Newcastle vs Bolton

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United Skipper Alan Shearer has been named in the squad and will undergo a late fitness test having sat out United's last three matches with a calf injury.
Trio Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Craig Moore are making good progress in recovering from their respective injuries, anthough have not been considered for the game.

Michael Owen (foot), Stephen Carr (hernia), Steven Taylor (shoulder) are still out of action.

Bolton are hoping that El-Hadji Diouf is able to make a return having recovered from a double hernia operation. It is expected that Diouf will play a bench role.

Nicky Hunt (suspended) will sit out the game however, while nine of Bolton's international players will have late assessed following their midweek matches.


Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Walker, O'Brien, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Gardner, Faye, Speed, Okocha, Ben Haim, Nakata, Vaz Te, Nolan, Davies, Diouf, Giannakopoulos, Borgetti, Pedersen.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Ramage, Babayaro, Boumsong, Elliott, Parker, N'Zogbia, Solano, Emre, Bowyer, Clark, Luque, Faye, Brittain, Pattison, O'Brien, Shearer, Ameobi, Chopra.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle's revival continued as they claimed a deserved 3-1 win over high-flying Bolton at St James' Park.

Glenn Roeder has revived Newcastle's fortunes since replacing Graeme Souness and goals by Nolberto Solano, Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi handed The Magpies a fifth win in six games under their caretaker chief.

Bolton threatened an unlikely fightback when Kevin Davies bundled home 20 minutes from time, but they wasted a couple of presentable chances in the final 15 minutes as their hopes of pushing on for a UEFA Champions League place were dealt a blow.

The Magpies are reformed characters under Roeder and they started extremely brightly, with Ameobi threatening down the right and Jean-Alain Boumsong just failing to get a shot on goal following a scramble at a corner.

African star Jay-Jay Okocha sparked Bolton into life with a raking 50-yard ball to Kevin Nolan who crossed for Gary Speed but his header lacked direction.

Roeder's policy of fielding out and out wingers has paid dividends as Solano and Charles N'Zogbia looked menacing every time they touched the ball.

Shortly after a Solano cross had been cleared, Turkish star Emre struck the inside of the post with a swerving shot from 20 yards.

Bolton also saw the woodwork working against them, as Nolan's volley following a clever knockdown from Speed was headed onto the post by the retreating Robbie Elliott.

Abdoulaye Faye came close to opening the scoring in spectacular style for the visitors, but his long-range drive flew just wide of Shay Given's goal.

Newcastle scouts unearthed N'Zogbia last year and he is flourishing on Tyneside. He created a chance for Ameobi which was wasted and later had a shot charged down following a fine tackle from Emre.

Newcastle were by far the better side in the first half and it came as no surprise when Solano fired them in front on 34 minutes. The Peruvian netted a brace last week and he followed up with a superb free kick from 20 yards which was much too good for Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Newcastle have been guilty of defensive lapses on occasions this term, but they remained focused for the remainder of the half and dealt a hammer blow to Bolton's hopes when Shearer headed them into a two-goal lead on 45 minutes.

N'Zogbia was the architect with a superb cross which allowed Shearer to rise high and head on target. The effort was well directed, but Jaaskelainen got a good hand to the ball and should have done better. However, he only pushed the ball into the air and it dropped agonisingly over the line for the visiting keeper.

The Magpies continued to call the shots after the interval, with Emre shooting wide and Shearer seeing a rasping drive fly just over the crossbar.

Newcastle's superior play brought a third goal 20 minutes from time, with Ameobi rifling home from close range after Emre's effort had landed at his feet.

Rather than killing the game off, the third goal sparked Bolton into life and Davies gave them hope when bundling home from close range after Radhi Jaidi had climbed high to head across goal.

Given had been a virtual spectator for 70 minutes, but he earned his wages minutes after Davies' goal when pulling off a fine reaction save to thwart Henrik Pedersen.

Ricardo Vaz Te then lashed wide as Newcastle threatened to buckle under the pressure, while Davies fired wide and Nolan had a goal disallowed for handball, but Boumsong won a couple of headers and tackles to settle the nerves as Newcastle held on to climb into the top ten.

Good win for Newcastle, this was a tough game for us and we managed to pull out a good result.
We thoroughly deserved the win. I thought we played very well. We were very creative going forward ( Big Al helped with his threat).

[hanuma]

So then Roeder and Shearer for keeps or go bigger and bolder?

Personally I don't think Roeder and Shearer is a lasting partnership....Roeder isn't the man for long term success at a club your size.

He has done well to get something out of the squad, but does he have the tools to go beyond mid table and build a great side? Shearer isn't ready for the main job yet either.

[Sven]

roeder and shearer both havent got the badges. so they have to get a new manager for next season.

great performence from enwcastle. Scott parker not getting pick ahead of carrick for england suppraises me.

[kennethlindheim]

Roeder does very good until now, with the same players he got better result than Souey. But I dont think he is the man, I think most of our win is because we have a lot spirit, I dont know wheter they want to prove themselves to the next manager or to find better wages when the transfer windows come because their future is all depend on the next manager.

I feel sorry for Parker if he doesnt make the world cup because he has really deserved it.

[hanuma]

I think you would have to admit that Roeder has been lucky with all your best players coming back after Souness left.

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by hanuma

I think you would have to admit that Roeder has been lucky with all your best players coming back after Souness left.

Indeed, we cannot forget that.

However, I think Roeder is more a human. Souness is more a misanthrope and he'd done Ronaldinho to a bad footballer.

[hanuma]

Lol...yeah I know what you mean.

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by Pennywise

Indeed, we cannot forget that.

However, I think Roeder is more a human. Souness is more a misanthrope and he'd done Ronaldinho to a bad footballer.

Roeder isn't doing the bloody managing! I'll bet you dollars to donuts Shearer is picking that team and telling them how to bloody play, Roeder is a convenient smokescreen.