Newcastle United 0 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

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Saturday Jan 19 2008 05:15

Kevin Keegan's eagerly anticipated return ended in a great anti-climax as Newcastle United were held to a disappointing goalless draw by Bolton Wanderers.

If ever there was such a thing as home banker it had to be this match as Keegan marked his third spell at St. James' Park and second as the club's manager.

On his first occasion as a player, 'Special K' marked his debut with the only goal of the game against QPR and it got even better on his managerial debut as Newcastle thumped Bristol City 3-0.

Bearing in mind Keegan had won his opening fixture in charge of England, Fulham and Manchester City, there could surely be only on result.

But the expected three points for the Geordies never materialised against a defensive-minded Bolton, who almost had the audacity to snatch a last minute winner.

After watching the 4-1 demolition of Stoke City in the FA Cup on Wednesday, this was Keegan's team selection and he named Michael Owen as skipper.

But Keegan had to reckon without the suspended midfield trio of Nicky Butt, Alan Smith and Emre plus the African Nations' quartet of Geremi, Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye and Obafemi Martins along with Joey Barton.

Keegan pulled off something of a surprise when handing Shola Ameobi his first home start in the league this season in what was only his second Premier League start on the back of two Carling Cup appearances.

Gary Megson meanwhile had both his new signings Matt Taylor and Gretar Steinsson - who played against Newcastle for AZ Alkmaar last season - in from the start.

Wanderers packed their midfield and Newcastle looked totally devoid of ideas in the first half as how to find a way through the middle of the park.

It was this lack of creativity in the midfield that was to prove costly for Newcastle as they failed to penetrate Bolton with the necessary cutting thrust.Jussi Jaaskelainen did not have a shot to save, while Shay Given was called upon only twice in the opening 45 minutes to keep out early efforts from Joey O'Brien and Kevin Nolan.

Newcastle upped the tempo after the break in front of a full house but chances were few and far between with only the odd flash from James Milner and Ameobi.

At least Keegan managed a goalless draw but at the same time knows there is a long, hard challenge ahead of him.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME: NEWCASTLE 0 - 0 BOLTON: There was no dream return to Newcastle for Kevin Keegan after a good defensive performance from Bolton who probably shaded the game.

90
The fourth official indicates three minutes of added time.

89
David Rozehnal tries to dribble the ball at goal rather than shoot from a good position and eventually runs into trouble

87
LuaLua gets a shot away but the ball does not make it's way through a crowd of bodies inside the penalty area.

86
The game has become incredibly scrappy now and it seems there will be no dream return to Newcastle for Kevin Keegan.

84
Ameobi is picked out in the box but he directs his header harmlessly wide of the target.

84
Ameobi goes down easily in the box and again appeals for a penalty, and again Alan Wiley shakes his head.

82
Claudio Cacapa hits an ambitious shot from about 40-yards out and unsurprisingly fails to trouble Jaaskelainen.

81
Bolton have defended very well today and in this second-half have barely bothered going past the halfway line.

79
This game could still go either way and though it is messy and scrappy, Newcastle look the most likely to muster up a goal.

78
Joey O'Brien, makes way for Jlloyd Samuel

78
Damien Duff, who still does not look fully match fit, makes way for Kazenga LuaLua

77
Taylor makes a meal of a challenge from Taylor and the Bolton debutant is shown a yellow card.

75
Gavin McCann, an ex-Sunderland player, is jeered as he leaves the field and he takes his time in order to run the clock down. He is replaced by Tamir Cohen

73
N'Zogbia takes another Newcastle corner but with eleven Bolton players in the box, he fails to pick out a team-mate.

70
Play stops for a few minutes for an injured player and after a bit of handbags on the pitch, the game resumes.

68
Megson makes his first change of the game and it is a straight swap - Ivan Campo for Kevin Nolan.

68
The corner isn't properly cleared by Bolton and the move ends with Nolan blocking a Milner volley from the edge of the area.

66
Milner tries to pick out a team-mate with a cross but slices it and almost sends the ball into the top corner of the net, but Jaaskelainen tips it over the bar.

64
Milner picks out David Rozehnal inside the penalty area but he misses the target with a close range header.

62
Ameobi breaks into the penalty area and goes down under a challenge from Gardner. There are massive appeals from around the stadium for a penalty but again the referee waves away the protests.

