Toon stop the rot, on Merseyside

By Peter Donnelly
September 14 2003

Newcastle United halted their run of continious Premier League defeats today, with a 2-2 draw at Everton. Alan Shearer scored from the spot twice, however United will be dissapointed not to have won the game, as we led more than once.

Match Facts

The Team

Given
Griffin, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard
Bowyer, Dyer, Speed, Robert
Bellamy, Shearer

Laurent Robert was sent off for a second booking soon before half-time, as he went in late, bumping over an Everton player. This may have showed that he cannot tackle at all, but a second booking was a bit harsh.

In the second half Newcastle were awarded a penalty when Kieron Dyer was brought down in the box, after he was played through by Alan Shearer. Shearer himself stepped up and put away the pen to make it 1-0 to the Toon.

However, later on Everton equalized as Radzinski slotted home from inside the box with the Newcastle players totally switching off. 1-1.

Then, Newcastle were given another penalty when Olivier Bernard went down under the challenge of Gary Naysmith and referee Rob Styles pointed to the spot, aswell as sending off Naysmith. que the penalty taker - Alan Shearer - and cue the outcome- a goal, again.

But just when it looked liked we were going to get our first win of the season, Everton were then awarded a penalty too and ex-Mag Duncan Ferguson beat Shay Given to score against his former club. It ended 2-2.

By all accounts it seems that the referee had a stinker (what a suprise). But anyway, drawing the game when we were a goal ahead on two occasions is slightly dissapointing. However, I would have taken a draw before the match and at least we actually got a point this time.