Magpies put Best foot forward

31 July 2010 16:56
NEWCASTLE UNITED were saved from defeat by a second half comeback as one of Sir Bobby Robson's former clubs threatened to mark the first anniversary of his death by claiming a win at St James' Park.[LNB] After supporters and players took part in a minute's applause beforehand for the legendary former England boss, it was PSV Eindhoven that looked a class above in the opening half to take a two-goal lead.[LNB] Newcastle were slow out of the blocks and the Dutch side needed no second invitation to make the most of their hosts' generosity.[LNB] After James Perch, a £1m signing from Nottingham Forest, had conceded a free-kick 22 yards from goal on his home bow, PSV playmaker Ola Toivonen curled a sweet free-kick high into Steve Harper's top left.[LNB] Newcastle struggled to make any sort of impact going forward before half-time, highlighting where work is still required before the trip to Manchester United on August 16.[LNB] And five minutes before half-time PSV made it two. This time they were allowed to keep possession for too long on the left before Marcus Berg rolled to Balazs Dzsudzsak. The Hungarian took a touch before unleashing an unstoppable low drive into Harper's bottom left.[LNB] After the restart, however, Newcastle looked a different team and full of intention to avoid a defeat in front of a little more than 16,000 supporters.[LNB] Seven minutes after half-time Perch's burst into the area was rewarded when Shola Ameobi's blocked cross fell to him. The summer recruit delivered into the six yard box, goalkeeper Andres Isaksson palmed away and Ryan Taylor made the most of the opportunity.[LNB] Twenty minutes later the score was level. Leon Best, who scored at Carlisle a fortnight ago, had emerged from the bench to dive inside the six yard box to turn Taylor's free-kick beyond Isaksson.[LNB] It was a terrific finish and one which manager Chris Hughton will be hoping gives his January buy from Coventry City a boost in confidence ahead of the new season.[LNB] There was no Sol Campbell, who still has to work on his general fitness, Jonas Gutierrez, Wayne Routledge, Joey Barton on Dan Gosling, but Hughton will know that he could still do with adding more faces to his ranks.[LNB] Newcastle might have successfully avoided defeat after bouncing back from a two-goal deficit, but they might not find Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal in such accommodating mood when the season kicks off for real.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper (Krul 53); Perch (Tavernier 67), Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Taylor (Vuckic 86), Nolan (LuaLua 86), Smith (Xisco 72), Guthrie; Lovenkrands (Carroll 67), Ameobi (Best 67). Subs: Ranger, Donaldson.[LNB] PSV EINDHOVEN (4-2-3-1): Isaksson; Manolev (Hutchinson 64), Rodriguez, Salcido (Bouma 64), Pieters; Engelaar, Bakkal; Lens (Amrabat 81), Toivonen (Nijland 87), Dzsudzsak; Berg (Reis 81). Subs: Ramos (gk), Wuytens, Ojo, Labyad, Osptalieri.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo