NEWCASTLE UNITED 3
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
Premier League
St.James' Park
Monday, October 22, 2007
Kick-off 8pm

MATCH REPORT

BRAZILIAN centre-back Claudio Cacapa bagged his first in black and white colours as the Geordies maintained their unbeaten start to their home campaign with a 3-1 win over Spurs.

The Geordies should have been in front before Oba Martins eventually found the much-coveted breakthrough right on the stroke of half-time.

The ever-imposing Abdoulaye Faye rattled Radek Cerny's crossbar in the 12th minute with a powerful header from N'Zogbia's corner before Owen saw a curling effort tipped around the post by Spurs' Czech stopper.

Enter Martins - the Nigerian firing his fifth of the season with just seconds of the opening period remaining as he latched onto Jose Enrique's long ball in-behind the visiting backline before smashing through the legs of Cerny.

Cacapa (51) headed his goal from a Geremi corner to double the advantage before Robbie Keane halved the deficit just six minutes later after Darren Bent's header rebounded off the foot of the post and to the unmarked Irishman lurking inside the area.

But the hosts wrapped up the three points in the 73rd minute, James Milner lashing home at the second attempt from the edge of the area for his first of the season.

Joey Barton also got a rousing reception as he made his Magpies bow as a second-half substitute.

SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)

90+2min - Milner tracks Chimbonda's run and slides to concede a corner after Tainio tried to slip in the Frenchman. The delivery is poor and drifts away for a throw-in before Steve Bennett blows for full-time - it's all over at St.James' Park - 3-1 United!

90min - Lennon races down the left but the imposing figure of Faye arrives to clean out the man and the ball and Spurs have a corner which Keane takes. Rozehnal heads clear for the hosts as the fourth official announces three minutes added time.

89min - The game is petering out much to the pleasure of the Geordies.

82min - Jenas clips a free-kick into the area and Chimbonda gets ahead of Enrique to head at goal, luckily for United the effort evades the far post but the Spaniard is given a rollicking by keeper Shay Given.

79min - David Rozehnal replaces Michael Owen for United while Aaron Lennon comes on for Darren Bent for Spurs.

77min - Berbatov cuts in from the left but he is tracked every inch of the way by Beye who toes behind for a corner. Jenas takes but Given races from his line to claim and immediately springs Martins away on the left, the Nigerian carries the ball 30 yards before slipping inside for Barton who helps the ball onto Owen who wins a corner from the shins of Dawson. Geremi takes and the ball bounces away to Butt at the far side of the area but he lashes wildly into the Gallowgate End.

73min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (3-1): Barton slips a pass wide to Enrique who in turn feeds Oba down the line, he darts in from the left and crosses only for Kaboul to clear as far as Enrique, the Spaniard sweeps a delivery into the penalty area where Kaboul again clears, this time it's only as far as JAMES MILNER and he swings at fresh air with his right foot before steading himself to smash home from the edge of the area with his left for his first of the season.

71min - Emre is replaced by Joey Barton who gets a huge reception from the Toon Army.

70min - It's a frantic pace at St.James' and Nicky Butt is the next man to enter the book for dissent after he was clearly taken out by Zokoro only for the foul to go unpunished.

68min - Emre clips a deep free-kick to the right of the area looking for Owen but Kaboul gets there first to head away, the ball drops for Milner 25 yards out who controls on his chest before seeing a volley fly wide of Spurs' goal.

67min - Jenas tries to force his way into the area on the right but is stopped in his tracks by Butt who nicks the ball from his toe for a corner. Jenas delivers deep but the cross has too much on it and bounces behind for a goal-kick.

63min - The Magpies are under the cosh a little and Tainio slips a ball into the channel for Keane to chase, the Irish forward crosses looking for strike partner Bent at the far post but the chip is sliced and drifts away for a goal-kick.

61min - Chimbonda comes through the back of Milner on the left and United have a free-kick from which Geremi delivers, it's a well-paced cross but Kaboul is there to head away for Spurs and the visitors break down the left through Tainio, the Finland midfielder nicks the ball by the sliding Beye and is caught by the Senegal star for which he enters Steve Bennett's book. Jenas swings over the free-kick and Cacapa gets there first to power away.

59min - Dimitar Berbatov replaces Steed Malbranque.

57min - SPURS GOAL (2-1): Zokoro crosses from deep aiming for Bent on the penalty spot and the forward sees his glancing header beat Shay Given and strike the foot of the hosts post, the ball bounces back into the six-yard area where ROBBIE KEANE is lurking to prod home and halve the deficit. 

