Celebrate NE England

Newcastle United 0 Portsmouth 0

Newcastle United were held to a frustrating goaldress draw at St James Park as a stubborn Portsmouth side battled out for a point. It was a game full of commitment from both sides but some sloppy play in the final third meant that goalscoring chances were kept to a minimum, but Newcastle wasted two golden chances to take all three points. Ofema Martins in the first half and Michael Owen in the second wasted excellent opportunities to deby Newcastle a crucial three points in their fight against relegation.
As things stand, Newcastle are three points behind Hull and four points behind bitter rivals Sunderland as relegation looms closer.

There was a terrific atmosphere inside St James Park at kick off as the Newcastle support responded to Alan Shearer’s call for a loud and intimidating atmosphere. But Newcastle started slowly and several hopeful balls from Jose Enrique in particular were either misplaced or easily dealt with by the solid Portsmouth defence. There was plenty of early possession for the home side but a distinct lack of quality in forward areas. If Portsmouth boss Paul Hart had sent his side to St James Park with the intention of frustrating the home side in the opening stages then it was a plan that worked well.

On 18 minutes, a Nadir Belhadj ball into the box fell for Peter Crouch at the back box but there was no supporting player to pick up his low ball into the danger zone.      Sebastien Bassong was booked on 19 minutes after a challenge with Johnson. As the half went on, both sides were wasteful of poor deliveries into the area. On 22 minues, a great ball from Sol Campbell eventually reached Belhadj but his cross/shot was woeful and wasted.

Newcastle suffered more misery on 25 minutes when Jose Enrique pulled up when in possession of the ball and had to be replaced by central midfielder Danny Guthrie. Damien Duff switched to full back to cover for the absence of Enrique. As the game reached the half hour point, Newcastle began to step up their play. An Alan Smith shot looked to be on target and needed a brave block from Hermann Hreidarsson to prevent a possible goal. Soon afterwards, Newcastle could have been a goal up.      Damien Duff’s tame shot was intercepted by Viduka but he couldn’t quite force the ball past James.

On 32 minutes, a Sean Davis effort was tipped over the bar by Harper after some neat play from Pompey. With tensions growing high on and off he pitch, the small section of Portsmouth supporters in the stadium chanted ‘going down’ and took their shirts off in imitation of the Newcastle supporters. But it was Newcastle who ended the half looking the more likely side to score. A Duff shot was well struck on 37 minutes and David James needed to tip the ball behind for a corner. A Viduka header sailed over the bar on 38 minutes but the best chance of the half fell to Martins. A Beye ball into the area found Martins in an excellent position but he snatched horribly at his shot and the chance was gone. Few in the ground could quite believe how he missed - least of all the despairing Mike Ashley and Alan Shearer who both turned away in sheer frustration.

Newcastle started the second half brightly. Just after the break an Owen back heel fell to Viduka who turned and shot straight at David James in the Pompey goal. A minute later, Viduka couldn’t quite get on the end of a Nicky Butt cross.

Portsmouth felt they should’ve had a penalty on 49 minutes. Crouch looked to break away from Coloccini and appeared to have been brought down in the area - television replays remained inconclusive though as to whether there was any contact.

A David James mistake almost cost Portsmouth on 60 minutes. The England keeper dropped a cross by Damian Duff but Mark Viduka was unable to react quick enough to stab the ball home. Two minutes later, Newcastle wasted their best opportunity of the game. A Viduka ball fell to Owen who hit his shot straight at James from close range. It was a dreadful effort from a player whose body language suggested that he can’t wait to get away from St James Park. Andy Carroll replaced Mark Viduka on 63 minutes as Newcastle desperately tried to install some fresh attacking ideas.

Some trickery from Martins around the box ended in a disappointing weak effort that was low and straight at David James. Crouch almost hit Row Z a minute later as both sides struggled to make the breakthrough.
Carroll did well to win a header at the backpost after 76 minutes following a Duff cross but his effort was always heading over the bar.

Peter Crouch should have given Pompey the lead on 78 minutes. He found himself in a good position and unchallenged in the area but his weak shot was straight at Harper and lacked convicition. It was a poor miss from the England striker and not dissimilar to the Owen miss at the other end.

As the match was drawing to an end, Portsmouth began to frustrate the home side and looked the more likely to score the winning goal. A Richard Evans header caught Harper totally by surprise and the Newcastle keeper could only watch as the ball skimmed the post. Newcastle couldn’t summon up any more in the way of attacking play and the score remained 0-0. The final whistle was met by a mixture of eery silence and a few boos.

The only happy manager will have been Paul Hart. His side were disciplined and strong on the night - but for Newcastle, it was a case of ‘if only’ with their leading strikers unable to convert very decent goalscoring chances. Newcastle now travel to Anfield next Sunday needing a win. On the evidence of this display, I wouldn’t waste my breath.