Harper - Iron Mike Has Been Great!

Last updated : 21 February 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

NU

Steve Harper “Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini have been fantastic, and Mike in particular has been great.

“I’m not one for singling out people after two fantastic team performances, but Mike’s been great.

“He had to deal with Christopher Samba at Blackburn from set-pieces, and did well, and then Nikola Zigic.

“There aren’t too many people that Zigic gives a few inches away too, but he had to with Mike. He did well, but it was a fantastic team performance.

“It’s nice to keep clean sheets, but it’s about winning games, and the team comes before everything.

“I’ve said all along it is about winning games, whether it’s 4-3, 5-4 or 3-2, we don’t care. I’d quite happily win 5-4 for the rest of the season and get as many points as possible.

“It really is collective effort from everybody in that dressing room – the playing staff and coaching staff. We’ve got a great spirit, and it’s standing us in good stead.

“Beating Birmingham does give us everything to play for, but we can’t be complacent.

“We know there’s still a lot of work to do. We’ve got two games in a row, and then a tough trip to Stoke. Then we have a third home game from four.

“It would be great to think after Stoke we’re speaking like we’re pretty safe in this division.

“We’ll have players back, and, hopefully, we can kick on and finish as high as possible. We’re not getting carried away, but we’ve had two cracking results on the road. It puts us in a good position, but there’s a long way to go.”

NU

Toon Back On Track After Six Games Without A Win

Newcastle defeated Birmingham 2-0 at St Andrews on Tuesday night which ended six games without a win.

Peter Lovenkrands - "For me personally it was great, and I needed that goal as well because it's been a while.

"I've been feeling good the last couple of games, I hit the crossbar against Blackburn and felt I was almost there. Thankfully today I was there.

"I was delighted to get one, but it was good for the team as well to get an early goal because it gave us confidence, got us settled in the game and got us going.

"It was a superb win and three points we needed. We came here and thought we could do it, especially after the good performance at Blackburn where we should have had the win but had to settle for a draw.

"But four points from the last two away games is great for us to build on and take us further up the table. Hopefully we can now go into some home games and get some more points."

PL

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES  

Sunday 20th February 2011  
West Bromwich Albion  v  Wolverhampton Wanderers 12:00
 
Tuesday 22nd February 2011  
Blackpool  v  Tottenham Hotspur 20:00
 
Wednesday 23rd February 2011  
Arsenal  v  Stoke City 19:45
 
Saturday 26th February 2011  
Aston Villa  v  Blackburn Rovers 15:00
Everton  v  Sunderland 15:00
Newcastle United  v  Bolton Wanderers 15:00
Wigan Athletic  v  Manchester United 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers  v  Blackpool 15:00
 
Sunday 27th February 2011  
West Ham United  v  Liverpool 13:30
Manchester City  v  Fulham

BRUM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 2

NU

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Hoilett (Pedersen 46), Nzonzi, Jermaine Jones, Dunn (Emerton 64), Kalinic, Santa Cruz (Roberts 46).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Grella, Mwaruwari, Hanley.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson (Perch 76), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 90), Lovenkrands (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Guthrie, Ferguson.

Att: 26,781

The strike-force of Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best drew a blank at Ewood Park on Saturday, as Alan Pardew tried to draw the best out of what he had available.

The Toon boss has limited options, and it's hardly his fault as he tries to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Judas wanted to leg it to Anfield, five minutes before the transfer window closed, and Shola got a smack in the face at Craven Cottage to leave him with a face like the Elephant Man.

So what do we have as options up front? I'd rather not go into what I think, because what's the point in moaning? We're stuck with what we've got, and we have to live with it.

Were we the better team at Blackburn? Without question, but Joey Barton hasn't got a lighthouse to aim for with his inch perfect crosses anymore. You don't see Carroll standing head and shoulders above everyone else in a packed penalty area, and the tactics have to be more devious these days.

We haven't adapted yet, but I'm sure it will come.

Paul Robinson pulled off a superb second half save to deny Newcastle victory on a day both sides had cause to be dissatisfied with a point.

Robinson's lightning reflexes helped him push a blistering Fabricio Coloccini drive over the bar in the 54th minute as the visitors dominated after the break.

