Newcastle's Loan Blunder Costs Wolves

29th February 2004

NEWCASTLE UNITED'S mid-season loan blunder which allowed Lomana LuaLua play against Newcastle has pushed Wolves back in the relegation zone as Portsmouth grabbed a late equaliser.

Newcastle United failed to implant a clause in LuaLua's contract which would have prevented the Conga striker playing, and scoring against Newcastle United at Fratton Park today.

Instead, Newcastle allowed LuaLua, who is on loan for the rest of the season at Portsmouth, play in todays Premiership fixture and, without any surprise, LuaLua scored in the last minute to earn a point for Pompey.

 The point moved them above Wolves on goal difference. Wolves moved out of the bottom three for the first time since November at the Walkers Stadium yesterday, but this point puts Wolves back in the red zone.

Newcastle officials put a clause in the contract of Nicos Dabizas which stopped him playing against Newcastle (Dabizas is currently on loan from Newcastle to Leicester) but failed to add the same clause in the contract of Lomana LuaLua.

Meanwhile Leeds United drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Elland Road earlier and Middlesbrough beat Bolton 2-1 to win the Carling Cup at the Millennium Stadium.

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