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Match Report
 

Thank God For Alan

                  Newcastle United                         2
                                         Shearer '23, '47

                                    Leeds United                             2
                                          Bridges '13
                                          Wilcox '17

                                        England skipper Alan Shearer chose St George's Day to return to the goal trail and
                                        rescue a point for Newcastle. Shearer collected his 27th of the season with a powerful
                                        23rd-minute header and then added a second with a close-range finish just after
                                        half-time to drag his side back into a game which was rapidly slipping away from them.
                                        Former Sunderland striker Michael Bridges - like Shearer, discovered by Jack Hixon -
                                        had put Leeds in front with a 13th-minute drive and Jason Wilcox added a second four
                                        minutes later as the Magpies were punished for some dreadful defending.

                                        But Shearer, who also scored twice in the 3-2 defeat at Elland Road earlier in the
                                        season, inspired his side's fightback despite the close and often illegal attentions
                                        of Michael Duberry. Ian Harte should have won it for the Yorkshiremen with a 60th
                                        minute penalty, but a draw was a fair result on a day when defenders floundered
                                        and strikers prospered.

                                        Bobby Robson's injury-hit squad was further depleted at the last minute when former
                                        Leeds star Gary Speed was forced to pull out with a stomach bug and miss only his
                                        second game of the season. That opened up the way for a return for Portuguese
                                        defender Helder, who was handed an unfamiliar role alongside Rob Lee in the middle
                                        of the park. Nikos Dabizas resumed in defence for the injured Alain Goma, while
                                        Paraguayan international was handed his first start in place of the unavailable
                                        Nolberto Solano.

                                        Leeds were without the injured Jonathan Woodgate and the rested Lee Bowyer,
                                        with Duberry and Alfie Haaland drafted back into the starting line-up after
                                        Thursday night's 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with Galatasaray. Desperate to end a run
                                        of three successive defeats, Newcastle flew out of the blocks and could have
                                        been in front with less than a minute gone. Shearer's flick on put Dyer in the clear,
                                        and although he delayed his right-foot shot, he drove the ball beyond Leeds keeper
                                        Nigel Martyn. However, the England midfielder saw his shot come back off the foot
                                        of the post and by the time Didier Domi's follow-up headed back towards goal,
                                        the keeper had recovered to save.

                                        Lucas Radebe's fourth-minute tackle denied Dyer another clear run on goal after
                                        Shearer again picked him out, and the home fans were preparing themselves for
                                        a pleasant afternoon. But inevitably, it was Bridges who spoiled the party by opening
                                        the scoring on 13 minutes. Warren Barton lost possession upfield and Jason Wilcox
                                        raced forward down the left before delivering a cross into the middle. Dabizas looked
                                        to have it covered, but he completely miskicked to allow the ball to reach Bridges,
                                        and he gave Shay Given little chance from the edge of the box. Given, who had earlier
                                        produced a fine save from Helder as he tried to clear another Wilcox cross, found
                                        himself picking the ball out of the net for a second time within four minutes, and
                                        this time, he had to accept a share of the blame himself.

                                        Dabizas was penalised for a foul on Haaland on the Leeds right, giving Wilcox the
                                        opportunity to send an inswinging cross into the box, but although Bridges rose
                                        in the attempt to head at goal, he did not seem to get a touch and the ball flew
                                        across the Irishman and landed in the bottom corner. However, Shearer, who
                                        was becoming increasingly frustrated by referee David Elleray's reluctance to
                                        penalise marker Duberry for a series of untidy challenges, gave his side a lifeline
                                        on 23 minutes. Domi robbed Wilcox on the left and delivered a pinpoint cross to
                                        the far post for his skipper to thunder a header past the helpless Martyn.

                                        Danny Mills had to bundle away a Shearer cross a minute later, and Shearer
                                        thought he should have had a penalty 11 minutes before the break when he
                                        looked to be hauled to the ground by Duberry. However, it took the best efforts
                                        of Steve Howey and Dabizas to halt a Harry Kewell break, and Given had to keep
                                        out a late Bridges shot as Leeds rallied late in the half.

                                        There was no let-up after the break and Shearer put his side back on terms
                                        within three minutes of the restart. Martyn failed to hold Domi's corner and when
                                        Aaron Hughes turned the ball towards goal, the striker pounced from close range
                                        to make it 2-2. The equaliser seemed to inspire Leeds once again, but it was the
                                        Tynesiders who could have gone in front on 56 minutes after Dyer sparked a quick
                                        break. Gavilan ran on to his pass to outstrip the Yorkshire defence, but Martyn got
                                        a hand to his low shot to keep the visitors level. But it was Given staring down the
                                        barrel of a gun on the hour after Kewell was brought down by Dabizas just inside
                                        the penalty area.

                                        Elleray was not having one of his better games, but few could have argued when
                                        he pointed to the spot. However, Harte drove his effort wide of Given's right post
                                        as Newcastle breathed again. The game opened up as it entered its final phase
                                        with Gavilan and Bridges in particular exploiting the space left by tired legs, but
                                        neither was able to forge the vital opening. Wilcox's pace allowed him to cross
                                        for substitute Bowyer three minutes from time, but he could not climb high enough
                                        to get his header on target.
 
                                        TEAMS

                                        Newcastle: Given, Barton, Howey, Dabizas, Hughes, Gavilan, Lee, Helder, Domi,
                                        Dyer, Shearer. Subs: Harper, Marcelino, Maric, McClen, Antunes.

                                        Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Radebe, Duberry, Harte, Bakke, Haaland, McPhail, Wilcox,
                                        Bridges, Kewell. Subs: Robinson, Hopkin, Bowyer, Huckerby, Smith.

                                        Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)