Nikos predicts Toon goal fest

By Matthew Jones
August 21 2002

Nikos Dabizas believes Monday night's 4-0 hammering of West Ham will be the first of many free-scoring Newcastle performances this season.

Nikos Dabizas believes Monday night's 4-0 hammering of West Ham will be the first of many free-scoring Newcastle performances this season.

But the Greek international defender has warned that United must be prepared to pay a price for their attacking football.

"We are the most attacking team in the Premiership and sometimes we suffer for that," said Dabizas, who has still managed to help United keep clean sheets in their two competitive matches so far this season.

"But we and the fans wouldn't want it any other way - that is the way they like their football at St James' Park.

"The fans want us to go forward the whole time. If we play a defensive game and get many people behind the ball the fans won't like it.

"We might not concede as many, but we wouldn't score as many and the fans wouldn't be as happy.
"It makes for a difficult job for the back four, but we expect that."