Blog on the Tyne at the Fiorentina match
NEWCASTLE United's pre-season frustrations continued today at St James' Park after monsoon conditions halted their pre-season friendly with Fiorentina.
The match lasted 64 minutes before Premier League referee Mark Halsey decided enough was enough.
Halsey consulted both Alan Pardew and ex-Lazio and Roma star Sinisa Mihajlovic before abandoning the match on a rain soaked day on Tyneside.
The first half had resulted in Leon Best wasting a good opportunity after firing wide and at the other end Tim Krul produced a first class block to deny Alessandro Gamberini.
Krul was also alert to keep out a deflection from Fabricio Coloccini before the half ended.
The second half saw Krul's replacement Fraser Forster keep out Stevan Jovetic and Gilardino with two great stops with Steve Harper watching on from the stands.
United came closest through sub Demba Ba whose shot took a deflection after Shola Ameobi's assist.
The first half had resulted in several anti-Mike Ashley chants from the Gallowgate End but the owner wasn't present nor was Derek Llambias.
UNITED: Krul (Forster 46), Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gosling (Ba 46), Cabaye, Vuckic, Jonas (Marveaux 46) Lovenkrands (R Taylor 61), Best (Shola Ameobi 46)
Subs: Sammy Ameobi, , Ranger, Tavernier, Williamson
FIORENTINA: Boruc, De Silvestri, Pasqual, Behrami, Gamberini, Natali, Romulo, Jovetic, Montolivo, Lazzari, Gilardino.
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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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