That's better - that's Taylor
Newcastle United picked up a point at home to Arsenal tonight in a much improved display at St James's Park.
Steven Taylor was UnitedâÂÂs hero after netting the equaliser in the second half.
United made just one change to the team that lost 3-1 at Blackburn with Taylor replacing Adboulaye Faye at centre-back who was missing with a calf injury.
Otherwise it was the same 4-3-3 formation that had worked in patches for United in Lancashire.
United started the game as if they looked up for the fight but with just three minutes played disaster struck once again.
A poor clearance by Charles NâÂÂZogbia on the left resulted in Emmanuel Eboue intercepting the loose ball and playing in a right wing cross for his namesake Emmanuel Adebayor to take a touch inside the box and lash it beyond Shay Given for 1-0.
It was the worst possible start for Newcastle and their under fire boss Sam Allardyce but they responded almost straight from the kick off as James MilnerâÂÂs cross was played into the path of captain Geremi yet the Cameroon starâÂÂs header went just inches wide of the upright.
After that it was all fluid stuff from Arsenal and it took until the 25 th minute for Milner to get another shot in for United, yet when it did it squirmed wide of the post.
A minute later though Milner played in Oba Martins only for the African to be taken out by Gilberto on the edge of the box.
From the resultant set-piece GeremiâÂÂs powerful low effort went straight at Manuel Almunia.
United forced a corner on 35 minutes and NâÂÂZogbiaâÂÂs right wing flag kick forced Almunia to force TaylorâÂÂs header to scrape the paint off the post, however, the
England Under-21 defender felt he was fouled by William Gallas as he went up for the ball.
Ref Mike Dean though didnâÂÂt want to know despite his protests.
Five minutes before the break, however, Dean was straight across to book Joey Barton following his rash challenge on Gilberto.
The two teams went in level at the break yet it was Almunia who had to be on red alert just seconds into the second period when an NâÂÂZogbia effort from outside the area went straight into his chest.
But Steven Taylor spared Toon blushes by lashing home off a post after Beye's ball fell into his path following Smith's flick on.
The right footed finish at the Leazes End was no more than United deserved and they went on to create a series of chances.
Indeed Taylor could actually have won it late on after David Rozehnal headed the ball into his path from Milner's corner but a frantic block tackle Emmanuel Eboue prevented a dramatic winner.
But with Arsenal pressing late on United were delighted to take a point.
UNITED: Given, Beye, NâÂÂZogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Geremi (Viduka 77), Butt, Barton, Milner, Smith, Martins.
Subs: Enrique, Emre, Harper, Edgar
ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Rosicky, Diarra, Eduardo, Gallas, Gilberto, Clichy, Adebayor, Eboue.
Crowd: 50,305
Subs: Lehmann, Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Walcott.
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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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Newcastle were magnificent tonight, and for the second game running, the team spirit was marvellous. I was very proud to see the Geordie crowd support the team so well from the off. Performances like this will restore the fear factor for teams coming to Tyneside. Perhaps the fitness work is beginning to pay off, as I have not seen Arsenal so subdued in the Premier League this season. Sam has bought himself time, and while the team shape was lacking a right wing, the effort was magnificent. There was never any room for anything less than a 100% effort at NUFC, and credit to the players and staff, we got it, and the crowd showed how much they appreciated what was served up. Onward and upward!
A very good performance tonight. What we want now is that level of commitment EVERY game and the results will follow. All too often in the past the team has gone back to its old bad habits following a performance like this. The crowd will back the team every time if the commitment is there - so keep it up lads.
A poor clearance by Charles NâÂÂZogbia on the left resulted in Emmanuel Eboue intercepting the loose ball
okay ...so this not Sam's fault?
i am happy with one point but...i think we could be better with a proper full-back....
fantastic effort from the fans to the players going a goal down so early to the best team in country at moment to turning it around to outplaying them and leaving a little disappointed that we didnt get all 3 points was amazing,players actually fighting for the ball good football being played and chances being made and if not for almunia we would have won
two players for me stood out milner yet again gave everything and oba ran his a**e off
.......................................
right theres the positives...Alladyces response..It takes the pressure off."No" we got a point and a performance
Again why play Nzog left back mistake tonight cost goal and looked so much better when getting forward (hello ã6mil left back on bench)Is Alan smith just there as back up for joey barton and vice versa
We were pressing and had gooners worried why leave possibly our most creative player Emre on bench
Again WHY PLAY ALAN SMITH...Oba and Owen play best off a target man and he aint it he dont create in midfield either so why is he on our pitch(other than his name on ashleys shirt)if Viduka isnt fit get Carroll back from Preston put bloody Taylor up front you aint got prob playing others out of position Sam
But Our fat controller may have got lucky because if we reproduce that against birmingham fulham derby and wigan we will get 12 points
Pity we couldnt have got 3 points then sacked you leaving you to go out on a high .
