| The
Tyne & Very Clear Derby |
| N.U.F.C |
| T. Wright |
| W. Barton |
| A. Goma |
| N. Dabizas |
| D. Domi |
| G. Speed |
| K. Dyer |
| N. Solano |
| S. Maric |
| J. McClen |
| P. Robinson |
|
| Scum |
| T. Sorenson |
| C. Makin |
| P. Butler |
| S. Bould |
| M. Gray |
| A. Rae |
| Schwarz |
| McCann |
| N. Summerbee |
| N. Quinn |
| K. Phillips |
|
| The final game
between the two people who love to hate each other |
|
By Andrew Blackwell
It was not a night to remember for Newcastle
fans. One the weather in monsoon like conditions and two getting beat off
your local and most bitter rivals. But who do you blame.
Ruud Gullit opened the door for more speculation
between Shearer and himself by leaving the club captain on the bench and
replacing him young striker Paul Robinson.
Also Duncan Ferguson was left on the bench
in a one man strike force that startled Newcastle fans arriving for the
game. Jamie McClen was recalled to the side and Nikos Dabizas was favoured
instead of Aaron Hughes in replace of the injured Marcelino.
Again perfect playing conditions for strikers
as the water ran down the steps from the roofless Sir John Hall Stand.
Former Newcastle keeper Tommy Wright was signed
on loan just one day before the Tyne & Wear Derby and it was his seasons
debut in horrible conditions.
It came into question if Ruud really knew
what this game meant to the fans by leaving Shearer and Ferguson out of
such an important game for the two clubs.
Sunderland Manager Peter Reid went back to
his 442 formation with Quinn and Phillips leading the attack once again.
The game was fairly even until Newcastle broke
the deadlock. Kieron Dyer linked up with Paul Robinson to give the magpies
the lead and it was Dyer who was to run the show for the rest of the half.
As the teams emerged for the second half Alan
Shearer and Ruud Gullit tried all they could to avoid eye to eye contact
with each other when they headed for the dugout. |
 |
But Dyer never hardly got a touch in the second
half and there was more misery and a point to prove by Gullit as he brought
on Duncan Ferguson before Alan Shearer to replace Paul Robinson who was
having a good game.
Only seven minutes after Ferguson had come
on and only 2 minutes after Alan Shearer had made his appearance Niall Quinn
got the Wearsiders back in the game with what looked a flick on header but
it found it self past Wright who had no chance of saving it.
Then as the rain fell and ten minutes later
after Quinn got the equaliser Alan Shearer should of got a free kick after
some hefty challenging from Gray but from the resulting play Kevin Phillips
found himself on a good ball only to be denied by a fine block by Tommy
Wright but Phillips chipped the ball over Wright and Barton from the rebound
to put Sunderland in the lead.
As the minutes past it was looking less likely
of an equaliser but Nolberto Solano should of had a goal in the final stages
but that hit the side netting.
Alex Rae nearly scored the goal of the century.
That's own goal of the century when his block saw the ball fly over Sorenson
only to hit the top of the cross-bar from about 30 yards out.
After the game Gullit again hinted that himself
and shearer had split by saying:
"The
game was going well until I brought the substitute on"
But those were going to be the final words
by the Dutchman as he resigned only days later.
This report is copyright A.Blackwell
Images Supplied by Black &
White Magazine |
