HD

January Stats

Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool Zurawski, Martins, Parker
Newcastle 3-1 Crewe (FA Cup R3) Martins (2), Zurawski
Bolton 2-3 Newcastle Martins (3)
Reading 0-0 Newcastle
Newcastle 2-0 Watford Martins, Parker
Wrexham 0-1 Newcastle (FA Cup R4) Mifsud
West Ham 1-0 Newcastle

Transfers In

Gary Speed, Bolton, £90K
Michael Mifsud, Lillestrom, Free
Eugeny Aldonin, CSKA Moscow, £300K

Transfers Out

Kris Gate, Bradford, Loan

HD

February 2007

With one win and one defeat at Ewood Park so far, it was time for Blackburn to visit the North East and the sides to play out a decider. Despite a goalless first half it was clear which team was in the ascendency, and, after a Maciej Zurawski goal was ruled offside, Obafemi Martins was the first goalscorer. Andy Taylor was the second, but his effort beat only his own goalkeeper, and the home side could relax with three more points in the bag.

Just two points seperated Newcastle in fifth and Portsmouth in sixth ahead of the sides' Fratton Park showdown. In the end thougit was not the play, but the injuries that would come to define the match, with both Maciej Zurawski and Damien Duff left to contemplate lengthy periods on the sidelines. Still, the point gained in a 0-0 draw was more than satisfactory from Frodo's point of view.

The FA Cup continued at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal and Newcastle squared off in a Fifth Round clash. After the close run Premiership affair it was expected that a real ripsnorter of a cup tie would ensue, but Thierry Henry's goal midway through the first half threatened to be the precursor to a home rout. No further goals followed before the interval, allowing Baggins the chance to remind his side that expectations were lowered and defeat assumes, so any success was a bonus. Whether this inspired or deflated was initially unclear, but a series of chances early in the second half indicated that United's players were keen to make a game of it. Make a game of it they did, but when Jens Lehmann got to a Scott Parker through ball inches ahead of Obafemi Martins it seemed Newcastle's threat had been snuffed out, and so it proved, the game ending 1-0 to the hosts.

Tottenham made the long trip north in the final Magpies game of February. After defeat in London, both in the previous match and the last time these sides met, Baggins hoped to see some inspiration from his players. With Spurs coming off a comprehensive 3-1 win over Manchester United in the League Cup final just three days earlier, there was a chance to test their fitness by upping the tempo, and though Spurs stayed in touch through the first hour, their legs failed them and a Nobby Solano double had the game won before Mido's strike gave late, false, hope to the visitors. It had been a good month, all told.

HD

February Stats

Newcastle 2-0 Blackburn Martins, own goal
Portsmouth 0-0 Newcastle
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle (FA Cup R5)
Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham Solano (2, 1 pen)

No transfer activity

Premiership snapshot: end Feb 2007

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> P W D L F A Pts3rd Liverpool 28 16 7 5 40 22 554th Man Utd 28 14 8 6 42 22 50</pre>
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5th Newcastle 28 14 7 7 35 20 49</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">6th Fulham 28 13 6 9 36 33 457th Portsmouth 28 12 8 8 47 42 44</pre>

HD

bah, gap has moved - will get the next one bang on though!

HD

March 2007

Poor recent form, and no chance of victory, meant that Obafemi Martins stepped aside for the game at Stamford Bridge. Danny Cadamarteri was preferred to Michal Mifsud, not that chances were anticipated. An Ashley Cole penalty kick started the scoring off, and though Steven Taylor went close with a long-range effort, it was inevitably the home side who rounded things off before the break, Salomon Kalou netting from close range. Dyer and Mifsud replaced Solano and Cadamarteri for the second period, but Chelsea were content to play out time and there was little by way of chances in the second period.

