Humiliated Given out to win back dignity

Feb 21 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SHAY Given is hoping a good result against Manchester United this weekend will help ease the pain of one of the most embarrassing episodes of his career.

With Given in goal and Nigel Pearson and Steve Round placed in temporary charge of the team following the shock sacking of Sam Allardyce in January, United fell apart in the second half at Old Trafford as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat.

And with Sir Alex Ferguson using his programme notes to criticise the way his close friend Allardyce had been treated by the club, as well as attacking United fans and the North East media for the pressure they create on the manager at St James’s Park, the Magpies were humiliated by their rampaging opponents.

It is a painful memory few United fans will ever be able to forget as the extent of their side’s decline was ruthlessly and enthusiastically exposed by a team they once fought toe-to-toe for the title. It was a defeat the club’s first choice goalkeeper is ashamed to have played a part in.

He said: “It was a terrible game for the club and players. Man United, on the day, were brilliant to be fair and we were poor, but to lose any game 6-0 is embarrassing and we have to put that right on Saturday and have a reaction to that and being at home helps.”

Few will give the Magpies any chance of taking anything from the game considering that they have taken just three points from the 27 on offer and have slipped perilously close to the relegation battle below them since Allardyce was relieved of his duties. Despite the initial feelgood factor generated by the return of Kevin Keegan to St James’s Park, Newcastle are yet to win in five attempts under the new manager and have scored two goals, both headers from Michael Owen.

That, though, will not count for anything on Saturday evening as Given suggested the players are desperate to make some amends for the humbling they received at Old Trafford.

“We’re expecting to get points,” said Given, who will have a fitness test tomorrow to determine whether he has fully recovered from the groin injury which forced him off against Aston Villa almost a fortnight ago. “We are in a bit of trouble at the moment so we as players are expecting to get points on the board. It’s all about everybody sticking together and working hard to get results to get us away from the bottom half of the table.

“If the likes of myself and some of the older players can help as experienced pros, then we will do that, but it’s all hands to the pump at the moment – young and old.”

Meanwhile, Andy Carroll could be on the bench against Manchester United at the weekend after he was withdrawn from the reserve squad which faced Liverpool this week.

But the teenager will face competition from Shola Ameobi, who was also withdrawn from the second string side so that he did not risk picking up an injury before this weekend’s revenge mission.

Keegan said: “Andy didn’t play on Monday because I’ve got him in the first-team squad and we didn’t want him to get injured. He’s done very well – I like him. He gives us something different to what we’ve got in the forward department and that’s why he is involved.”