Nobby spares blushes
Carlisle United 1, Newcastle United 1
Nobby Solano rescued Newcastle United today with an injury-time equaliser against League One outfit Carlisle United.
Sam Allardyce was thankful for his South American star after the Cumbrians came close to inflicting a pre-season defeat in the Newcastle managerâÂÂs second game in charge.
Joey Barton captained Newcastle today at Brunton Park with Shay Given and Shola Ameobi rested and Michael Owen out with a thigh injury.
However, despite the lack of England star Owen Newcastle still started brightly and created a few chances.
On six minutes Obafemi Martins struck a left-footer from the right but keeper Kieran Westwood tipped it wide of his right-hand post.
Newcastle came forward again on 22 minutes when Nicky Butt clipped in a right-wing cross with Barton heading powerfully at goal, but Westwood was equal to it.
Two minutes later Martins received the ball from Stephen Carr on the left and dribbled his way through but his left-footed effort could only brush the side netting.
And just five minutes before the break an effort from Andy Carroll went the wrong side of the post in a goalless first half in Cumbria.
Yet there would be goal action in the second period when Carlisle grabbed a shock lead.
Just 11 minutes had elapsed after the restart when Michael Bridge-Wilkinson crossed from the left with Danny Livesey heading firmly past Steve Harper with the Toon keeper rooted to the spot.
Unsurprisingly the second half was constantly interrupted by a series of substitutions by both sides which prevented either team being able to build up any flowing moves.
On 64 minutes though NewcastleâÂÂs debutant Geremi fired in a free kick from 30 yards which flashed just past the post.
Three minutes later there were interruptions again, this time after an attempted pitch invasion by two supporters which caused another minor delay.
Newcastle looked to be heading for an embarrassing pre-season defeat until a left-wing cross deep into stoppage time fell for Peruvian Solano who chested it down on the corner of the box before firing over the top of keeper Westwood to spare the blushes of 3,000 Toon fans.
Newcastle United: Harper (Krul), Carr (Bertram), Rozehnal (Huntington), Ramage (Francis), NâÂÂZogbia, Dyer (Troisi), Barton (Lough), Solano, Butt (Geremi), Carroll, Martins (LuaLua).
Subs (not used): Milner, Forster.
Referee: Mike Pike
Attendance: 12346
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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The more serious points that you don't raise Lee, are the fact that Barton is out for seven weeks, and that Big Sam seems to have stalled in the transfer market.
When, oh when are we going to get rid of this injury jinx?
If Big Sam doesn't get serious funds to use on the squad, then it will be an absolute disgrace, he has managed to almost break even thus far and deserves to spend big.
I've said it before, WE GET ã30m JUST FOR STAYING IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
It now looks like your last blog may be out of date, as Dyer probably won't be leaving thanks to the latest injury setback.
In the meantime, we need four players minimum, the players mentioned are the likes of Hagarland at ã2.5m, surely the board can provide this, it's hardly busting the back.
Over to the board! Paul.
I am a lifelong carlisle supporter and having attended the game it looked like Newcastle were a team playing with no energy in a heatwave whilst carlisle were in their own little cup final.