.

Morgan and Carroll were at the heart of that battle, both picking up bookings, and the game really needed a goal as Ched Evans produced a carbon copy of Henderson's early miss right on the stroke of half time.

The interval did little to curb the Morgan/Carroll war as the latter went down feeling he should have had a penalty just two minutes into the second half, but the referee quite rightly waved appeals away.

Hughton, who earned a new contract this week, had obviously delivered some inspirational words to his troops at half time and his team responded, going ahead within seven minutes of the restart.

First Nolan forced a fine one-handed save from Ian Bennett and then Carroll struck an upright with a towering far post header, before a huge slice of luck handed Newcastle the lead.

Walker was the guilty party as far as the home side were concerned, losing possession inside his own half, and from Nolan's resulting tackle Taylor saw his 25-yard effort take a massive deflection off Morgan for 1-0.

The goal was not without controversy as replays showed Nolan's tackle in the build-up to the goal was in fact a foul, and it left Walker needing medical treatment as Taylor struck, the full back needing to be replaced moments later.

United now needed some of their famous battling qualities to find a way back into the match, but Stewart could only head their first chance of an equaliser over after Treacy's devilish cross.

The Blades were beginning to find some joy down their left flank and Henderson wasted another glorious chance with 15 minutes remaining, failing to lift the ball over Harper from five yards after Matthew Kilgallon's cross had eluded Coloccini.

Hughton responded to the problem, replacing right back Danny Simpson with Nile Ranger, which in turn shifted Taylor to right back.

The change worked, preventing the hosts from creating any chances until injury time, when Steve Harper made himself an absolute hero at the death.

As United threw one last ball into the box, Henderson looked like he had to score as the ball fell to him five yards out, but Harper stuck out a desperate left arm to make sure Newcastle went top.

Ben Blackmore / Eurosport

Comment 16 - 35 of 35

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  1. Kevin P
    Nice one mate; i left you a comment on­ 'Mcgugan denies bluebirds late on' link after­ your game at Cardiff.
    Cardiff fans don't agree with­ it tho as they have given me the thumbs down!

    From cameron w, on Tue 3 Nov 6:46PM

  2. I did say 3-0 to the TOON last night,but i will take­ what we got

    From Davy, on Tue 3 Nov 4:09PM

  3. Well that was the best goal since John Beresfords­ fantastic strike on a cold night in the USSR,but we­ will take them all.I thought the Blades upped their­ game and gave us a real battle,as they always have done­ down the years,boy i used to enjoy going to the­ Sheffield games in my youth ahhh.Back to the game and i­ wish that we had half a team of Carrolls,it had to be­ one of his best games for us and i bet he enjoyed every­ moment of scrapping with Morgan.What about Morgan eh!,i­ just love the guy to bits...true sheffield­ steel.
    Don't know what Coloccini was up to last­ night,could have been sent off the idiot,and Guttierez­ was again useless.We dont have any speed down the wings­ so i believe that the Manager will have to start­ looking at Lua Lua and a couple of the other kids.
    It­ was'nt a pretty game to watch,but never mind,we are­ top of the league.....i say,we are top of the league.

    From Davy, on Tue 3 Nov 4:07PM

  4. Great result for you lot and good to see Newcastle at­ the top. Not pretty and you rode your luck but who­ cares. Few sides will go to Bramall Lane and come away­ with 3 points.

    From KEVIN P, on Tue 3 Nov 2:22PM

  5. I thought it was a cracking game, Carrol was superb and­ grafted his nuts off. Reckon its time Jonas went tho, I­ liked him when he first came but he's looking a­ right waste of time at the moment

    From Tony K, on Tue 3 Nov 1:53PM

  6. I agree Cameron,so what if your lot are jammy b­ astards you've gotta take them when they­ come,goodness knows NE teams don't get many­ breaks.But at least our beach ball had the good grace­ to have no arms or legs !

    From jack torrance, on Tue 3 Nov 12:40PM

  7. Why the big hoohah over the bit of luck; and i've­ just seen that asrehole blackwell's interview -­ sore loser form the School of Ferguson that one!
    The­ thing is, Sheffield upped their game 20% last night, as­ do ALL the teams that play us in this division. Mark my­ words, ugly or not, this was a BIG win; psychologically­ too, as WBA lay down the gauntlet and we have responded­ in the only way how.
    I am still not happy about playing­ one up front though; to me, it sends out the wrong­ message to the opposition - still, roll on Saturday!!!!

