What they're saying about the Us v Newcastle.

[davieG]

Telegraph

Newcastle United's ascent back towards the top flight has at times appeared utterly seamless but turbulence has suddenly gripped them.

The Championship does not accommodate brittleness and the leaders, contending with a chasing pack smelling weaknesses, have not been convincing of late. Here they laboured against 10-man Leicester City, who displayed greater imagination and vigour and deserved more than a draw.

"We were the better side. Maybe that's me being biased. We believed in ourselves. We're disappointed we could not win," said a downtrodden Leicester manager Nigel Pearson.

His side were sprightlier, their 4-2-3-1 exuding a fluency which belied their recent travails and tumble from the play-off positions. Their interchanges around the Newcastle box were slick and penetrative. Newcastle could do with the trickery of a Victor Moses.

They head the table but they were given no opportunity to set the standard here. Wayne Routledge, acquired from QPR for his pace and fleet-footedness, was smothered from an abrasive game littered with thundering tackles.

The first clear chance did not arrive until the 23rd minute when Martyn Waghorn played in Andy King, who found Matt Fryatt. His shot was palmed over by Steve Harper.

Leicester excelled at finding pockets of space. Matt Oakley, spearheading an attacking three, engineered a yard and almost found Fryatt but Harper, dashing from his goal-line, cleared the danger.

Newcastle struggled to exert any control before a momentum-swinging sending off encouraged them. Richie Wellens, already booked for raising his boot on Alan Smith, received a second yellow card after tugging back Routledge as he sped into the Leicester half. It was professional neglect. After all, the danger was minimal.

Leicester, though, were undaunted. There was little room to manoeuvre when Fryatt picked up possession on halfway but he slalomed his way past Michael Williamson and Smith like an Olympic downhill skier, gliding into the area, before thudding a shot against Patrick Van Aanholt.

Newcastle were not galvanised a man up. They were susceptible to players running at them and Leicester's verve intensified. Kevin Nolan headed Van Aanholt's cross over, yet the visitors were underwhelming in all areas.

Berner escaped a second yellow card when he clattered into Routledge but referee Andre Marriner, enduring taunts of "you're not fit to referee" from the Leicester faithful, refused to brandish another red card.

Cheers greeted Nolberto Solano, once instigating Newcastle attacks, when he came on but he failed to inspire a victory his handicapped side warranted with a confident, spirited performance.

Vital Football - Newcastle

Chris Hughton's Shambolic Mistakes Cost Toon

Newcastle United evidently showed why the club would be relegation contenders come the new year if they climb into the Premier League this term, as a depressing and quite shocking away performance at Leicester City exposed Chris Hughton's failings and proved many a fan's assessment that the Magpies are a poor footballing side.

Newcastle United gave full debuts to Wayne Routledge and Patrick van Aanholt, as Nicky Butt replaced Jonas Gutierrez in midfield, and Ryan Taylor came in place of Tamas Kadar.

Leicester City started off brightly stretching the Toon defence as if it were made of elastic, until Richie Wellens was shown a second yellow for bringing down Routledge in the 29th minute.

The home-side pushed on, and could have scored a splendid goal with Matty Fryatt displaying an incredible ability to sprint, dribble, and shoot, a quality none of the Unite forwards could display.

60 minutes later, the scores remained the same, as United produced a shamefully inadequate performance against the 10-men of Leicester.

Hughton's brilliant plan to bench Nile Ranger, and Peter Lovenkrands backfired in the worst possible way, and Newcastle United, despite getting a point, looked like a Sunday League side who did not know how to attack the opponent.

United played a narrow formation with one striker up top, and if it were not for some inspired defending from van Aanholt, and Mike Williamson, they could have easily lost the game.

Ryan Taylor must have been the designated headless-chicken of the day as he wasted chance after chance of stretching play, or making a decent run into the box. All he did was stand at a safe distance away from the defence and dole out worthless cross-after-cross which no one could get on the end of (including the Leicester City players).

Danny Guthrie on the left-wing? The only word that comes into mind is 'why'. On top of that, three defensive minded players in the centre who have no pace, no creativity, and no idea of what is going around on the pitch. Butt, Smith and Nolan. They must be the three most single-track players in the history of football - they can only pass it short, in one direction, and have no idea what wingers are, and where the flanks are located.

