Newcastle United 2-2 Stoke City

 

  There was a fairytale ending for Stoke City at St. James’ Park yesterday. Former Newcastle player Abdoulaye Faye scoring his first ever Stoke goal in the 91st minute of the game to give Stoke an equaliser after a hard fought second half fightback. The match was the definition of the cliched ”game of two halves” with the home side being by the far the better side in the first half and going into half time with a 2-0 lead, both goals coming courtesy of Michael Owen. The introduction of Ricardo Fuller swayed the game for Stoke though, as the Potters bossed the second half, getting on back through Mamady Sidibe before Faye struck at the death.

Abdoulaye Faye celebrates with Ricardo Fuller after earning Stoke a hard-fought point

  Stoke boss Tony Pulis again opted for changes ahead of the match, lining up with Ibrahima Sonko favoured in defence to Leon Cort and Richard Cresswell making a rare start up front in place of Fuller. Danny Pugh was also handed his first league start of the season, starting wide on the left in place of Tom Soares. An injury to Nicky Butt meant Cameroonian international Geremi started in midfield for Newcastle, while a fit-again Mark Viduka had to be content with a place on the bench, Joe Kinnear preferring the Obafemi Martins/Owen strike partnership.

  It was Kinnear’s men who made the brighter start, the lively Charles N’Zogbia, clearly enjoying the attacking role he had been given, running at the Stoke defence before unleashing a powerful shot that flew just wide of former Sunderland man Thomas Sorensen’s post. Owen then tested Sorensen with a shot from the edge of the area before opening the scoring on just eight minutes. Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez played a beautifully weighted through ball with the outside of his foot into the path of the England forward, who had been given too much space by Sonko, Owen coolly slotting the ball past Sorensen into the far corner of the net.

 

Owen scores the opener for Newcastle

  The Magpies dominated possession in the opening quarter of the game, Stoke creating little going forward, Mamady Sidibe striking the away side’s only notable effort a few feet wide of Shay Given’s goal. On twenty minutes, Stoke midfielder Salif Diao was withdrawn from the game, his fitness had been in doubt prior to kick off and obviously did not hold up well early on as he was replaced by Glenn Whelan, who offers a little more guile to the Stoke midfield.

 The substitution far from revitalising the game for Stoke though, Newcastle were soon two goals to the good. Martins used his pace to get behind stoke captain and former Newcastle defender Andy Griffin before firing the ball across to Owen, who had made a good run into the box and had an open goal to guide the ball into.

  With Newcastle enjoying pressure but not creating a huge amount, the first half came to an end, the Geordie fans giving their players a standing ovation while their counterparts from the Potteries feared a heavy defeat was on the cards.

  Tony Pulis claimed that yesterday was the first time he has ever lost his temper with his players and if he gave them a bollocking at half time it showed. Stoke came out with a far more positive outlook, playing fewer aimless long balls and pressing the Newcastle players well, unsettling them into making mistakes. With the Stoke fans warming to their team’s efforts, Richard Cresswell was given a chance to get a goal back for Stoke after a good move led to him being picked out in space in the centre by Mamady Sidibe. Cresswell was denied his first Premier League goal in six years though by an excellent challenge from Newcastle defender Steven Taylor who had come on as a half time substitute, the former England Under 21 defender making up a lot of ground to make the tackle.

  Just over ten minutes into the half Fuller was introduced in place of Rory Delap who had a poor game for Stoke, his long throws again not being at their best. With Cresswell dropping back onto the wing and Fuller partnering Sidibe up front, the Jamaican set about changing the game.

  He had only been on the pitch for four minutes when, in typical Stoke style he latched on to a Sidbe flick-on and easily beat Newcastle centre back Fabricio Coloccini for both pace and strength before cutting the ball back for Sidibe, who guided hom,e his fourth of the season with the inside of his left foot.

The Stoke players, sensing a comeback, hurry to get the game restarted after Sidbe’s goal

  Fuller, who made, a visible difference to Stoke’s efforts all over the pitch, boosting the level of play of his team-mates, then had a go himself, his hooked left footed half volley from twenty yards was on target though in truth never really looked like beating Given.

  Stoke enjoyed almost all of the game in the second half, Martins’ stinging drive which was well saved by Sorensen, who once saved a penalty for Sunderland against Newcastle, was their only threatening attacking moment in the period.

  The game was beginning to get a little flat, the Newcastle defenders finally getting to grips with Fuller so Pulis opted for a change to freshen things up. Michael Tonge was introduced for Stoke in place of former Newcastle midfielder Amdy Faye fifteen minutes from time. Meanwhile, Joe Kinnear tried to sure up the Magpies’ defence, bringing on Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa for Geremi.

  Ibrahima Sonko showed his long throw prowess after the substitution of usual specialist Delap, his lengthy efforts causing chaos in the Newcastle box, most notably in the last minute of normal time when Given’s weak punch fell to Abdoulaye Faye, who was only able to strike wide, to the great annoyance of the travelling Stoke fans who for a brief moment thought the ball had found the net, much to the amusement of the Newcastle faithful.

  It was Stoke who had the last laugh though, Mike Riley awarding Stoke a questionable free-kick wide on their right in the first of five added minutes. Whelan whipped cross was flicked on by Danny Higginbotham before falling for Faye, who was given a second goalcroing opportunity in as many minutes, and this time he took the chance, hitting the ball low into the right corner of Given goal from six yards out despite the despairing dives of Given and Taylor in unison.

  

Faye sends the ball home before wheeling away towards the Stoke bench

  With Newcastle clearly very shaken, it was Stoke who looked the more likely to grab a late winner, but the Stoke players and fans were more than happy to settle for a draw that felt like a win. The result gives the club vital momentum going into next weeks important home fixture against Fulham. At a time where confidence around the club is low, a second half performance like this one will do a lot to boost morale and gives Stoke another point, which may prove vital come May.

Stoke side: (4:4:2)

                             Sorensen

Griffin  Abdoulaye Faye  Sonko  Higginbotham

             Delap  Amdy Faye  Diao  Pugh

                        Sidibe  Cresswell

Substitutions: Whelan for Diao (21), Fuller for Delap (56), Tonge for Amdy Faye (78)

Subs not used: Simonsen, Cort, Olofinjana, Davies

Attendance: 47422