QPR (h)

Marlon Harewood rescued a point for Newcastle. We went down 0-1 in the first 10 minutes and never looked threatening in the first half and Guthrie missed a penalty and a glorious chance to grab a goal in the second half to make up for the missed pen. At half time Hughton changed thing round with but going off and Gutierrez coming on to give a little width. But it was the substitution of Nile off for Harewood that got the manager off his seat as he grabbed the equaliser and a point for us. It is Marlon's first goal for the Toon and his first game at St James' it assures we keep an unbeaten record at home this season and only one loss in 10. The point means we go 3 points clear of West Brom who lie in second place just above Preston (3rd).

Next up another home game to Bristol City this time.

Newcastle Utd 1-1 QPR

TV & Radio

NEWCASTLE V QPR 30/09/09

TV -None

Overseas TV-None

Radio-5 live Sports Extra channel 7:45pm.

Ipswich (a)

A 0-4 hammering of Ipswich left them and boss Roy Keane in a very perilous condition after only 9 games gone this season. Newcastle eased to a 0-3 lead before half time and cruised through the second half with another goal for Nolan to give him his first professional hat-trick and a second for Newcastle this season. Ryan Taylor got the other goal from a free kick reminiscent of goals he scored for Wigan against us last season.

The away following was superb and chants for Mike assley to take a hike were heard all throughout the game as he was in attendance, while keano chants for the former Makem were also heard regularly.

The young lad Nile Ranger was excellent up front and was unlucky not to get his first goal in the first team. Nile has a good future at Newcastle and will start scoring soon, as he gets into good positions time and time again. Nolan did have the edge today and could have had more, he supported the front two and benefited from two big forwards and deservedly got his first hat-trick. Hughton was able to bring on Marlon Harewood for his Toon debut and he did well for the time he was on and was unlucky not to score with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

All in all the team played well and kept another clean sheet seven out of nine and back to the top of the championship with QPR heading to St James's on Wednesday night.

The game however had a more poignant mood to it as the two clubs close to Sir Bobby Robson's heart came together we celebrated his life again with his family in attendance. Wreaths were laid before his ever present statue outside the ground, before kick off there was one of his favourite songs sung out on the turf (I'll do it my way) then his wife and sons opened up the renamed Sir Bobby Robson stand behind the goal. A one minutes applause followed with there's only one Bobby Robson chant as the game started. Two months after the death of Sir Bobby people celebrated his life with great passion as it was an emotional occasion for all connected to these clubs. Link below for the pre-match atmosphere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcscUA1H648&feature=related

Peterborough

Newcastle united went down to Peterborough 2-0 at London Rd on Tuesday evening, although United played with 10 changes from our wind at home to Plymouth the goals were a little soft and didn't score for the first time this season.
The Carling cup was as always a distraction from what really matters and this season our number one priority without a doubt is to get back in the premiership. The game offered Hughton the chance to give some of the younger lads a chance of first team football at championship level which could prove very useful in this long season.

The game did attract just over 10,000 people and 2,361 of them were Geordie's that says something for a Tuesday night game at Peterborough and in the Carling cup, so the empty seats at st James's are no indication of wavering support. So not a good night for the faithful but a vital exercise for the kids to get another game under there belt.

http://vodpod.com/watch/2227645-peterborough-2-newcastle-0

Harewood joins Mags

Confirmation of Marlon Harewood joining Newcastle doesn't exactly get me excited and its a long long way away from the likes of Ginola and Asprilla joining the club back in the Keegan era. Joining Newcastle United is not the same as it used to be as we now sit in the championship not challenging the premier's elite.

Harewood comes in with not much first team football under his belt and I cant see him scoring too many goals for us in his 3 month deal. As Ameobi is out till November more bodies are needed. Marlon seems to have played his best football back at Forest and West Ham but lets hope he can pick up his form from his Forest years and get amongst the goals.

Bye to sir Bobby

As Newcastle prepare for the carling cup tie away to Peterborough Marlon Harewood is being lined up as a loan signing from Aston Villa.

Newcastle had a comfortable victory at the weekend at home to Plymouth Argyle the midweek loss to Blackpool the United team will have to be at there best if they want to progress to the next round.

