Source: Eurosport
Toon Held To Dismal Draw
Newcastle's Premier League future is hanging by a thread after Portsmouth earned a 0-0 draw in a tension-filled encounter at St James' Park.[LNB]Alan Shearer is now without a win in four games as manager, but he will know this is one that got away after his nervy side spurned at least two good openings to claim all three points.[LNB]Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen both wasted good opportunities for the hosts, although Pompey had their chances too in an end-to-end encounter on Tyneside.[LNB]After a cagey start, Pompey were the first to have an effort on goal when a well-worked free-kick saw Glen Johnson fire goalwards, but the Newcastle defence managed to block the shot and scramble it clear. Five minutes later a swift counter-attack by Nadhir Belhadj almost presented Peter Crouch with a chance, but his cross-cum-shot was cut out at the expense of a corner.[LNB]Newcastle managed their first meaningful effort just short of the half hour mark when Owen's lay-off teed-up Alan Smith, but his drive was blocked. Moments later, Mark Viduka diverted a Danny Guthrie shot just wide of goal with Hermann Hriedarsson mopping up the danger.[LNB]Sean Davis' curling effort then forced Steve Harper to parry over the bar, while Damien Duff's right-footed effort was turned around the post by David James.[LNB]But Martins missed the best chance of the first period two minutes before the interval when he blasted a volley just over the bar from 12 yards out.[LNB]Mark Viduka saw a shot comfortably saved by James as the second half got underway, while Crouch saw penalty appeals waved away after going down under a Fabricio Coloccini challenge in the box.[LNB]James then spilled a Viduka shot before Pompey scrambled the ball clear, while Owen spurned a glorious chance when through one-on-one against James, but the Pompey keeper saved his poorly-struck effort.[LNB]Belhadj's rapid burst then almost produced a goal from nothing, but Harper was equal to his effort, while Crouch found himself through on goal, but his weak effort was comfortably saved.[LNB]Richard Hughes then saw a header from Jermaine Pennant's corner strike the base of the post as Pompey upped the pressure.[LNB]But that was as near as either side came as the match fizzled out into a goalless draw. The Magpies do, however, climb above Middlesbrough into 18th and are three points adrift of Hull with four games remaining. [LNB]Pompey remain in the relegation dogfight but look considerably safer in 14th - and seven points clear of the Magpies.[LNB]