....
But tonight showed we can compete with the best so 3 points saturday and gooners taking their frustration at being outplayed on boro sunday....
Yeah credit to the lads tonight, thats what the geordie faithfull want to see, plenty of spirit and determination to take it up to the top clubs and fulfill what we so often promise. It is so important to continue to play with the same vigour, and if we do that in the next 3 games in particular, we will be back on track and the fans will be right behind Big sam and the boys again. Performances like these at home are so vital to restoring Tynside as a formidable venue for visiting teams, we havent had that consitently for at least a couple of seasons now. these sort of performances are what we ask for from Big Sam and the players, theres no use in looking for a 1-0 win or 0-0 draw against any team because thats not how Newcastle have ever played, nor do we yet have the formation nous and defensive talent to pull of such results that BS seems insistent on. The real vital clashes are confronting us in the couple of weeks ahead, do well there, and BS will really know what the famous Toon Army can do for the lads...
One of the most impressive aspects of the Arsenal game was that every player worked his socks off. Alan Smith chased everything up front, and Oba Martins was always a threat to Arsenal. That took a load off the defence. So impressive was the overall performance, that we can only assume that players were fatigued in earlier pre-Blackburn games, and that the training is now bearing fruit. The players showed relentless effort with non-stop chasing and courage which had Arsenal looking uncharacteristically ragged. I must confess, like many others, to having been bemused by Sam Alladyce's methods (though I did predict a good performance in a post 3 hours before the game), but I think this exceptional performance will mark a corner that the team has turned. After seeing this supreme 90 minutes of footballing heroics, there is no doubt that with this effort maintained, Newcastle can improve enough to compete with any team. Milner has grown into a top player. Taylor has shown Sam what he is really about. Barton is beginning to "bite" in midfield. Butt was calm and controlled, except for a last gasp blunder. Geremi worked hard. The back four equipped themselves admirably and courageously, and Given looked solid. All in all, a great day at the office for everyone, and an impressive work effort throughout the team. The players are now gelling as a cohesive unit, and showing great pride in their colours. Well done those fans who cheered throughout, or cared enough to be constructive in their criticism. Nobody will complain with an effort like this one!
Absolutely gobsmacked at Mag in Boro, Alan Smith should have been man of Match he was outstanding, covered every blade of grass, held the ball up well, chased back, harried, do people actually watch when they go to the game? Zog struggled a bit, Joey struggled a bit, Rozy had a couple of dodgy spells, but what a fantastic performance yeh....well done lads fantastic effort, Milner and smithy must be aching today, butty hung in there obviously not well, lets biuld from here, Howay the lads, thats all we want 100 % effort will always get my support even if we dont win every week.
Mag in Boro should stick to playing Subbuteo because if he couldn't see Smith was superb he shouldn't be watching real football.
I agree with everyone else with regards to N'zogbia.He is a very good footballer but will never be a full back.His defensive positional sense is non existent.
I was hoping Emre would come on in the second half as he is the one player would may have had the ammunition to prise open the Arsenal defence.
But I will leave the worst until last.Joey Barton was so far off the pace it was embarassing.I am not saying he didn't try-he was just rubbish.
PS.
Doesn't Taylor make a difference at the back.
I cant believe there is someone on this criticising Alan Smith! He was magnificent against Arsenal, putting their defenders under pressure, I was proud again to be a fan last night. The effort level was fantastic and despite us not being the free flowing team we were under Keegan, I believe we will challenge for Europe this season. To suggest Sam was one game from the sack was ridiculous, he needs time. Look at O'Neil last season....how long was he without a win? His style is as direct as Sams yet the level of support for him for England is astounding!
At last Real fans, with common sense, how refreshing