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Vital win for the Magpies
Newcastle 2 Fulham 0
A WELL-SUPPORTED
club, struggling at the
wrong end of the Premier
League table, record a
marginal home win over Fulham
which should finally kickstart
an ailing season.
Mark Viduka has been there
before and is determined to ensure
things don't end up the
same way.
It is four years ago since Viduka
was one of a number of star
names charged with the responsibility
of keeping Leeds United
in the top-flight.
But, after the false dawn of a
narrow victory a Viduka goal
helped secure over Fulham,
Leeds managed to win just four
of their remaining 22 league
matches. Championship football
fell on Elland Road.
After the turmoil of a change
of manager and the depression
of many poor results, similarities
have been drawn between
Leeds 2004 and Newcastle United
2008.
This time around, however,
the Australian striker insists
the Magpies are not about to fall
the same way as his former
club.
With six points separating
Newcastle from the bottom
three and seven matches remaining,
four points picked up
from their last two fixtures has
revived a club stuck in a severe
state of depression.
Had a much-needed first victory
in ten not arrived under
Kevin Keegan's reign on Saturday,
even the most optimistic
Geordie supporter would have
been close to conceding relegation
was on the cards come May.
And, while Premier League
status has not been preserved
yet, Viduka's worries of a repeat
of the Leeds debacle of
four years ago are starting to
disappear. Hopefully, he says,
for good.
"There were always whispers
about the manager (Sam Allardyce)
being changed and it's
been a very up and down season,"
said Viduka, brought to St
James' Park from Middlesbrough
in the summer by Allardyce.
IT has finally arrived. The wait is over. Kevin Keegan finally has a win to celebrate as manager in his second spell in charge of Newcastle United.
At the tenth time of asking, the Magpies finally turned in a display worthy of three points and it is a victory which has strengthened their arm on the relegation front.
This could well be a sign of things to come between now and the end of the season. A three-pronged attack that means the opponents have to worry about Newcastle, rather than the other way around.
It is worth nothing that Fulham look a team destined for the Championship. Nevertheless, given the run without a win on Tyneside, noone was taking the visitors lightly.
But with Mark Viduka holding the line and delivering a terrific opener inside six minutes, the Magpies were given a platform to build on.
This was by no means an exceptional Newcastle display, but Michael Owen's downward header seven minutes before the end gained just rewards.
The relegation fight is far from won, but with the long wait for a win over, supporters on Tyneside must finally be looking to the future again.
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"Did the rumours affect us?
It's not an ideal situation, it
shouldn't affect performances
but sometimes it does. I was involved
in what happened at
Leeds United. It was a situation
where nobody
knew what was
going on so it did
affect performances.
I felt
this year was
going to be a
solid year, but it
hasn't been.
"Have there been times
when you thought it was
going to be another
Leeds? Yes, you've got to
think like that because the
situation we are in isn't the
best."
It is no coincidence that
Newcastle's best form under
Keegan has arrived with Viduka
in the team. After a month
on the sidelines, he was back
in the team at Birmingham a
week ago.
Having to endure the torture
of watching his latest manager
struggle to conjure up his first
win from the sidelines was hard
for Viduka.
But, after providing the target-
man presence in a threepronged
attack alongside
Michael Owen and Obafemi
Martins, he is looking forward
to blossoming in a new-look
strike-force.
"When you're out injured,
you want to be contributing, especially
when things aren't
going so well and you want to
help the team," said Viduka,
who has struggled with hamstring,
back and calf problems
for much of the campaign. "It
was frustrating to see the boys
down every week after not getting
a result.
"Do I owe Newcastle goals? I
don't owe anybody anything. I
do my best and want to score as
many goals as possible. When I
signed from Boro a few players
came in and people expected
things, but it's been very frustrating."
The trademark Viduka strike
that put Newcastle a goal up
was his sixth since he joined
and, like in the previous games
he has scored in, United avoided
defeat.
Five of his goals have all arrived
at St James' Park - a
ground where he had not started
since January 2 - but none
have been as important, as Keegan
tasted glory for the first
time since taking over 63 days
earlier.
With his back to goal when he
received the ball from Geremi,
Viduka was afforded the time
and space to turn in the area before
precisely finding the bottom
left of Kasey Keller's net.
That arrived inside
six minutes and allowed
the tension
and nerves to ease
against a Fulham
team
that, on
this evidence,
don't deserve
to be in the
Premier League.
The Cottagers, fresh from a
win over Everton six days earlier,
enjoyed spells of possession
in the first half but Steve Harper's
goal was never in danger.
Harper's opposite number,
Keller, though was being forced
into action. And the American
had to make a fine low save
to his left to turn away a
curler from Obafemi Martins,
after the Nigerian was sent
away by Jose Enrique's long
pass.
Newcastle might have been
two up before half-time had
Michael Owen not placed a free
header into Keller's hands from
Geremi's centre. Nevertheless
the signs were good for Keegan.
"Kevin is a very positive person
and he has been very encouraging
to all the players. It's
been great to be associated with
him because he's a great personality
and a great coach,"
said Viduka. "You look up to
people like that because they've
been there and done that at a
higher level."
Apart from the occasional
harmless long-range drive from
Jimmy Bullard, Fulham offered
no threat. A fifth clean sheet of
the season was actually quite
easy for a Newcastle defence
that has conceded more goals
than every Premier League
team except Derby this season.
And when Owen coasted in
between the defenders to head a
Geremi free-kick beyond Keller
seven minutes from time, it was
game over and a huge sense of
relief around St James'.
"Everybody is very happy to
get the win," said Viduka.
"When you are playing well and
not getting anything it's a difficult
situation and very disappointing."
It remains to be seen whether
this success is the start of something
much brighter for Newcastle.
Whatever happens between
now and the end of the
season, though, there is no disguising
that this is a step, albeit
a small one, towards where Keegan
wants the club to head.
Watch the match highlights from Monday, March 24
5:15pm Saturday 22nd March 2008
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