Guthrie looked uninterested, and in the end tired, and lacking concentration. He does not know where the wings are either, but at least he switched play a few times. Although, to be fair, his first touch is diabolical to say the least, and must be first thing Hughton will address on Monday morning.

Can anyone answer why Andy Carroll acts like he is Wayne Rooney? Seriously, does the lad really think he can take on four defenders, emerge victorious, and then slot home a cool finish? If he does, then he should really visit a mental institutue.

Two out and out wingers available, and what does Hughton do? He employs the services of the world's most serene player - Nicky Butt to form a triangle with Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan in the centre of the field, and remain there in the hope that an Olympic choreographer would see them and hire them for the Opening Ceremony of the next big sporting event.

The football is too narrow, ladies and gentlemen. Someone please use the fullbacks. Wingers are not central midfielders. Everyone knows that, one may feel. But the concept has not sunk into the Toon yet.

It would be unfair to single Butt out today, but Kevin Nolan was off his game for sure, and Smith looked like he needed a tropical vacation somewhere exotic - like the Caribbean.

Some of the fans were crying for Joey Barton to return. Creativity, anyone? Hughton should take off his thinking cap and make a pledge to the fans to never ever reunite the central midfield quartet of Guthrie, Smith, Nolan, and Butt on the same pitch ever again. They would just confuse quantum physicists who would find it impossible to ascertain how they could seemingly stop time as we know it, and make 90 minutes seem like a week.

The most depressing, and ugly exhibition of football ever to have graced a Toon set-up by far. People complained about the football Sam Allardyce infused into the club. Oh god, how I would love Big Sam to come back now. The current lot and their 'football' are equivalent to watching paint dry at an architects convention.

The Newcastle United Blog

This was a very frustrating game for Newcastle fans to watch, as the referee seemed to gift the points to Newcastle, when he sent off Wellens after 29 minutes.

But Newcastle have hardly been an easy side to support over the years, and today they frustrated their supporters no end, with a complete lack of cutting edge in the last third of the field.

Indeed Leicester could have had an unlikely victory tonight, with a little bit more luck, such was the spirit with which they played when down to 10 men.

When Leicester were reduced to 10 men we would have expected Newcastle to immediately switch to an attacking 4-4-2 formation, but did they? No they didn't.

Instead, amazingly, it seemed that Leicester had the spare man, as they continually picked up the stray ball in the middle of the park – how come?

Wellens had received his second yellow card on 29 minutes, and while both yellows seemed to deserve the caution, you couldn't help but think he was unlucky – two fouls – two yellow cards and out of the game

It never used to be that way.

When a team has 10 men you have to stretch them wide and use the wingers, but Guthrie's natural instinct is to move inside, and we didn't stretch the game enough tonight.

Danny's a central midfielder, and could have been moved there after 30 minutes to provide some creative forward running. Smith and Butt in the center of the park give Newcastle zero creativity, and should never be played together – never.

Newcastle passed the ball around aimlessly far too much, and they'll pass the ball around 6 times and end up where they started. A complete lack of creativity meant they showed nothing much in the last third of the field – which is where it counts.

A very frustrating game for Newcastle – one in which which they were given a gilt-edged opportunity to go 6 points clear of Nottingham Forest , who lost today at Derby – but they basically failed pretty miserably.

You could also say Chris Hughton was completely out-coached by former Newcastle and England U21 coach Nigel Pearson.

One bright spot for Newcastle was van Aanhholt, who looked the most likely to score, so inept were Newcastle as an attacking force today. And of course the Newcastle defense is very hard to break down, but they had luck on their side several timnes in this game. He put in two terrific left foot shots in this game and both could have been goals.

Mike Williams continued to look the part at the back for the Magpies – what a great find this boy looks for Newcastle. He has great heading ability and his concentration levels are first class.

And hey, let's not bank on promotion anytime soon, unless we can carve out chances, and when we get them – put the ball in the back of the net.

That part of Newcastle's game today was just hopeless – where's my boots.

As far as Leicester are concerned the opposite is true, as they increased their work-rate to make up for the man short, and it was hard to know which side was playing with 10 men.

Leicester City can be proud of their performance tonight, but Newcastle fans will be very frustrated at their team's inept performance – we are.

For Newcastle, that's the 4th draw in the last 5 league games, so 8 points lost and just 7 points from 5 games.