51min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (2-0): Beye gets away down the right but can't find room for a pass so instead rolls back for the supporting Geremi, the skipper takes a touch and delivers but Kaboul forces a corner with a sliced clearance. Geremi comes across to the Milburn Stand touchline to deliver and it's CLAUDIO CACAPA who ghosts in at the near post to direct a powerful header beyond a despairing Cerny for his first in black and white colours.

47min - Geremi is tripped on the right by Malbranque and Emre comes across to take the free-kick. He curls into the area from deep and Kaboul gets there first to head away.

The Magpies get the second period underway attacking the Gallowgate End with James Milner having replaced Charles N'Zogbia.

FIRST HALF ACTION

It's half-time at St.James' with the Geordies leading thanks to Oba's strike right on the stroke of half-time.

45min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-0): It's the same combination as Enrique tries to get OBA MARTINS away in-behind the Spurs backline, Dawson is back-pedalling but can't cut out the Spaniard's measured pass and Martins is faced with just Cerny to beat from close range, the Nigerian doesn't disappoint and shoots through the legs of the Czech stopper for his fifth of the season.

43min - Martins does brilliantly to get ahead of Kaboul from Enrique's hopeful clip down the left, the Nigerian spins the big Frenchman inside the area and gets a shot away from a narrow angle which Cerny instinctively saves, the ball rolls clear where the on-coming Michael Owen has another go with his left-foot but Dawson has got back in time and clears from the edge of the six-yard box.

39min - N'Zogbia and Enrique work an opening on the left and the Spaniard crosses low towards the penalty spot, Butt gets there first but can only hook a left-footed shot over the crossbar with his back to goal.

36min - N'Zogbia zips in from the left at pace and drives at the Spurs backline before a sliding Chimbonda scyths down the Frenchman in full flow to give United a free-kick in a very dangerous position for which the French full-back earns a yellow card. Geremi takes and guides his effort around the wall but the ball evades the far post and Spurs survive.

32min - United are starting to click in the final third and Emre gets a snap shot away from 25 yards after a strong challenge from Beye on Zokoro but the Turk's effort draws wide of the upright.

29min - Cerny's long punt is helped on by Bent and sets strike partner Keane clear down the right, the Irish forward manages to get a volley away but the angle is always tight and Given saves low at his near post.

27min - Geremi seizes upon Dawson's sloppy touch midway inside Spurs' half and immediately springs Owen clear, he advances into the penalty area and looks to have put United ahead with a right-footed curler only for Cerny's out-stretched arm to divert the ball around the upright for a corner. N'Zogbia takes from the left and when the ball falls loose from Faye's header Lee hacks away for the visitors.

25min - It's ened-to-end stuff and N'Zogbia sees a left-wing cross deflected behind off Malbranque. Geremi's delivery is poor and Chimbonda volleys clear at the near post.

22min - Geremi twists and turns on the right but can't get a cross away, he rolls back for the supporting Beye and his cross is charged down for a throw-in off Lee. Geremi takes and this time it's Dawson who heads away at the near post. Spurs break and Bent tries to get in-behind Enrqiue only for the Spaniard tor recover and concede a throw-in right by the right-hand corner flag. Chimbonda does a Geremi and launhes one into the area where United can only half clear as far as Jenas, his shot is charged down by Cacapa and substitute Tainio sees his 20-yard strike cannon off the back of team-mate Keane inside the area before the hosts hack clear.

19min - Bale took a knock to the ankle in an earlier challenge with Geremi and limps from play to be replaced by Teemu Tainio.

14min - Spurs take a quick free-kick and spring Keane clear, he lifts the ball over the on-rushing Given and it's only the recovering Habib Beye who gets there in time to clear to prevent Spurs from taking the lead.

12min - Bale miscues an attempted clearance and the ball loops in the air before spinning away for a corner - the ball crosses the line right on the angle with the touchline and Bale argues it should've been a throw-in -  a protest which earns the Welsh youngster a yellow card. N'Zogbia takes the flag-kick and his whipped, near post delivery is met by a flying Faye who rattles the Spurs crossbar only for the ball to bounce to safety much to the relief of the Nort Londoners.

10min - The Magpies are getting a lot of joy down the right flank and this it's Owen who wins a throw-in off the shins of Kaboul. Geremi again propels one into the middle of the crowded penalty box where Dawson climbs highest to head away with Pyo-Lee completing the clearance.

6min - Emre's deep cross asks questions of the Spurs backline and Pyo-Lee is forced to hack away for a throw-in with Geremi lurking behind. The United skipper again misiles a long throw into the are and Faye loops a header in the area before Cerny gathers under his crossbar. The visitors break and it's only the timely intervention of Emre which prevents Zokora getting a crack at goal from inside the area, the Turk poking behind for a corner. Jenas takes the flag-kick amid a chorus of boos from the home crowd and his delivery is cleared by the left-boot of Nicky Butt.

