Toon vs Lisbon - Post Match Reaction

By Matthew Jones
December 17 2004

Newcastle United topped Group D last night, with a 1-1 draw at home to Sporting Lisbon. Post match reaction from Graeme Souness, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Elliot.

GRAEME SOUNESS: "It was a draw, but that was a good result for us and with a relatively inexperienced side we have to be happy.

"We knew we couldn't get frustrated, because we knew they would have a lot of the ball and a lot of possession and that turned out to be the case.

"Shay Given hardly had a save to make all night and we limited them to very little.

"The strength of the squad is weak now with so many players out.

"Since September we have been playing a lot of games on a Thursday and then a Sunday and that is where the muscle and fatigue injuries come in. It is a physically demanding schedule.

"Kieron Dyer's calves are a bit tight but he should be fine for Sunday, while Craig Bellamy was a bit sore and we had to bring him off but again he should be fine for Liverpool."

CRAIG BELLAMY: "The most important thing tonight was that we topped this group and that's what we have done so we have to be pleased

"At this present moment we have a lot of injuries but we have to get on with it, and its a chance for some players to be given the chance to impress

"We knew they were were going to have a lot of the ball so we had to get men behind the ball and become hard to beat and we have done that really well.

"I got a knee in the backside and was struggling to move freely so the best thing to do was to come off in order to be ready for Sunday."

ROBBIE Elloitt: "The game was not pretty but we had a game plan on how to combat their style, and it worked. Our objective was to get the right result to avoid a Champions League side and we have acheived this so we are very pleased.

"I think that the young lads that came in tonight have performed really well. Some players have played out of position but have coped with it.

"Some of the young lads have been waiting a while to start a match and to impress and I think they have done that"