Source: Telegraph
Peterborough United 2 Newcastle United 0: match report
Chris Hughton put a return to the Premier League ahead of a Carling Cup run on Tuesday night and saw one of Newcastle United's youngest ever sides beaten easily and reduced to 10 men in the process. Craig Mackail-Smith and Tom Williams scored early in the first half and, in the second period, Newcastle lost one of their more experienced players, Danny Guthrie, dismissed for two yellow cards. [LNB]Last season, Sir Alex Ferguson won the competition with Manchester United; now his son, Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson, has the scent of Wembley in his nostrils and took advantage of Newcastle's priorities to move his club into the fourth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in 13 years.[LNB] Related ArticlesArsenal 2 West Bromwich Albion 0Leeds United 0 Liverpool 1Sport on television"The team Newcastle put out doesn't devalue our performance at all,' insisted Ferguson. 'We are due a good cup run and when you consider that Burnley and Derby, from this division, got to the semi-finals last season, it is possible for a club at this level to go a long way.' [LNB]Newcastle, beaten League Cup finalists in 1974 and 1976, went into the game with an impressive run of seven wins from their last eight. But Chris Hughton made it clear where his priorities lie by making nine changes from the team that beat Plymouth at the weekend, with only Steven Taylor, given the captaincy for the first time, and Peter Lovenkrands surviving. [LNB]The Newcastle manager gave full first team debuts to no fewer than four players: James Tavernier, Haris Vuckic, Ryan Donaldson and Ben Tozer, while four more potential debutants -- Shane Ferguson, Ole Soderberg, Bradden Inman and Wesley Ngo Baheng were on the bench. [LNB]That meant that Newcastle started with no fewer than six teenagers, including one Vuckic who turned 17 only 33 days earlier. In addition, the four untried substitutes are also in their teens. [LNB]By contrast Darren Ferguson, the Peterborough manager, made just one change from the side that beat Reading 3-2 with midfielder Lee Frecklington, who replaced Chris Whelpdale at half time on Saturday, keeping his place. [LNB]Newcastle's youngsters were soon under pressure, with Peterborough's more seasoned side forcing five chances within the opening 10 minutes. Frecklington went close twice, Mackail-Smith's effort was cleared for a corner, Aaron Mclean struck the cross bar and Gabriel Zakuani had another attempt scrambled to safety. [LNB]With Nile Ranger on his own in Newcastle's attack a veritable lone ranger in the purest sense the visitors rarely troubled Peterborough in the early exchanges, though 18-year-old Ryan Donaldson did try, unsuccessfully, from 35 yards. [LNB]Inevitably, given their possession and pressure, Peterborough opened the scoring after just 20 minutes. A short corner was sent over by George Boyd and Ryan Taylor's clearance struck the midfielder before falling invitingly to Mackail-Smith, who claimed his fourth goal of the season. [LNB]Newcastle deserved a penalty soon afterwards when Kazenga LuaLua was tumbled down by Craig Morgan but, at the other end Toumani Diagouraga effort, following a galloping run, was nicked off the line by goalkeeper Tim Krul. [LNB]But when, in the 31st minute, Williams stole the ball off Ben Tozer before squeezing a drive between Krul and the left post for the second goal, Newcastle's fate was effectively confirmed. It was the defender's first goal for five and a half years. [LNB]But Williams was lucky not to concede a penalty when he upended Peter Lovenkrands, in first half added time, and from the counter-attack, Mackail-Smith struck the cross-bar. [LNB]And the night got worse for Newcastle when, in the 54th minute, Chris Guthrie was sent off. Having been booked in the first half for kicking the ball away he received a second yellow for a foul on Boyd. [LNB]Newcastle made a triple substitution just before the hour, with Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Geremi all introduced but Peterborough continued to take advantage of the numerical difference and Dean Keates was close to adding a third goal. [LNB]Match details[LNB]Peterborough (4-4-2): Lewis; Martin, Morgan, Zakuani, Williams; Frecklington (Keates ht), Diagouraga, Boyd, Coutts (Batt 75); Mclean, Mackail-Smith (Whelpdale 86).Subs: McKeown (g), Rowe, Pearce, Day.Booked: Diagouraga, Boyd.Goals: Mackail-Smith 20, Williams 31.Newcastle (4-4-1-1): Krul; Tavernier, S Taylor, Tozer, R Taylor; Lovenkrands, Donaldson (Geremi 59), Guthrie, LuaLua (Smith 59); Vuckic (Nolan 59); Ranger.Subs: Baheng, Soderberg (g), Ferguson, Inman.Booked: Krul, Guthrie, S Taylor, R Taylor.Sent off: Guthrie.Referee: K Stroud (Hants). [LNB]