    From cameron w, on Tue 3 Nov 10:31AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I love sports. Feel free to view my se xual photos---­ under "JennyXA" @ Afro M i n gle - c - o - m-­ -- where you- can

    find

    many

    nice

    sports---­

    BABES:)

    From jennysomkolp, on Tue 3 Nov 1:40AM

  9. jmh_tru: God your so fecking boring................

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Tue 3 Nov 12:08AM

  10. Just got in from the match and i have to say like the­ donny match i'm grateful for the win, but my god we­ were lucky. AGAIN. We were s h i t. And don't say­ am not a true supporter because i am, i'm speaking­ the truth. We seriously need to get our act together.

    From Richard C, on Mon 2 Nov 11:27PM

  11. well done lads keep it up. i dunno why but when­ newcastle get some luck it is emphasised soooo much and­ used to attack us! its actually ridiculous, the refs­ always hate us and always try to anger us at home­ matches. i just dont get it.

    oh well, get back to the­ premier league lads.

    From John G, on Mon 2 Nov 11:23PM

  12. ALAN, I've been to the pub and had a few but I­ always speak the truth when I've had a few so thank­ you for your comment and I don't need to say I hope­ the same for Leeds because you'll walk that­ division this season. Good lad, cake and chips and all­ that.

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 2 Nov 11:08PM

  13. always the same @#$% cus newcaslte a massive club and­ fantastic support, they are top for a reason. they are­ a premership club,all the best, from a leeds fan.

    From ALAN, on Mon 2 Nov 11:01PM

  14. Bob R, agree.
    Does anyone else think these comments­ like 25 are a bit dodgey, trying to get young lads to­ go out with old women and that. It's a bit like if­ your young and virile, you too can dig up your next­ lay, what's the crack?

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 2 Nov 10:49PM

  15. A nice win tonight. The sort of game you have to win if­ you're going to gain promotion. A strange­ substitution to put Harewood on and go 3 up front­ though when we were holding on. Harper pulled off a­ couple of great saves but for me Enrique was superb­ throughout and easily MOM. Surely we can spank­ Peterborough on Saturday and start to get a bit of a­ cushion at the top.

    From Bob R, on Mon 2 Nov 10:33PM

  16. ROB, good post.

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 2 Nov 10:23PM

  17. So it was a massive deflection that sent Newcastle back­ to the top of the league.Just as it was a massive­ deflected goal on the last day of the season that­ relegated Newcastle. They're top of the league,­ with probably the smallest squad in the division with­ an injury list the same as anyone else. C'mon­ reporters give credit where it's due. I think­ Newcastle have suprised a few folk this season. TV­ pundits and the media were hoping the team would­ struggle with the division. They still have a long way­ to go but all I can say is good luck to them and the­ inspirational Chris Houghton.

    From ROB, on Mon 2 Nov 10:20PM

  18. Tony K, 6, why thank you man, got no sense of humour­ some people.
    Anyway, the Mighty Toon march on (had a­ few quid on 0-2 but what the heck).

    From john.connolly01, on Mon 2 Nov 10:19PM

  19. I LISTENED TO TALK SPORT FOR THE FIRST HALF UPDATES. AT­ EVERY TURN THEY SLAGGED US OFF. THE SOUTHERN BIGOTS­ HATE US FOR SOME REASON, SO THE FACT THAT WE WERE­ PROBABLY A BIT LUCKY MAKES THE VICTORY EVEN BETTER.­ LET'S SEE WHAT THE TOON HATING SOUTHERN MEDIA MAKE­ OF TONIGHTS GAME IN THE PAPERS ETC TOMORROW.

    L T J­ BUKEM !!!!!!!!

    From SHAUN, on Mon 2 Nov 10:08PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I dunno Bobby Robson A Legend, maybe you misread his­ post too you illiterate mug, but yes in all fairness­ you are a rasist little sh**e #7.

    From jmh_tru, on Mon 2 Nov 10:05PM
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