The screening of Sir Bobby Robsons memorial was held today.
Screens at SJP and Ipswich town centre to follow Monday's service of remembrance for Sir Bobby Robson at Durham Cathedral.

The service saw former Magpies Shay Given, Gary Speed, Peter Beardsley, Stuart Pearce, Jermaine Jenas, Terry McDermott, Malcolm Macdonald, Frank Clark, Gazza and Alan Shearer.

Sam Allardyce and Jack Charlton also in attended , while Chris Hughton and United's first team and staff were also present.

Past and present England managers Fabio Capello, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Steve McClaren, Howard Wilkinson, Peter Taylor and Sven Goran Eriksson while the likes of Terry Butcher, Eric Gates, Steve Bruce, Niall Quinn, Mick McCarthy, Roy Keane and Lawrie McMenemy also attended.

Alex Ferguson, Bobby Charlton, Brian Robson, Gary Lineker, David Seaman, Roy Hodgson, Trevor Brooking, Harry Redknapp, David Moyes and Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola were also among the 1,000 strong congregation.

Picture sourced from www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

Blackpool (A)

Blackpool away was always going to be a realisation for United and the fans not for the result but its the first small club we have visited on our travels this season. Playing in front of less than 10,000 people and the Newcastle section down one side of the pitch and no roof gave us a big slice of reality pie and to top it off we got done 2-1 on the night and on top of all that the ref was a mackem. The two penalty calls for United waved away by the wearsider, one was surely a must with a red card to follow it. Other bad decisions like booking Andy Caroll for his goal celebrations while 5 mins later Bret Ormerod did almost the same celebration after the equaliser and no card.
Its a night to forget as we strive to get premier status back but there will be more nights like this and teams like Blackpool will be difficult to play against with many of them in the league.
I am sure we will bounce back from this with a home game to Plymouth on Saturday.

word on any new takeovers but it now looks like Dyke Ashley is going to stay at Newcastle and try getting us back up so he can sell for an extra £40/50m.

Newcastle have gone into the loan market again with backup in defence with the Blackburn Rovers Defender Zurab Khizanishvili on a massive 3 month loan. He follows in the footsteps of fellow Georgian and Newcastle cult hero temuri Ketsbaia who incidentally just lost his job as Olympiacos first team coach/manager with Zico taking over.

Cardiff Away

In a week that's turned up more rubbish about another possible consortium takeover, a manager of the month, player of the month (Ameobi) and loyalty speeches being thrown around the changing room Newcastle faced a tough test at Cardiff on Sunday afternoon. Led by Geordie boy Chopra he looked as though they meant business before kick off. Newcastle always seem to be undone by ex-mags, well last season anyway. No clear cut chances fell to Newcastle until the goal came in the 18th minute when R Taylor took a cross. Young lad Nile Ranger got on the end of it then Collicini did well to encourage the ball back to Taylor, as he crossed again Collicini got himself into a good position end ended up heading into the back of the net. More wasted chances came from both sides but Newcastle defended well keeping Cardiff out of the box and restricting to free kicks from outside the area. In the last minute Alan Smith who did a fine job clearing up the mess in front of the 2 center half's got himself tangled up for a second yellow, he was sent off with a minute to go and a free kick on the edge of the area resulted. The kick was duly wasted as it had been by the home side on numerous occasions and the celebrations carried on in the away section. So we went home happy with 5 wins 1 draw and none lost.

A good win at Cardiff as Dave Jones has built a strong championship team and one that scores goals. So we have now played 6 matches and sit on top of the league with 16pts and a +8 goal difference, We still don't know whats going on with Mike Rashly and the sale of the club because he does not speak of his intentions in fact he does not speak of anything and only releases rubbish statement which are rubbish or leading us down the garden path. As we have started so well its my belief that he will hold on till next season and try and squeeze a little more money out of a buyer or even hold on to the next transfer window get rid of as many players then and bugger off as soon as an acceptable offer comes in. Lets just hope the players and team management can keep playing well and restore pride in the area and people and you know what, yes the P... word.

Cardiff 0-1 Newcastle