Shay Given shocked the manager and the board by demanding a transfer ahead of the key match with Manchester United at St James' Park. With a Champions League place at stake he opted to act in a manner completely alien to team harmony, but with no options Baggins was forced to allow the Irishman to play. Martins returned to the lineup and Duff to the bench following their rest/injury respectively, Solano and Cadamarteri dropping out of the 16 and Dyer starting at last. Saha and Rooney made light of the situation, netting first half goals to all but sink Newcastle,

HD

oops...

A sensational Aldonin strike on the hour breathed new hope into the home side, before Peter Ramage, of all people, slammed home a 25-yard free kick to level the game. This, sadly, awoke Wayne Rooney from his slumber, and the striker restored United's advantage going into the last ten minutes. There was to be no response this time and the points slipped away.

With a week off for international games there was time for Maciej Zurawski to return to the fold, but also for Titus Bramble and Michale Mifsud to hurt themselves with medium-term injuries. Wigan were the hosts for the final game of March, and helped themselves to three points courtesy of a goal early in the second half of a poor game. That was not the way Baggins had hoped to go into the final stretch.

HD

March Stats

Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
[b]Newcastle 2-3 Manchester United Aldonin, Ramage
Wigan 1-0 Newcastle

No transfer activity

Premiership snapshot: end Mar 2007

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> P W D L F A Pts3rd Man Utd 31 17 8 6 55 30 594th Liverpool 31 17 8 6 42 23 59</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5th Newcastle 31 14 7 10 37 26 49</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">6th Portsmouth 31 13 9 9 52 44 487th Aston Villa 31 13 9 9 45 37 48</pre>

HD

ugh, ubb error.

HD

April 2007

A Craig Moore penalty looked sufficient to see off Everton at St James', but that was bargaining without Andrew Johnson, who struck in the second half to steal a point, extending Newcastle's winless run to four. It was a game that needed to be won and that ought to have been won, and a disappointment of some magnitude in the week Baggins extended his deal for a further year.

London once more, and Charlton away, as the season reached it's climax. With Parker and Martins looking jaded, Zurawski and Solano returned to the lineup, but after an injury to Dyer it was captain Parker who netted - with his first touch - to establish a half time lead. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled early in the second period, but Newcastle finally broke out of their funk with an 85th minute goal from Zurawski and three hard-earned points eased the journey home.

A crunch matchup with Aston Villa was next in line, with the Birmingham side now sitting one place above United in the table. It was Obafemi Martins who marked his return to the side in spectacular style, netting midway through the first half with a fine solo effort. An own goal midway through the second half extended the advantage, and that was sufficient to move United back into fifth place.

Trips to Sheffield United and Middlesbrough would bring the month to a close, and the first game was the most important, until it was over. Bramall Lane was packed to see if the home side could haul themselves out of the relegation zone, but it was Newcastle who looked strongest in a scoreless first half. Rob Hulse fired the home side ahead with ten minutes to play and that was the only goal. If ever a goal has come against the run of play it was that one. The team left shellshocked and numb.

Baggins hoped against hope that his side would take out their frustrations on neighbours Boro, who would perhaps have one eye on the upcoming FA Cup final with Arsenal. Yakubu's first half goal was overcome with strikes from Martins and Parker within three second half minutes, but the home side repeated the trick in 87 and 90 to take the points to Baggins' fury.

HD

April Stats

Newcastle 1-1 Everton Moore pen
Charlton 1-2 Newcastle Parker, Zurawski
Newcastle 2-0 Aston Villa Martins, own goal
Sheffield United 1-0 Newcastle
Middlesbrough 3-2 Newcastle Parker, Martins

No transfer activity

Premiership snapshot: end Apr 2007

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> P W D L F A Pts3rd Man Utd 36 19 11 6 60 33 684th Liverpool 36 18 9 9 46 30 63</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5th Newcastle 36 16 8 12 44 32 56</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">6th Aston Villa 36 15 10 11 50 44 557th Portsmouth 36 14 11 11 57 51 53</pre>