Roque Santa Cruz had headed a ninth minute effort against the post for Rovers, who toiled for much of the afternoon while Peter Lovenkrands lofted a 14th minute effort onto the top of the bar.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew had been able to name an unchanged side following the stunning comeback against Arsenal last week, with stop-gap striker and former Rovers star Shefki Kuqi on the bench.

With Rovers having come off worse in a seven-goal thriller at Wigan, it was not surprising both teams started where they left off and produced a richly entertaining first quarter-hour.

Jermaine Jones' attempt at a Wayne Rooney-style overhead kick in the third minute failed to have quite the same impact as the American missed the ball and clattered Mike Williamson.

Newcastle came close two minutes later when Lovenkrands played in Jose Enrique down the left and his ball across the face of goal was palmed clear by Paul Robinson.

In what was warming into a feisty encounter, Cheik Tiote was warned for a rash challenge on Nikola Kalinic, and Kevin Nolan and David Dunn almost came to blows on the half-way line.

Rovers should have grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when captain Christopher Samba's flick in the box set up Santa Cruz for a header which struck Steve Harper's right-hand post.

Lovenkrands had an even better chance for the visitors on 14 minutes when he was put clear by Enrique but his left-foot lob over Robinson dropped onto the top of the bar.

As the fast pace continued Rovers had another chance when Dunn blazed over the bar after good work from Junior Hoilett down the Rovers left.

Michel Salgado gifted Newcastle an opening in the 25th minute with a wayward cross-field pass which let in Lovenkrands, but the Dane ran into Ryan Nelsen who cleared.

Nelsen headed away another cross from the dangerous Enrique as the game's early excitement faded with a series of minor infringements ruining any momentum the game could gather.

The visitors dominated from the start of the second period against a Blackburn side forced to make two changes due to injuries to Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett.

Joey Barton had the first chance of the second half for Newcastle after Jonas Gutierrez's charge down the left, but Barton's swept left-foot effort sailed well over the bar.

Newcastle came closer on 54 when Coloccini chested down a Barton corner from the left and rammed a rising left-foot shot which Robinson did superbly to tip over the bar.

Barton almost found Best in the box on the end of a neat one-two and as Rovers struggled to clear it was Gutierrez's turn to fire the loose ball over the bar.

Rovers were being pinned back in their own half with captain Samba outstanding. But without the presence of Santa Cruz they were struggling to create anything in the visitors' half.

After completely dominating for the first half hour of the second half, Newcastle lived on their nerves in the 81st minute when a deep Pedersen corner caused chaos in the box.

If the near-miss was designed to belatedly stir the home side into life it failed to work as both Barton and Gutierrez were only let down at the other end by the quality of their final balls.

Pardew threw Kuqi into the fray for the three minutes of added time no doubt in the hope of a fairytale start in the black and white stripes but referee Stuart Atwell had other ideas.

NU 

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Saturday 26th February 2011   
Newcastle  v  Bolton 15.00
 
Saturday 05th March 2011  
Newcastle  v  Everton 15.00
 
Saturday 19th March 2011
  
Stoke City  v  Newcastle 15.00

NU

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2010/11

PREMIERSHIP

BLACKBURN 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Simpson (Perch 76), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 90), Lovenkrands (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Guthrie, Ferguson.

NEWCASTLE 4 ARSENAL 4 (Barton 2 (2 pens), Best, Tiote)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Guthrie 89), Lovenkrands (Ranger 73).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.

FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 72), Ameobi (Ranger 13).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.

NEWCASTLE 1 SPURS 1 (Coloccini)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Guthrie (Perch 74), Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 65), Ameobi (Ranger 88).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Xisco, Ferguson.

SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Nolan)
Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Smith (Guthrie 37),Gutierrez (Gosling 90), Best (Lovenkrands 88), Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Routledge, Perch, Ranger.

NEWCASTLE 5 WEST HAM 0 (Best 3, Nolan, Lovenkrands)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor (Williamson 46), Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez (Ferguson 66), Lovenkrands, Best (Ranger 64).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Routledge, Perch.

WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan (Smith 86), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Best 77), Lovenkrands (Routledge 70).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Ranger.

TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.

NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 60), Barton, Tiote, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Guthrie, Perch, Smith, Best.

NEWCASTLE 3 LIVERPOOL 1 (Nolan, Barton, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton (Routledge 90), Nolan (Smith 87), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.

WEST BROM 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 74), Guthrie (Smith 73), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Best, Kadar.

NEWCASTLE 1 CHELSEA 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Best, Kadar.

BOLTON 5 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 71), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (Campbell 77), Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 72).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Steven Taylor, Ranger.

NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 0
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 76), Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Lovenkrands (Ranger 76).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Smith, Xisco, Steven Taylor.

NEWCASTLE 1 BLACKBURN 2 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote (Routledge 88), Gutierrez, Carroll,Ameobi (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.

ARSENAL 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 82).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.

NEWCASTLE 5 SUNDERLAND 1 (Nolan 3, Ameobi 2 - 1 pen)
Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson,Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 86), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.

WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Nolan, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.

NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN ATH 2 (Ameobi, Coloccini)
Krul, Perch (Ranger 89), Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 66), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ameobi 60), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Kadar. 

MAN CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gutierrez)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini (Campbell 36), Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Routledge 7), Nolan (Carroll 76), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.

NEWCASTLE 1 STOKE CITY 2 (Nolan pen)
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger.

EVERTON 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Harper (Krul 35), Perch, Coloccini, Williamson,Jose Enrique, Routledge, Tiote, Barton,Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 84), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.

NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKPOOL 2
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 81), Smith (Lovenkrands 62), Barton, Gutierrez (Ben Arfa 73), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Tiote.

WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll (Ameobi 81).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Vuckic, Ranger.

NEWCASTLE 6 ASTON VILLA 0 (Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3)
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 76), Smith (Ryan Taylor 76), Barton, Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Tavernier.

MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Nolan (Ameobi 71), Barton,Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Vuckic, Ranger, Tavernier.

FA CUP

STEVENAGE 3 NEWCASTLE 1
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson, Barton, Smith (Tiote 58), Nolan, Routledge, Lovenkrands (Airey 78), Best (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Kadar, Ferguson.

CARLING CUP

NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 4
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge (Gutierrez 56), Guthrie, Smith (Barton 71), Vuckic, Lovenkrands (Carroll 57), Ranger.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Tiote.

CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (Ranger, R Taylor, Ameobi 2)
Krul, Ryan Taylor (Tiote 63), Campbell, Coloccini (Williamson 63), Ferguson (Barton 90), Ranger, Gutierrez, Vuckic, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Nolan, Carroll, Ben Arfa.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ryan Taylor, Ameobi, Lovenkrands)
Krul, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Tavernier, Ferguson, Ranger, Donaldson, Vuckic (Nolan 90), LuaLua, Ameobi,Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Williamson, Barton, Routledge, Perch, Smith.

PRE-SEASON

CARLISLE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Best, Ranger, Vuckic)
Harper (Krul 46), Tavernier (R Taylor 46), Coloccini (S Taylor 46) (Henderson 81), Williamson (Perch 46), Enrique (Ferguson 46), Inman (Routledge 46), Smith (Barton 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), LuaLua (Vuckic 46) , Carroll (Best 46), Lovenkrands (Ranger 46).

NORWICH CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Krul, Taylor (Routledge 45), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 45), Diaz (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 45), Barton (Smith 45), Nolan (Guthrie 45), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Best (Lovenkrands 45), Carroll (Ameobi 45).

NEWCASTLE 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (R.Taylor, Best)
Harper, Perch, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Carroll, Xisco, Best, LuaLua, Krul, Vuckic, Ranger, Donaldson, Tavernier.

DEPORTIVO 0 NEWCASTLE 0 (NUFC win 5-4 on penalties - Lovenkrands, Nolan, Carroll, R Taylor, Barton)
Harper (Krul 46); R Taylor, Perch (Tavernier 52), Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Guthrie (Nolan 46), Xisco (Gutierrez 46); Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 73). Subs (not used): Smith, Ferguson

RANGERS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).

 FM

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