3min - The Magpies enjoy a passage of attcking play and Emre wins a throw-in off Kaboul on the right. Geremi launches long into the box but Kaboul is there to head away for the hosts from Cacapa. The Brazilian takes a knock to the head and goes down before receiving treatment from the United medical staff but it looks as though he'll be fine.

Spurs get the game underway attacking the Gallowgate End.

TEAM NEWS

SAM Allardyce hands a recall to midfield playmaker Emre with Joey Barton named among the United substitutes for the first time since his summer switch from Man City.

James Milner makes way for the Turkish star with Magpies skipper Geremi likely to occupy the right-midfield slot.

Alan Smith (suspended) and Mark Viduka (calf) are both missing, meaning Oba Martins and Michael Owen are paired in attack from the start of a game for the first time this season.

Abdoulaye Faye and Cacapa continue at the heart of the Toon backline, while Shola Ameobi also makes a return to the hosts' bench after missing the last two games because of a groin injury.

United old boy Jermaine Jenas is included in Martin Jol's starting line-up while Dimitar Berbatov has to settle for a place on the bench.

Paul Robinson (calf) misses out with Radek Cerny deputising.

TEAMS

NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, Cacapa, Charles N'Zogbia (James Milner, 46m), Emre (Joey Barton, 71m), Nicky Butt, Geremi, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (David Rozehnal, 79m)
Subs not used: Steve Harper, Shola Ameobi

THFC: Radek Cerny, Pascal Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Didier Zokora, Younes Kaboul, Jermaine Jenas, Robbie Keane, Steed Malbranque (Dimitar Berbatov 58m), Gareth Bale (Teemu Tainio, 19m), Michael Dawson, Darren Bent (Aaron Lennon, 78m)
Subs not used: Anthony Gardner, Tommy Forecast

Referee: Steve Bennett
Attendance: 51, 411

FACTS AND FIGURES

Newcastle defend their unbeaten home league record against Tottenham, who are yet to win away.

The Magpies have won their last three at St James' Park, netting three goals in each of the last two.

Spurs have drawn their last three on the road, but despite going into the weekend fourth bottom, boast the strongest attack outside the top five.

Newcastle have scored more Premier League goals against Tottenham than any other club (46).

For NUFC:

1. Won 50% of their Premier League games (four of eight).

2. The lowest ranked of seven clubs still holding an unbeaten home Premier League record.

3. Three goals shy of totally 500 in home Premier League matches all time.

4. Not lost a league game at St James' Park to a London club in a year; unbeaten in seven since the 1-2 loss to Fulham on 9 September 2006.

For THFC:

1. Drawn the last three Premier League matches - the longest current such run by any club in the division.

2. Not won in six league games; drawn four and lost two since beating Derby 4-0 at White Hart Lane - their only league victory so far this season.

3. Conceded two goals a game on average; 18 in nine outings, making them the second weakest defence in the Premier League. Four of the 18 have been shipped in stoppage time - more than any other club in the division.

4. The highest placed of four clubs with just one Premier League win.

Spurs @ SJP In Premiership

2006/07: 3-1 Dyer, Martins, Parker
2005/06: 3-1 Bowyer, Ameobi, Shearer
2004/05: 1-0 Kluivert (FAC)
2004/05: 0-1
2003/04: 4-0 Shearer 2, Robert 2
2002/03: 2-1 Speed, Shearer
2001/02: 0-2
2000/01: 2-0 Speed, Cordone
1999/00: 6-1 Shearer 2, Speed, Dabizas, Ferguson, Dyer (FAC)
1999/00: 2-1 Glass, Dabizas
1998/99: 1-1 Ketsbaia
1997/98: 1-0 Barton
1996/97: 7-1 Shearer 2, Ferdinand 2, Lee 2, Albert
1995/96: 1-1 Ferdinand
1994/95: 3-3 D.Peacock, Gillespie, Beardsley
1993/94: 0-1

REF WATCH

Steve Bennett - last seen at Gallowgate at the beginning of September as he presided over the 1-0 win against Wigan.

Bennett will be flanked by Mr D Sygmuta and Mr D Bryan.

NEWCASTLE WORLD TV

Can't get to the game on Monday? Don't worry, Newcastle World TV will be bringing you full match commentary and post-match interviews and highlights after the full-time whistle. For less than £1.50 each month can you afford to be without such UNRIVALLED access to NUFC?