Newcastle United 4, Huddersfield Town 3
Aug 27 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
IF Stephen Harmison returned to his beloved St James’s Park in search of a gentle game to soothe the nerves shredded by his weekend Ashes-winning heroics, he would have been sorely disappointed.
As an avid follower of Newcastle United, the Ashington Express would probably have expected something a little more vigorous after hearing of the feisty pre-season encounter between the sides. What he got was a basketball-style encounter of end-to-end flow, with plenty of the physical stuff the giants have to refrain from. Second-half captain Kevin Nolan scored the seventh and final goal of an exhilarating game to book a youthful Magpies’ place in round three of the League Cup.
United included four players with one start between them – Tim Krul’s in Palermo three years ago. Of the youngsters, Nile Ranger’s task was the most unforgiving – and perhaps unfair. The 18-year-old asked to play as the lone striker, a job he is unlikely to have performed very often in his youthful career in front of a five-man midfield who seemed more reluctant to support him than they had been Shola Ameobi at Selhurst Park at the weekend. Nicky Butt’s first-half knock would at least offer the youngster some respite, forcing Ameobi’s half-time introduction.
The senior partner scored, then went a step further in his support, treating Ranger’s cramp late on.
The tie pitched the Magpies’ future stars against the man many feel will be their future manager. With his longer hair, smart suit and manic gestures, Lee Clark looked the part. If Uefa have a touchline gesturing licence, Clark will pass his exam no problem.
The former Newcastle midfielder has built a team that is many’s favourites to win League One, and they showed the necessary character once the hosts took the lead. Within a fraction over two minutes of Danny Guthrie’s opener, the Terriers were in front. The two best chances of the opening stages fell to Geremi on his first start since March 14 within seconds of one another. Both times the midfielder got free at the back post. His first powerful header was tipped over well by Alex Smithies. His second was the easier chance, yet flew off target.
With their 4-5-1 formation, breaking from midfield was always going to be crucial, as against Crystal Palace. Nolan’s lob was ruled out for offside but prompted an explosion of activity.
A minute later Anthony Pilkington gave the ball away, Guthrie burst on to it and his low shot found the net with Premier League ruthlessness. Concentration, though, is the art most young players find difficult to learn and within the blink of an eye the Magpies had not just surrendered the lead, but conceded it. Hungarian debutant Tamas Kadar chased a long ball and was muscled out of it, on his backside pleading for a foul as Theo Robinson stroked the ball into the net.
