Given's and Speed's Reaction To City Defeat

By Matthew Jones
May 3 2004

Following a 1-0 defeat away at Manchester City at the weekend, Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given has decided to slam his teammates performance. Gary Speed also comments.

Commenting on the game, Given said:

"Manchester City were desperate for this win but that is no excuse because we just weren't good enough.

"They had not won at home for some time and it seems that we are a soft touch and when anybody needs to get a result to get themselves out of a corner, along comes Newcastle United to give them a break.

"It winds me up, to be honest, and there were a few words said after the game in the dressing-room.

"I won't repeat just what was said, but some players know that they have not performed away from home again and they don't need the senior players to tell them they have to improve.

"The fact that we have only won twice away from St James' Park in the league this season is really terrible.

"We have two more away games in the Premiership this season and we are looking to improve on that because if we don't we will end up with nothing.

"We were decent enough in the first half but we were terrible after the interval and I cannot put my finger on just why. It's been the same all season as we haven't been good enough away from home.

"It's really upsetting but away from home not enough players are working hard enough to get the results.

"You cannot get away with this at home when you have 50,000 fans there and some players have got to stand up and be counted away from home as well."

Speed added:

"It was a disappointing result and a disappointing performance.

"Something is just not right when we go away from home. In 2004 at St James' Park we have won 10 and drawn two matches against Arsenal and Marseille yet we haven't won away in the League.

"The ability is there and other teams can win away. But call it what you like - desire, work-rate, belief, discipline - I just don't know.

"I don't know what it is but we have to look in the mirror at ourselves because what is happening is not acceptable.

"We had a few good chances in the first half and limited them to only one when Shay Given made that great save.

"We could have done with a bit more luck in the first half when Shola Ameobi caught his shot well and David James made a brilliant save.

"But after the break Manchester City were the better team. They created more than us and they looked like they wanted it more than we did."