Match Preview

Given Wayne Rooney's superb full debut for England on Wednesday, how would David Moyes have handled team selection if Radzinski was fit?  Would he have benched the world's new wonder boy?  I would reckon he probably would but, given the unavailability of the Canadian speedster, Rooney has earned his starting place  — and he should probably keep it until the end of the season.  He's been protected enough now, David; a critical time for him to be unleashed as our season comes to its climax.

Alongside Rooney, Campbell should surely keep Ferguson on the bench — again for now.  By the end of this season the Dunc and Rooney Show should be well in harness.  If it works, we are in Europe; if not - we're not!

Elsewhere in the team, we are still awaiting the players to return from international duty but — assuming no surprising blows the Pembridge, Gravesen, Li Tie, and Watson — The midfield that competed surprisingly well against the English Champions shall be locking horns with another Champions League side.  Yobo will be retained at left-back as Hibbert is still unfit.

Newcastle's midfield actually had a bad weekend and Bobby Robson — the loudest of Rooney's supporters, as he should be having foisted Ronaldo and van Nistlerooy onto the footballing world — lost Gary Speed and Hugo Viana.  Speed, the elder statesman of a stunningly young and vibrant midfield, will be sorely missed.  But, as their midfield will still read: Solano, Jenas, Dyer, Robert, I wouldn't feel too sorry for those Toonies!

That midfield murdered us towards the end of last season when we ran out of energy in the last 20 minutes and they galloped away 6-2 winners!  But Moyes has been learnt some lessons from that and given the Toons a tough fight in the last two games (both in Newcastle): a draw 3-3 (win on penalties) in the Worthington Cup, and a sickeningly close 2-1 loss, thanks to a superb goal from Shearer in the last 5 minutes and with us reduced to 10 men.

Robson has done an impressive job since suffering a slow start to the season that saw his team wallowing in the Premiership basement for the first month.  Under the old man's guidance, Newcastle have become a class team and one that will challenge in the Premiership and in Europe for the next few years.  Upfront, Shearer and Bellamy are world class and the signing of Woodgate immensely improves a previously fragile backline.  Bernard is also constantly improving and is now an accomplished and attacking left-back.

To get anything we again will have to punch above our weight but the confidence of the last two games against Newcastle gives us a great chance.  The game may well hinge on whether Rooneymania urges us on or proves to be a burden.  I'm strongly going for the former and expect Rooney to once again deliver.  If he does then we should be able to keep a point and prevent Newcastle matching Chelsea as the only team to have so far left Goodison with 3 points.

A blistering 2-2 draw is my prediction — don't blink this is going to be a classic!

BlueForEver

Lee Doyle

Report

It's the final throes of the season.  Now is the time to see whether we're good enough to hold our position in the table, or whether we're going to fall away at the death.  The stage was set perfectly: a beautiful spring day, a 40,000 crowd, an in-form Newcastle as the opposition and, of course, Master Rooney's return home after his mid-week exertions on behalf of England.

The midfield selection was a bit of an eye-opener, but merely highlights our struggle to find our best midfield combination.

From first to last this was a cracking game which both teams played a full part in.  I felt that we edged the first part of the half.  Rooney, naturally, was at the heart of most of our best moments, and it was no great surprise when he put us in front.  He did it via a poacher's goal (and about time too!!), a short corner routine between Gravesen and Carsley saw Gravesen deliver the cross, Weir flick it on and Rooney, standing on the 6-yd line, come between two defenders to head the ball home.

Alas, we weren't able to hold on to the lead till half-time.  At about the half-hour mark, Newcastle claimed the equaliser they always looked capable off.  Laurent Robert, left criminally unmarked just outside the corner of the box, scored with an absolutely thumping drive which left Wright with no chance.

The wheels then fell off somewhat.  Buoyed by the goal, Newcastle really came at us; half time couldn't come soon enough.  It very nearly wasn't soon enough, Woodgate connecting with a header from a corner, which Wright did brilliantly to tip onto the bar.

Fortunately, wise words from Moyes settled us down for the second half, and it was back to being an intriguing game, which either side may have won.  Fortunately, for us, it fell our way, but not without a little controversy.

Olivier Bernard went down in a heap midway in our half (we now know that it was a rather crude challenge from Gravesen who was already on a yellow card).  The referee played on but most expected him to stop the game as Bernard stayed down.  Several players, from both sides, were in fact waving him to stop play.  Play went on, though, as we mounted an attack through Rooney.  He ran across the front of the penalty area before slipping a delicious little pass through for Campbell.  Campbell's run was checked by Woodgate, he went down and the referee pointed to the spot.

Cue pandemonium.  The master whinger, Shearer, led the protests to the referee.  His chief apprentice, Bellamy, decided to have a go at our Wayne, like as if Bellamy would have put the ball out in similar circumstances.  We had a long delay whilst Bernard, Gravesen and even Campbell received treatment.  Throughout, it all Unsworth stood at the penalty spot with the ball under his arm, with Robert, mysteriously, standing a couple of feet in front of him.  Eventually everyone was ready and Unsworth thumped it straight down the middle.

There was still time enough for Newcastle to drag themselves back into it.  At times, they made it pretty torrid for us.  As usual, though, we defended with grim resolution, and — when they did get a rare sight of goal, another header from a corner — Wright produced another excellent save.

All-in-all, a hugely significant victory for us.  The furore over the winner shouldn't disguise all the good things about our performance.  We  move back above Liverpool, and perhaps crucially, open up a gap to the team in seventh place.  It looks like we are going to cement our place in the top six.

• Wright 7  His kicking game went a bit awry, and there were a few moments of hesitation and indecision.  But, at least two blinding saves as crucial times of the game kept us alive.
• Yobo 7  Defensively he did very well, he also did OK going forward.  But, sometimes his positional play isn't the best.  For their goal, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Robert all alone on the right.  Yobo was following Bellamy into the middle; I don't know where Watson was.  To my mind, Robert was Yobo's responsibility, and he should have left Bellamy to the centre-backs.  I think he's an OK right back, but an excellent centre-back.
• Stubbs 7  His usual resolute self.
• Weir 7  I spotted at least 2 or 3 crucial and timely interceptions late in the game to keep Newcastle at bay.
• Unsworth 6  Distribution failed him a couple of times, but never let it bother him.
• Watson 6  Not as effective as recently, but did OK.
• Gravesen 7  One of his better days but what was he doing with that tackle on Bernard.  If the ref had seen it clearly it would probably have cost us the match.
• Carsley 6  Did OK.
• Pembridge 7  Worked hard and had a number of good moments.
• Campbell 7  Some evidence of an understanding with Rooney.  Played him in a couple of times, and of course read the pass that led to the penalty.
• Rooney 8  What an end to a glorious week for the boy.  Everything he did had the hallmark of quality.  From his goal, to his shooting (he is always on target), to his crossing, to his passing.  A truly exceptional talent.
• Naysmith 5  Did nothing wrong.

Team 7  We seem able to rise above our limitations.  On paper, that midfield shouldn't have had a cat in hell's chance against Jenas and Dyer.  On paper, that central defensive pairing should have been taken to the cleaners by Bellamy's pace.  Somehow, though, it doesn't happen.  By sheer effort, discipline and nous, we thwarted them.

Man of the match The boy Rooney.

Richard Marland