Martyn Woolford gave Newcastle an untimely reminder of how hard life outside the Premier League can be as his double condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe.
The winger struck in the 53rd and 79th minutes - either side of a Kevin Nolan equaliser - to ensure Chris Hughton's Newcastle failed one of the acid tests of life in the Coca-Cola Championship - a wet Tuesday at Glanford Park.
Newcastle's winless run now stands at four games, and this defeat, 13 years to the day after Kevin Keegan's swashbuckling side famously beat Manchester United 5-0, shows just how much work the club's modern day players have to do if they are to ever scale those heights again.
Scunthorpe opened the scoring 53 minutes in when Zurab Khizanishvili, facing his own goal, allowed himself to be shrugged off the ball by Gary Hooper, who unselfishly squared for former York winger Woolford.
Geremi could have brought his side level moments later when he lashed over, but Nolan showed him how to do it with 25 minutes to go as he grabbed his seventh goal of the season. It was a picture-book goal for Nolan, as he arrived right on time on the edge of the area to hammer home into the bottom corner after a storming break from Danny Guthrie had created the chance.
Nolan again went close with a diving header after Ryan Taylor's cross, but rather than sit back and defend a point, Scunthorpe pressed for a winner which duly arrived 11 minutes from the end when Woolford got on the end of Sam Togwell's header to waltz through Newcastle's absent defence before leaving Steve Harper with no chance.
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Yvonne M, am with ya sister. It is getting boring now with Sunderland fans thinking they are better just cos for the first time in like a decade or 2 they are higher than us. Like i said in an earlier message, they have been like a yo-yo in and out the prem where as we have been in consistantly.
In fact i miss not being in the same league. You just can't beat the derby days.
Ian, you will find most Toon fans do not slag sunderland off, the reason being they understand that whatever the league they are in they need derby matches, or is it you are afraid of the usual beatings the Toon gives you, First time in heavens knows how many years it has been since you were above us but you never shut up about it.
Calm down girls. No need for the rubbish you are talking. Peace man. I am a proud toon supporter, just wanted to get that out in the open first. I love the nufc and sufc rivalry. But it does get a bit over the top. Were both @#$% hahahahaha. I admit yes sunderland are still in the prem, and let's be honest it was only just. And come on, it was a fluke on the weekend, but i must admit i was rooting for you to beat Liverpool. I don't support either of you but if it's a choice between you and them then it's you every time. After all you are a north east team.
But Ian, as much as i applaud your loyalty for your club am sorry to say NUFC will still remain the biggest club out of the 2. Your boys have been in and out the prem like a yo-yo. As bad as we have been the last 4 or 5 seasons at least we had remained in the top flight consistantly. I just hope we use our time in the championship wisely. We need to build a nice strong squad.
smb's bobby no class - rise above it
You really are showing your ignorance now.....................go back to the snail sh it you cam from sad little girl.
I don`t see your picture, but of course Yahoo won`t allow offensive pictures on their site.
Comment number 7
how dare you even think to take a picture of the great man and stick it on your profile, you must be one ugly piece of work.
Geordies scum of the earth. Get that mans picture off your profile, replace it with a pigs rs.
Ian, ian, ian. @#$% number one.
I've come across decomposed bodies that are less offensive than you are.
iron iron iron.
and they have offered that prat houghton the managers job......i will end up changing sports very soon if astley keeps on been such a f******g prat
Tony K
Butch Hutch
Cameroon
Your so called big club are showing it now................ you wont even make the play offs, no matter how much you slate SAFC you will never be bigger than us ever again. Welcome to the fizzy pop leauge, may you stay in it for a long time to come.
FTM and every supporter that wears a shell suit.
Lost to Scunthorpe???Toons...what the heck....
just shows how thin our squad is when we miss one or two first teamers and we lose
lol. scunthorpe?????? yep were back alright clint. lol
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