NewsSquad
ResultsFixtures OpinionStandings
Links
Reek
of the Week GuestbookMultimediaNoarlunga
United
Match Report
Very Very Sweet
NewsSquad
ResultsFixtures OpinionStandings
Links
Reek
of the Week GuestbookMultimediaNoarlunga
United
Match Report
Very Very Sweet
Newcastle United
6 .. 
Speed '5
Dabizas '27
Ferguson '45
Dyer '72
Shearer '82, '83
Tottenham
1.......
Ginola '34
(Sorry, no pics ((get your act together Daily Soccer...))
NEWCASTLE blasted their
way into the FA Cup fourth
round as they demolished Spurs with a powerful display
of attacking football at St James' Park tonight. On a
night when it was feared that French flair could undo the
Magpies, it was good old-fashioned British beef - aided
by a touch of Greek power - which held sway as David
Ginola suffered another disappointing visit to Tyneside.
In truth, the Frenchman always looked his side's best
player until he was substituted 15 minutes from time,
and it was he who beat Steve Harper with a 33rd-minute
shot to claim his side's only goal. But by then Spurs were
already 2-0 down through goals from Gary Speed and
Nikos Dabizas, and further strikes from Duncan
Ferguson, Kieron Dyer and an Alan Shearer double - his
first goals in eight games - killed the tie off.
Ferguson was in superb form as he gave the Tottenham
defence a torrid time, and Dyer's cameo as a substitute
had the home crowd on their feet throughout. The result
was all the more remarkable because manager Bobby
Robson's options were severely limited by injury and
illness, and the only change to the starting line-up which
contested the 2-0 Premiership defeat at Bradford on
Saturday was Dabizas, who returned from suspension to
replace flu victim Alessandro Pistone. Shearer and
Ferguson continued in attack, with Kevin Gallacher again
getting the nod over Dyer who was named among the
substitutes.
George Graham opted to bring back Tim Sherwood and
Stephen Clemence in place of the injured Steffen Freund
and Chris Armstrong, who started on the bench. Spurs
went into the game without a win in their last five, but
there was little danger of Newcastle under-estimating a
side they were meeting for the sixth time this calendar
year.
Everyone concerned had been at pains to stress there
would be nothing between the sides before kick-off, but
that could hardly have been further from the truth as an
exhilarating first half unfolded.
Newcastle were in front with just four minutes gone when
Warren Barton sent in a deep cross from the right and
Ferguson climbed high to head down for Speed to slide
home his second goal in as many games against the
north Londoners. It was two with 27 minutes gone when
Nolberto Solano's corner was perfect for Dabizas to power
a header past the helpless Ian Walker.
But if the Newcastle faithful thought they were going to
have it all their own way they had to think again within
six minutes. Ginola was getting his expected hostile
reception as he toiled away behind lone striker Steffen
Iversen - and although he expressed his dissatisfaction
with the way things were going several times he always
looked the most likely candidate to drag his side back
into it. Picking up the ball on the edge of the Newcastle
penalty area, he jinked on to his left foot before looping
a shot over Harper, aided by a deflection off Rob Lee, to
reduce the deficit.
Spurs could have been level on 40 minutes when Speed's
attempted clearance fell to Clemence, but a superb
intervening tackle from Barton preserved his side's lead.
Walker pulled off a stunning low save from Shearer's
header a minute later, but he had a hand in United's
third on the stroke of half-time. Barton's cross was too
strong for Speed, and Walker looked to have it covered.
But the ball somehow escaped, and Ferguson was on
hand to ram it home off the underside of the bar.
Graham had urged referee Graham Poll to be tough
before the game, and he ignored Ginola's protestations
as he claimed a foul - and it was a dispirited Frenchman
who trudged off at the break to the jeers of the fans who
once revered him.
Robson sent Spaniard Marcelino on in place of Helder at
the break, and it was he who created the first attack of
the second half with a long ball up to Ferguson. The Scot
headed down for fellow countryman Gallacher, and he
pushed forward before releasing Shearer on the left. But
the striker's first touch was poor, and Sol Campbell
recovered to get in an important tackle.
Solano had an effort blocked inadvertently by Perry after
good work by Shearer on the right, and Ferguson shot
wide on the turn after collecting Gallacher's header. Allan
Nielsen missed from close range from Clemence's
53rd-minute cross as his side's chances began to recede,
but it was the introduction of Dyer as a 66th-minute
replacement for Gallacher which proved decisive.
The England winger had already gone close after
producing a pacy run - but he went one better on 73
minutes when he collected Shearer's pass and
nonchalantly side-footed the ball past Walker from 20
yards.
Ginola's unhappy night came to a premature end when
he was replaced by Jose Dominguez, and Ferguson was
also handed a well-earned rest with Temuri Ketsbaia
taking his place.
Vega's foul on Shearer gave the striker a chance to end
his goal drought from the penalty spot seven minutes
from time, and he collected his first from open play in 11
games two minutes later when he headed home
Ketsbaia's cross to complete the rout.
