|
Newcastle snap winless streak
22/03/2008 20:36 - (SA)
Newcastle - Newcastle's Michael Owen sent a message to England manager Fabio Capello with his second goal in six days following a 2-0 success over Fulham for manager Kevin Keegan's first win back at the club.
It was Keegan's first triumph in his second spell as Newcastle manager at the 10th attempt and Owen has hit top form ahead of England's friendly against France in Paris on Wednesday.
United went ahead at St James' Park on Saturday through Australia international Mark Viduka in the sixth minute.
Newcastle then spurned a series of chances either side of half-time before Owen settled a tense fixture in the 83rd minute as the Magpies completed the league double over Fulham and ended a run of 13 league games without victory.
Viduka's move from Middlesbrough to Newcastle has hardly been a roaring success with the Socceroos missing more matches than he has played this season.
But within six minutes at a wintry St James', Viduka demonstrated just why he can make the difference to a Newcastle team in danger of relinquishing its top flight status.
Viduka offers the unexpected and his neat footwork and fine finish was too much for Fulham's wary defence to handle so early in such a pivotal fixture.
The Cameroon midfielder, Geremi, slid a neat ball into his ex-Middlesbrough team-mate's feet on the edge of Kasey Keller's goalmouth but the Cottagers had men back in numbers.
Viduka, unperturbed, coolly moved the ball from right foot to left before sweeping a low shot beyond the American goalkeeper.
For a Newcastle team under immense pressure it was the perfect start and yet Fulham, through the busy Jimmy Bullard, posed a constant threat to a defence renowned for conceding poor goals this season.
Three times before the break the former Wigan Athletic playmaker tested United's goalkeeper, Steve Harper, with speculative drives.
On each occasion Shay Given's long-serving understudy was well positioned but the warning signs were there.
In truth neither defence looked in control and Fulham were fortunate that Viduka was the only Newcastle player to beat Keller before half-time.
Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye almost doubled Newcastle's lead in the 29th minute but his ambitious overhead kick grazed the Fulham crossbar before drifting wide.
At the other end the Danish defender, Leon Andreasen, was the unlikely recipient of a glorious through ball from Danny Murphy.
Presented with a one-on-one opportunity against Harper, four minutes from the break, the former Werder Bremen favourite hesitated and United's Spanish Under 21 international, Luis Enrique, completed an adept clearance.
At 1-0 Newcastle could not relax and the home team were clearly keen to make their victory safe with a high tempo start to the second-half.
Obafemi Martins saw a fierce drive deflected wide and Joey Barton, the former Manchester City midfielder, was inches away from a sensational goal after his 22-yard drive narrowly missed the target.
Keller's quick reactions denied Viduka a second goal in the 65th minute following fine approach play from Geremi and a scuffed shot by Owen.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson reacted by replacing one American international with another, Clint Dempsey on for the ineffective Brian McBride.
However, Owen sealed a first win for Keegan with his second goal in as many games seven minutes from time.
Geremi floated in a free-kick and United's former Real Madrid forward drifted across his marker to nod past Keller from five yards.
|