And if we are to gain promotion it's just not good enough – we'd much rather lose and then win a couple than keep drawing – this unbeaten streak stuff means nothing when a win is worth 3 points.

We need more creativity and more of a killer instinct – and maybe Joey Barton's return to training on Monday is a good thing.

And we hear that Wigan Athletic may have pipped us to Victor Moses – boy that would be really hard to take.

Looking on the bright side, it's just one game we suppose, and we can make up for this with a win against Cardiff on Friday night at St. James' Park.

ITV

Magpies held by 10-man Leicester

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Newcastle had to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Walkers Stadium despite playing against 10 men for an hour.

Leicester midfielder Ritchie Wellens was sent off for the ninth time in his career on the half-hour mark after picking up his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Wayne Routledge.

Wellens had already been booked after 17 minutes for a misdemeanour on Alan Smith.

The closest the Magpies came to capitalising on their numerical advantage was when Patrick Van Aanholt forced a save from Chris Weale late in the first half.

The point extended Newcastle`s unbeaten league run to 14 matches and saw Chris Hughton`s side stretch their lead at the top of the table to four points after nearest rivals Nottingham Forest were beaten 1-0 at Pride Park by Derby earlier in the day.

Steve Harper tipped a shot from Matty Fryatt over the crossbar midway through the first half, while at the other end Weale pushed Van Aanholt's effort round a post.

The Magpies twice went close in quick succession from corners courtesy of headers from Smith and Andrew Carroll.

Kevin Nolan threatened with another headed effort at the start of the second half.

A rare Leicester attack saw on-loan Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn fire a left-foot shot just wide soon afterwards.

Carroll saw a goalbound effort blocked by Wayne Brown with 10 minutes remaining.

There was a notable moment six minutes from time when Leicester`s new signing Nolberto Solano came on as a substitute for his debut.

The Peruvian received a warm reception from both sets of supporters having spent eight years at Newcastle during spells between 1998 to 2004 and 2005 to 2007.

The Magpies continued to push forward and came close to a winning goal in the final minute but Routledge's shot cleared the crossbar.

Newcastle remain unbeaten in the league since losing 2-1 at S****horpe on October 20 while Leicester`s play-off hopes continue to stutter - the Foxes are without a win in their last four matches.

Give me Football

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Newcastle had to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Walkers Stadium despite playing against 10 men for an hour.

Leicester midfielder Ritchie Wellens was sent off for the ninth time in his career on the half-hour mark after picking up his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Wayne Routledge.

Wellens had already been booked after 17 minutes for a misdemeanour on Alan Smith.

The closest the Magpies came to capitalising on their numerical advantage was when Patrick Van Aanholt forced a save from Chris Weale late in the first half.

The point extended Newcastle`s unbeaten league run to 14 matches and saw Chris Hughton`s side stretch their lead at the top of the table to four points after nearest rivals Nottingham Forest were beaten 1-0 at Pride Park by Derby earlier in the day.

Steve Harper tipped a shot from Matty Fryatt over the crossbar midway through the first half, while at the other end Weale pushed Van Aanholt's effort round a post.

The Magpies twice went close in quick succession from corners courtesy of headers from Smith and Andrew Carroll.

Kevin Nolan threatened with another headed effort at the start of the second half.

A rare Leicester attack saw on-loan Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn fire a left-foot shot just wide soon afterwards.

Carroll saw a goalbound effort blocked by Wayne Brown with 10 minutes remaining.

There was a notable moment six minutes from time when Leicester`s new signing Nolberto Solano came on as a substitute for his debut.

The Peruvian received a warm reception from both sets of supporters having spent eight years at Newcastle during spells between 1998 to 2004 and 2005 to 2007.

The Magpies continued to push forward and came close to a winning goal in the final minute but Routledge's shot cleared the crossbar.

Newcastle remain unbeaten in the league since losing 2-1 at S****horpe on October 20 while Leicester`s play-off hopes continue to stutter - the Foxes are without a win in their last four matches.

nufcblog

The Sky Sports team talked it up and went as far to say that 'Leicester 0 Newcastle 0′ was the best goalless draw they'd seen for a long time. I think in their quieter moments, off camera, they might ask for their money back, and so might the fans. Because it was a bloody awful game of football from where I was sitting, and perish the thought that I almost travelled to watch that garbage. It will be a long journey back home for those loyal Mags who had to sit through another unstimulating performance from our team. Even with the well worn cliche of ten men often being harder to play against, tonight was a perfect opportunity to get ourselves back on track and put some daylight between us and the chasers. Unfortunately we fell miles short of looking anything like taking the 3 points at any stage in the game, and if any team looked more likely to create something, it was Leicester.

