Premier League - City peg back 10-man Newcastle

Eurosport - Tue, 21 Oct 10:31:00 2008

A late Stephen Ireland goal earned Manchester City a 2-2 draw at St James' Park after Newcastle fought from a goal and a man down to lead.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi scores his side's first goal of the game against Manchester City at St James' Park - 0

Ireland finished following a Robinho through ball with four minutes left to level the score and deflate the newfound optimism of the home fans.

However they would have been over the moon with a draw after the first quarter of an hour when Habib Beye was controversially sent off for a foul on Robinho in the box.

The Brazilian tucked away the penalty and, with City already dominating the play, looked odds-on for a first victory in five league matches as Newcastle struggled to string passes together.

However a second goal did not emerge and Newcastle fought back gradually as City took their foot off the pedal. They were rewarded when the ball broke to Shola Ameobi (pictured) in the box just before half-time and he finished past Joe Hart.

Joe Kinnear's side took the lead in the second half when visiting captain Richard Dunne volleyed a stunning own-goal, but they could not hold out for the remaining 30 minutes.

Beye was unlucky to see red for his challenge on Robinho. The Brazilian magician had been played in by the ever-dangerous Shaun-Wright Phillips, taking on the lobbed pass before the Senegalese tackled from just behind and to his left.

He got a small touch on the ball but referee Rob Styles, lagging behind the play, pointed to the spot and gave Beye his marching orders on his first appearance since August after an Achilles injury.

Once the incensed home players had calmed down, Robinho sent Shay Given the wrong way with the kick.

Man City had been all over their hosts, with their five-man midfield moving the ball around and even right-back Micah Richards attacking from deep. Wright-Phillips was irrepressible on that side, with Newcastle often forced to meet his runs forward with two players to keep him at bay.

Ameobi, back in the starting line-up, was the main positive for the Toon despite lacking match fitness. He combined with Obafemi Martins, another player making a long-awaited comeback, to tee up Damien Duff for their first attack on goal - but the Irishman's curled shot from the right was too close to Hart.

Ameobi scored his first goal for two years a minute before the break when Martins's cross was only half-cleared by Dunne and Duff diverted the ball into space in the box - the 27-year-old striker made no mistake.

The home players were lifted in the second half having found their way back into the match through sheer effort. They were rewarded further in the 63rd minute when a Geremi corner was met by the instep of Dunne, who accidentally sent it into the top corner from 10 yards out.

Mark Hughes on the touchline was livid that his team had thrown away their lead from such a promising position and sent on strikers Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge.

Duff broke free on the left and pulled back for Ameobi, who screwed his first-time shot wide of the near post.

Ireland hit a dipping volley towards the bottom corner which Given saved brilliantly, but the keeper could do nothing when a static defence allowed the shaven-headed Ireland international to steal in and equalise.

The midfielder almost created a winner for Sturridge when he crossed low from the by-line, but Newcastle held on to earn a vital point in their relegation struggle.

They remain second-bottom of the Premier League table. A win would have moved them ahead of Stoke, Fulham and Everton.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 38 - 57 of 57

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  1. City really need to strengthen their defence...
    Pissed­ off watching them defence...

    From Issac, on Wed 22 Oct 1:32PM

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    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
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    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Tue 21 Oct 2:37PM

  3. Not seen it but Styles is a clown. These refs need­ replacing not resting

    From Graham P, on Tue 21 Oct 1:19PM

  4. Just another page in the memoirs of Rob "52,000­ have paid to see ME!" Styles

    From R G, on Tue 21 Oct 12:58PM

  5. Great Game, shame the ref spoiled it early on.. ..

    The­ real upsetting thing about this game was Andy Carroll..­ The Newcastle team had slogged their guts out and­ showed great character for 75 minutes, getting back to­ 2-1 up with 10 men after that ridiculous ref call, and­ then Andy Carroll Comes on.. fresh legs, and what does­ he do... Walk about up front.. no passion, no­ commitment, no effort to close people down and help out­ his midfielders and defenders who had been working­ their @#$% off all game... Andy you should be mightily­ ashamed of that performance....If I was the manager you­ would now be on the transfer list !!

