Perhaps Newcastle and Joe Kinnear do speak the same language after all.
It may not have been the tirade of swearing that stand-in boss Kinnear used to the media in midweek, but he certainly seemed to inspire the crisis-torn club in his first game in charge.
Two down to Everton, Newcastle hit back to end a run of five successive defeats.
Everton cruised into the lead through a Mikel Arteta penalty and £15million new boy Marouane Fellaini's first for the club.
But Steven Taylor headed one back seconds before the break and then set-up Damien Duff for the equaliser a minute into the second half.
And had it not been for two desperate goal-line clearances from Leighton Baines, Everton could have been severely embarrassed as their poor form continued.
With a gaggle of consortiums - from the USA and the far and Middle East - circling to take over the Tyneside club in the coming weeks, Kinnear may not be around much longer.
But he has certainly made an impact on Newcastle, who at last showed fight and spirit.
Everton were without hamstring victim Phil Neville, Arteta took over the captain's armband, while Tim Cahill started a three-match suspension. Steven Pienaar and Fellaini came into midfield.
Kinnear, who watched the match from the directors' box as he fulfilled a touchline ban, made two changes for his first game in charge.
Out went Sebastien Bassong and Xisco, with Jose Enrique returned to defence while Danny Guthrie was back in midfield after suspension.
And Newcastle were under pressure from the start against an Everton side still smarting from their UEFA Cup exit in midweek.
Player of the Match : Damien Duff (Newcastle)
0 comments:
Post a Comment