We just look completely stale and while I've argued for months now that we've rarely looked like a good football team, we also now seem to have lost some of the hunger that was earning us points regardless of the style we played. Defensively we're still stubborn and less likely to concede than the opposition generally, but in midfield and upfront we seem to have lost our appetite and drive. Big players like Smith and Nolan, seem quiet and ineffective, drifting in and out games with barely an influence on the occasion.

Hughton gave full debuts to van Anholt and Routledge, with the young Dutchman slotting straight in to replace the injured Enrique at left back. Routledge took up his more recognised role wide on the right as Danny Guthrie switched over to the left, leaving Gutierrez on the bench, presumably still feeling a knock from the Palace game. Ryan Taylor returned from suspension to fill in at right back with Kadar dropping to the bench.

But the biggest decision Hughton had to make was his formation further afield and when he predictably plumped for the 4-4-1-1 option, and stuck Nicky Butt in for Lovenkrands, the writing was on the wall for me. The pedestrian pace that Butt, Nolan and Smith play at in the middle is something to behold when they're on the same pitch together. And with Guthrie out on the left, our only real outlet was Wayne Routledge, who was inexplicably starved of possession for long periods of the game.

With Derby winning at Forest, it was an ideal scenario laid out before us, and with ten minutes gone we had at least played some possession football without ever looking dangerous. But that changed all too soon and the game became very scrappy, notably when Richie Wellens could have walked for a challenge on Smith. And on the half hour, he did walk after a much more innocuous pull on Routledge.

And so with the advantage gained so early on, most Toon fans most have been fairly optimistic of taking all three points. However, the first half was largely void of any goalmouth action and Leicester's Matty Fryatt came as close as anyone, forcing Harper into tipping over the crossbar midway through the first half, and then having a shot blocked by Van Aanholt after cutting through the United defence as if it wasn't there. At the other end, Weale pushed a Van Aanholt effort round the post and we went close twice after headers from Smith and Carroll.

We inevitably put them under a period of pressure but without ever really looking convincing with our attacks, and Weale never had to make a save of any note in the second half. The introduction of Nobby Solano was probably as noteworthy as any of the football and the quality dipped even lower with the combination of our desperation to take all three points and their dogged determination not to allow it.

Even the introduction of Ranger failed to make any impression as we belatedly went for a more attack-minded approach. And ultimately we just weren't good enough on a night when many of our inadequacies were exposed. Leicester battled admirably, as many teams have done against this season and can undoubtedly be proud of their performance in adversity. They even managed to pass the ball around us, despite being a man down. But the fact remains that we played to their strengths. Their dogged defending was helped by a side lacking ideas or the ability to put them to good use. The lack of any real penetration was painfully obvious, where in the absence of Enrique and Gutierrez who have chanelled the play all season, we just looked bereft of any direction.

It seems somehow indecent that we should be complaining when we're top of the league but the harsh reality is that pretty much all season, for some fans (though not this particular supporter), winning has masked the awful means that led to it. And when we don't win, it's even hard for them to stomach. It's not so much what this has done in the immediate future because the table still looks healthy. But promotion still seems an awful long way away on these performances.

Sky Sports

Newcastle extended their lead at the top of the Championship to four points but were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with 10-man Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.

The Foxes played over an hour with one less player than the league-leaders after Richie Wellens saw red, yet the Magpies failed to make their numerical advantage count.

Leicester midfielder Wellens was given two yellow cards by referee Andre Marriner in the space of 13 first-half minutes and his actions ultimately prevented the hosts recording a victory which would have lifted them into the play-offs.

Substitute Nile Ranger saw a late goal ruled out for the Magpies, who did equal a club record of 14 games unbeaten with the point gained in the East Midlands.

Steve Harper tipped a shot from Matty Fryatt over the crossbar midway through the first half, while at the other end Chirs Weale pushed Patrick van Aanholt's effort round a post.

The Magpies twice went close in quick succession from corners courtesy of headers from Alan Smith and Andrew Carroll.

Notable

Kevin Nolan threatened with another headed effort at the start of the second half.

