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Match Report
To: Michael Owen
From: The Newcastle
Defence,
With Love
NewsSquad
ResultsFixtures OpinionStandingsLinks
Reek
of the Week GuestbookMultimediaNoarlunga
United
Match Report
To: Michael Owen
From: The Newcastle
Defence,
With Love
Newcastle United
2 .. 
Shearer '12
Ferguson '67
Liverpool
2.........
Owen '35, '52
(Sorry, no pics again ((get your act together Daily Soccer...))
Duncan Ferguson's second goal in four days earned
Newcastle a vital draw just as it looked as if Michael Owen
had ended Bobby Robson's unbeaten home run. The Scot
pounced with a deft 66th-minute header to give his side a
share of the points and extend their run at St James's Park
to 10 games without defeat. But the home side very nearly
gifted Liverpool all three points as they handed a double to
Owen despite taking an early lead. Alan Shearer's 17th of
the season gave his side the advantage with just 11
minutes gone, but Owen cashed in on some dreadful
defending either side of half-time to put the visitors in front.
But Ferguson's effort on a day when he was well marshalled
by Sammi Hyypia and Jamie Carragher ensured a point
from a fixture which has not been too kind to the Magpies in
recent seasons.
Owen and Titi Camara were always a handful, but it was a
spirited Newcastle display, exemplified by the excellent
Warren Barton, which secured them their draw. With
Portuguese defender Helder out with a groin injury,
Alessandro Pistone returned from a bout of flu to line up at
left-back as Aaron Hughes moved into the middle.
Kevin Gallacher had to make do with a place on the bench
despite a series of impressive displays as Kieron Dyer won a
start after his glittering cameo role against Tottenham in
midweek.
Liverpool also made to changes to the side which beat
Coventry 2-0 last time, Rigobert Song replacing the
suspended Stephane Henchoz and Danny Murphy coming in
for David Thompson.
Shearer had warned fans not to expect another 6-1 and his
caution proved well-founded as the visitors held sway for
long periods before the break.
Keeper Sander Westerveld had to punch Nolberto Solano's
free-kick off Ferguson's head with just three minutes gone,
but it was opposite number Steve Harper who was the busier
in the early minutes as the Reds forced a series of corners.
It took a well-timed tackle from Barton to dispossess Owen
inside the box and Hughes had to be at his best to rob
Camara after Dietmar Hamann played him in over the top.
But the opening goal when it came was slightly against the
run of play after Murphy was penalised for a foul on Gary
Speed wide on the Newcastle left. Solano's free-kick was
bent in towards the near post and Shearer got in front of his
man to get the slightest of touches to send the ball past
Westerveld.
But it was Liverpool who created the better chances as the
looked for a way back into the game, and Camara's cheeky
flick over Hughes set up another promising attack which was
eventually snuffed out by Rob Lee on the edge of his own
penalty area.
Camara shot straight at Harper after Murphy had played him
in on 21 minutes and the United keeper needed a hand
from Nicos Dabizas after he could only parry Patrik Berger's
fierce drive nine minutes later.
But Liverpool levelled 14 minutes before the break when
Owen sailed past Pistone on the left and fired low past
Harper, his fifth in as many games against the men from
Tyneside.
The visitors almost benefited from some haphazard
defending on 44 minutes when Harper fumbled Dabizas'
misplaced header, but the Greek defender recovered well to
hack Owen's cross away.
Westerveld was back in action three minutes after the break
when he had to tip Barton's piledriver over, and he had to
save again from Shearer's effort from the resulting corner.
Speed sent a 51st-minute header wide after good work by
Barton and Solano on the right, but Newcastle's hopes were
dealt a blow a minute later when Dyer limped off.
They still had only 10 men on the pitch when Dabizas
committed the cardinal sin of attempting to deliver a
needless back-pass to Harper from all of 50 yards and only
succeeded in giving Owen a clear run on goal.
The diminutive striker kept his head to draw Harper and
then slide the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Stephen Glass replaced Dyer before the game restarted and
he went close within six minutes when he sent a difficult
half-volleyed chance over from Solano's cross.
But United escaped a minute later when Owen picked up
another loose back-pass from Lee only for Murphy to head
straight at Harper. However, the home side were back on
terms with 66 minutes gone when Ferguson, who had been
having a quiet game, finally managed to make an impact.
Barton curled a cross into the box where the Scot got free to
stoop and send a glancing header past Westerveld.
Gallacher replaced Solano on 73 minutes as Newcastle
pushed for the victory, but it was the arrival of Robbie Fowler
as an 83rd-minute substitute which warmed the travelling
supporters.
The home side continued to press as the seconds ticked
away, but the home supporters left content with a point after
a tough battle.
