Source: Daily_Mail
Hull 1 Newcastle 1: 'Sad Mackem' Phil won't be shocked if Magpies drop
[LNB]HAVE YOUR SAY: Can Newcastle beat the drop?[LNB]Phil Brown might be a 'sad Mackem' according to the printable part of the Tyne-Wear insult but the Hull [LNB]manager insists he is a good deal happier than he would be if he were in charge of Newcastle[LNB]. [LNB]The Tigers have won two and drawn two against the Geordies this season and are four points better off with nine to play in the Barclays Premier League. [LNB]These assets are far more tangible at this time of the year than a nearly fit Michael Owen, a 50,000-seat stadium and any number of bare-chested fans. [LNB] Geordie joy: Steven Taylor celebrates his equaliser with team-mate Michael Owen[LNB]'I wouldn't be surprised if Newcastle were relegated,' said Brown,who was born on the Tyne but grew up supporting Sunderland[LNB], somethingwhich guarantees him endless abuse whenever his team plays against theMagpies. [LNB]'I wouldn't be surprised if any team went. People say one's gone already but that's a load of rubbish.' [LNB] Hull 1 Newcastle 1: How the action unfolded[LNB]Have your say: Can Newcastle beat the drop?[LNB]HULL CITY FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB] As for the 'sad Mackem' songs, he hopes they continue. [LNB]'That must mean I'm doing a good job,' said Brown. [LNB]'Withthe amount of money Newcastle have spent compared to us, I'm satisfiedto have won two and drawn two against them. We're through to thequarter-finals of the FA Cup and we're 12th in the Premier League.We've weathered the worst part of our season. If you're asking me ifI'm happier than Newcastle at the moment, then of course I am. [LNB]'They've come here and had one shot on target. I don't know if it was negative but it was surprising.' [LNB]Animositysimmered beneath the surface of this turgid draw at the KC Stadium, alegacy of Danny Guthrie's leg-breaking swipe at Craig Fagan at StJames' Park in September.[LNB] Caught up: Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong tangles with Hull striker Craig Fagan as Steven Taylor looks on[LNB] [LNB]Guthrie was absent on Saturday butFagan wanted to fight Steven Taylor early on and was booked for it byreferee Howard Webb. Then he was lucky not to be shown a second yellowcard for a hack from behind on Sebastien Bassong in the second half. [LNB]Onthe touchline, Brown wound up the Newcastle staff by encroaching intotheir technical zone and his assistant Brian Horton exchanged heatedwords with Chris Hughton. [LNB]The Hull manager dismissed it all as'nervous tension' and then had a go at the referee for booking RichardGarcia for diving when he was clearly tripped. [LNB]'Everyone is under pressure, even the top referee is showing it,' said Brown. [LNB]Incontrast, the mood within the Newcastle camp was more solemn. They nowhave just one win in 11 games and hover above the relegation zone ongoal difference.[LNB]HAVE YOUR SAY: Can Newcastle beat the drop?[LNB] Jumping for joy: Brazilian forward Geovanni nods Hull into the lead with a wonderful header to beat Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper[LNB] [LNB]They are up for sale, manager Joe Kinnear isrecovering from heart surgery and ever-unpopular executive directorDennis Wise appeared at Hull. To make the outlook even gloomier, thenext two games are against Arsenal[LNB]and Chelsea[LNB]. [LNB]'Some games onpaper are more winnable than our next two but that's the challenge,'said Hughton, who insisted Wise is not interfering with his teamselection. [LNB]Owen had been billed as the saviour but barely had atouch in his first game for two months. He threatened the goal once,with a glancing header, but the flag was up for offside and he trudgedoff gloomily when his number went up 17 minutes from time. [LNB]'It'sgreat to have him back,' said Geremi, but Owen's presence might beawkward for caretaker boss Hughton. The striker's reputation and goalratio say play him but Newcastle's plight does not afford the luxury ofallowing half-a-dozen games for him to sharpen up. [LNB]'He is who he is and it's good to have him available,' said Hughton.[LNB] Brush off: Obafemi Martins gets round Hull's Sam Ricketts with ease but the Nigerian striker fails to fire Newcastle ahead[LNB] [LNB]'We are aware of his qualities and the decision is always going to be whether he has played enough football to warrant a spot.' [LNB]Newcastlewent behind after only nine minutes when they surrendered possession inmidfield and were sliced open by Geovanni, who sprayed the ball wide toFagan on the left and drifted into the penalty box for the return. Noone picked up the Brazilian and he headed Fagan's cross beyond SteveHarper. [LNB]Hull ought to have made more of their early dominancebut careless defending invited the equaliser before half-time. NickyButt swung over a cross from the right and Taylor helped it into thefar corner with the inside of his right boot.[LNB]HAVE YOUR SAY: Can Newcastle beat the drop?[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTS [LNB]HULL CITY (4-4-2):Duke 6; Ricketts 7, Turner 7, Gardner 6, Kilbane 7; Mendy 5 (Barmby80min), Ashbee 7, Zayatte 6, Geovanni 7; Fagan 7 (Garcia 70, 4), Cousin5 (Manucho 54, 4). Booked: Fagan, Zayatte, Garcia.[LNB]NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2):Harper 6; S Taylor 6, Coloccini 5, Bassong 7, Enrique 6; Geremi 5,Smith 5 (R Taylor 73, 4), Butt 6, Gutierrez 5; Martins 5, Owen 5(Ameobi 73, 4). Booked: Geremi, Smith, Colocconi. [LNB]Man of the match: Geovanni. Referee: Howard Webb.[LNB] Hull 1 Newcastle 1: How the action unfolded[LNB]Have your say: Can Newcastle beat the drop?[LNB]HULL CITY FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