59
N'Zogbia takes the set-piece again but sends it over the crossbar and Jaaskelainen remains untroubled.

58
Ameobi wins his side another free-kick in a good position after drawing a foul out of Andy O'Brien.

57
Damien Duff picks up the first booking of the game aftera foul on Kevin Davies.

56
Newcastle win a free-kick in a decent position, but N'Zogbia hits it straight into the wall.

55
Owen, sporting the captain's armband, looks frustrated on the pitch and has not seen much of the ball.

53
N'Zogbia is looking lively in the opening stages of this second-half and he gets a shot away from distance which is blocked by O'Brien.

51
Newcastle mount some pressure on Bolton and get numerous shots away but all are blocked by the stubborn Bolton defence. N'Zogbia's final shot across the face of goal sails wide of the mark and the visitors regain possession.

49
The home side are simply hoofing balls up to the striker partners at the moment and the Bolton defence are dealing with each ball with ease.

48
The home faithful chant Keegan's name as Ameobi is caught offside.

46
Newcastle did not manage a shot on target in the first-half, now we will have to see if Keegan has had an inspirational impact during the interval.

45
Alan Wiley gets the second-half underway

45
HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE 0 - 0 BOLTON: After the exciting build-up, the game has been something of an anti-climax and the dull first half has quietened St. James' Park.

43
Bolton do seem to be missing Anelka tonight, and if he were playing there would be many who would back them on the basis of this current performance.

41
Newcastle go forward and put together a string of good passes, before Owen runs into trouble and the visitors regain possession.

39
The match almost looks a little like pub football at the moment, and Kevin Keegan on the sideline looks rather perplexed.

37
St. James' has quietened down a lot now, and moans and groans are now being heard when the home side make a mistake.

35
Gary Megson's side look very organised at the moment and are getting all their men behind the ball when the home side attack.

34
Owen bursts into the penalty area and goes to ground, but again the Newcastle protests are turned away by Alan Wiley.

33
N'Zogbia's corner falls to Ameobi who strikes a shot early. It hits a Bolton defender and he appeals for a penalty, but the referee waves play on.

32
Ameobi finds space for a shot, which deflects off McCann and behind for a corner.

30
David Rozehnal lets fly from 25-yards but he sends his shot to the right of Jaaskelainen's goal.

28
His shot loops over the wall but is then headed behind for a corner by a Bolton defender.

27
Owen is brought down on the edge of the box and N'Zogbia lines up the free-kick.

25
The ball falls for Jose Sanchez Enrique outside the area but he strikes his shot wide of the target.

23
Newcastle win their second corner of the game, but it comes to nothing.

20
Bolton are shading the possession counters at the moment and they appear to be doing their utmost to take away the limelight from Newcastle.

18
Bolton try a training ground routine corner resulting in a long range volley from Taylor, but he slices his shot wide.

16
The sides are looking very equal at the moment. Both are enjoying good spells of possession but are lacking the cutting edge in the final third.

14
It is a full house at St James' tonight and the atmosphere is absolutely electric.

12
Charles N'Zogbia whips a corner into the mixer but it is just too high for Ameobi.

11
Newcastle are starting to enjoy their football now. They have got the ball on the floor and are passing it around well.

9
Keegan has won his first game in charge at every side he has managed, but we are still yet to see a serious attempt at goal from either side here.

7
Keegan may well be looking to get somethong over on Bolton today, his last match in charge of Manchester City was against them and they lost 1-0.

6
Shola AMeobi is making his first start since September today, and his strike partner Michael Owen has been given the captain's armband.

5
Kevin Nolan tries his luck this time, but Shay Given gets down to his right to smother the ball.

4
Gavin McCann strikes a long range shot at goal, but it is deflected wide of the target.

3
Both sides look a little nervy here, particularly the home players who do not want to make the first mistake under the Keegan era.

1
Bolton win two corners in quick succession, both of which are headed clear by Newcastle players.

0
After a warm reception for Kevin Keegan inside an electric St. James' Park, referee Alan Wiley gets the game underway.

0
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Michalik, Gardner, Joey O'Brien, Nolan, McCann, Guthrie, Davies, Taylor. SUBS: Al Habsi, Samuel, Giannakopoulos, Campo, Cohen

0
NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Milner, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Duff, Owen, Ameobi. SUBS: Harper, Edgar, Troisi, LuaLua, Carroll

0
Gretar Steinsson and Matt Taylor are expected to make their Bolton debuts in this late kick-off and midfielder Gavin McCann passes a late fitness test.

0
Kevin Keegan faces selection difficulties for his first game in charge with Nicky Butt, Alan Smith and Emre all suspended and four players away in Ghana for the African Cup of Nations.

Statistics

Newcastle United

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	7
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	14
Offsides	1
Corners	9

Bolton Wanderers

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	2
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	15
Offsides	4
Corners	6

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