    From pmardle, on Tue 21 Oct 11:31AM

  6. toon robbed by ref he should be banned not the player ,­ robhino the diver must be all players from manc land­ portugese for diver must begin with r-------o cheats­ such a shame when thet just play world class

    From i.ashbourne, on Tue 21 Oct 10:52AM

  7. styles spoiled the game by his gut feeling that Bye had­ fouled. PERHAPS REFS should be allowed to review­ serious contentious decisions at halftime and rescind­ any bad decisions.
    From Bellmac

    From madandray, on Tue 21 Oct 10:37AM

  8. jose to come to city and taffy to munichs as its jock­ fergus o`l backon face pizza last season

    From mcpluker, on Tue 21 Oct 10:12AM

  9. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    From me, on Tue 21 Oct 10:11AM

  10. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    From me, on Tue 21 Oct 10:10AM

  11. NUFC need 4 world class signings to avoid the drop!!!

    From Terence P, on Tue 21 Oct 9:28AM

  12. NUFC... are holding on somehow..... hopefully it can­ only get better from here onwards! City need at least 4­ World class signings to challenge the big boys... still­ big gaps at the back ... up front and a strong holding­ player.

    From faraazmia, on Tue 21 Oct 9:19AM

  13. Good to see Newcatle turning things around a­ bit.I'm no Kinnear fan,but they have great­ supporters and I hope they stay up come the end of the­ season.

    As for Owen.He's had injuries all his­ career,yet still expects the BIG contracts.He is a­ quality striker,but IF Newcastle struggle,he won't­ think twice about jumping ship.

    Fantastic­ player,probably.Team man,doubtful!!

    From jhr881, on Tue 21 Oct 9:12AM

  14. mr styles did get it badly wrong & why wasnt­ robhino booked for blatantly handling the ball after he­ thought he was fowled!?!
    cant explain some of the­ decisions - but it is no wonder our refs are the­ laughing stock of the continent, they are constantly­ highlighting the bad decisions & are actually­ asking if there is some kind of corruption with uk­ refs!
    well done nufc (beye should have his red card­ rescinded after video evidence) a good battling­ performance once again. we rowed the storm of the 1st­ half & actually edged the 2nd half. man city show­ signs of a good side but to dominate need 3 more world­ class signings.

    From CARL, on Tue 21 Oct 9:09AM

  15. i recon murhino will come to man city and hughes will­ go to man u at the end of the season defo also major­ sighnings in the summer transfer windo @ middle­ eastlands then full steam into the champions league­ title

    From mcpluker, on Tue 21 Oct 9:04AM

  16. Poor result - if City wanna finish in top 4 we have to­ take advantage against 10 men like Liverpool have done­ 2 games already this year NOT nearly loose!!!!

    PS­ every1 bashing City on here saying the money­ doesn't work - please remember they took over the­ same day as the transfer window closed and this is only­ just begining!

    From daniellatarrant, on Tue 21 Oct 8:58AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    "Getting your foot on the ball" doesn't­ mean you can lunge through the legs of a player from­ behind if the contact with the ball is 5% and the other­ 95% is the back of the opponents legs.

    From Andy, on Tue 21 Oct 8:50AM

  18. I am pleased that shola ameobi has put his name on the­ scoresheet after his long battle with injury and lack­ of fitness. He played well and so did martins and duff.­ The ref (whoever he was) should have gone to spec­ savers cos that was NO WAY a penalty!!!

    From helmut o, on Tue 21 Oct 8:47AM

  19. Delighted that Manchester City are giving not only­ their own supporters but ALL Brits a lesson. MONEY IS­ NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER. Personally I am delighted that­ Newcastle got one point and even sad they didnt get all­ three - with 10 men that was brilliant and STYLES­ SHOULD STOP REFFING PREMIER AND CHAMPION LEAGUE MATCHES­ - IMMEDIATELY

    From not printable, on Tue 21 Oct 8:26AM

  20. I hope Hull stay up and I can see them being in the Top­ 10

    From H C, on Tue 21 Oct 8:25AM
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