A rare Leicester attack saw on-loan Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn fire a left-foot shot just wide soon afterwards.

Carroll saw a goalbound effort blocked by Wayne Brown with 10 minutes remaining.

There was a notable moment six minutes from time when Leicester's new signing Nolberto Solano came on as a substitute for his debut.

The Peruvian received a warm reception from both sets of supporters having spent eight years at Newcastle during spells between 1998 to 2004 and 2005 to 2007.

The Magpies continued to push forward and came close to a winning goal in the final minute but Wayne Routledge's shot cleared the crossbar.

Newcastle remain unbeaten in the league since losing 2-1 at S****horpe on October 20 while Leicester's play-off hopes continue to stutter - the Foxes are without a win in their last four matches.

[lou]

Rare Leicester attack!? Cheeky sods!

[Guest Mee-9]

Rare Leicester attack!? Cheeky sods!

We dominated!!

Same old tho, Slag Leicester off, Make Newcastle the Martyrs.

[Cat Burger]

Massive club.

[leftsideoverhere]

Dunno if it's been picked up elsewere, but the BBC one is the best...

Battling Leicester played for an hour with 10 men to earn a hard-fought draw against Championship leaders Newcastle.

Richie Wellens was dismissed after 30 minutes, receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Wayne Routledge.

Patrick Van Aanholt had the home side's best chance, but Foxes keeper Chris Weale tipped his shot around the post.

Alan Smith, Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan also all went close with headers while at the other end Steve Harper made a fine save from Matty Fryatt.

Martyn Waghorn also fired wide during a rare away attack but Nigel Pearson's side were forced to defend for large periods to gain their point.

But despite the disappointment of failing to win, the point extends Newcastle's unbeaten league run to 14 matches and sees Chris Hughton's side stretch their lead at the top of the table to four points.

From where I stood, it looked like the Walkers, but apparently the Geordies were at home. I guess that explains why the ref was so nice to them.

And what's with the "forced to defend for large periods"? Apart from the fifteen minutes in the second half when we did begin to tire (ended only when Nobby came on and seemed to lift the team again) we bossed both ends of the park, and weren't "forced" to do anything, except maybe rue missed chances and crap referees.

[Dylan]

Haha. To me, apart from the last 10 mintues, we dominated the match, and they had the rare attack, even after the Sending off.

[easilee]

Face it folks. They'll never give us a fair crack of the whip. They never have. F**k em'.

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

OH LEICESTER WE LOVE YOU.

We might as well shout it out loud and proud cos no other ****er's are gonna do it!!

Besides which, l haven't heard 'we love you leicester' at a game for ages.

Although a couple of these reports aren't too bad.

[Jimmy]

Face it folks. They'll never give us a fair crack of the whip. They never have. F**k em'.

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

WE LOVE YOU LEICESTER, WE DO

OH LEICESTER WE LOVE YOU.

We might as well shout it out loud and proud cos no other ****er's are gonna do it!!

Besides which, l haven't heard 'we love you leicester' at a game for ages.

gets sung all the time

[easilee]

gets sung all the time

Needs to be sung louder or i should go to more games.

The latter most probably.

[Flynny]

Was it really a 4-2-3-1 to start with? Couldn't find a place with sky on instead of ESPN in Bristol and my stream only worked for two 10 minute periods, one of which was the last 10 minutes.

[Salieri]

The first clear chance did not arrive until the 23rd minute when Martyn Waghorn played in Andy King, who found Matt Fryatt. His shot was palmed over by Steve Harper.

Thought Waggy played in Oakley, who fed Fryatt?

Just being picky.

[lcfc_jme]

Worst reporting ever. We were much better than we're being given credit for and they were much worse than they're being made out to be. Horse fucking shit.

[lou]

Worst reporting ever. We were much better than we're being given credit for and they were much worse than they're being made out to be. Horse fucking shit.

Youre not surprised surely?

[lcfc_jme]

Youre not surprised surely?

Nah doesn't mean I have to be happy about it though! <_<

[C-man]

The Telegraph seem to have watched the game; NUFC fans are too busy focusing on their 'bruised' ego to realise that Leicester's performance may have stifled their own; Sky, ITV and the BBC can go fuck themselves.

[easilee]

These are the type of game when i luurve to go on the oppositions forum sites.

Makes me chuckle.