Newcastle United (4-4-2): Steve Harper; Davide Santon, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Jonas Gutierrez; Romain Amalfitano, Mehdi Abeid, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi; Shola Ameobi, Demba BaSubstitutes: Rob Elliot, James Tavernier, Ryan Taylor, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Cheick Tiote, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Haris Vuckic
Thread: http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/130885/1/watch-as-monaco-vs-newcastle-united.html
NUFC.co.uk: Demba Ba's close range header has given Newcastle a 1-0 half-time lead over Monaco in their friendly fixture on Monday night.
The Senegal international capitalised on hesitation in the Monaco defence midway through the half, and it was no more than the Magpies deserved, having carved out a number of good opportunities.
Shola Ameobi and Mehdi Abeid both threatened for Alan Pardew's side, but their French opponents have gone close too, with striker Ibrahima Toure a constant threat.
United should have been ahead inside 45 seconds. When Romain Amalfitano's corner wasn't cleared properly, Davide Santon collected the loose ball, strode forward and slipped it right into the path of Demba Ba.
The front man drove the ball across the danger zone and Shola Ameobi met it with an inventive back-heel, only to see his effort strike the foot of the post and rebound straight into the grateful keeper's arms.
Monaco's first chance arrived in the ninth minute courtesy of striker Toure. The dangerous forward connected with Nabil Dirar's corner from the right but, under pressure, could only volley well over the top.
The Magpies were soon back on the attack and Abeid flashed a left-footed strike from distance well off target, but they almost gifted their French opponents the opener.
Santon, playing at right-back, attempted to head the ball back to Steve Harper, but sold his keeper short, allowing Yannick Ferreira Carrasco to nip in. The left winger lobbed an effort over the on-rushing Harper but it dropped agonisingly inches the wrong side of the upright, much to Newcastle's relief.
Harper was then called upon to make an outstanding stop on 26 minutes, denying Toure from almost point-blank range. He didn't know too much about it, but the veteran's face was what prevented Toure from edging Monaco in front with a fierce shot from Carrasco's delivery.
But it was United who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute through Ba. Danny Simpson's free-kick to the far post was headed across the face of goal by Mike Williamson, and when Monaco failed to clear their lines, Ba rose highest above keeper Daniel Subasic to nod in from a couple of yards.
With half-time approaching Toure was again Monaco's dangerman, nodding a corner down and wide, but Newcastle reached the break unscathed and could have been further in front, but Subasic denied Shola Ameobi after the big man had been fed by a great ball by brother Sammy.
Monaco (4-4-2): Daniel Subasic; Eric Marester, Andreas Wolf (c), Andrea Raggi, Layvin Kurzawa; Nabil Dirar, Nampalys Mendy, Gary Coulibaly, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco; Ibrahima Toure, Valere Germain
Source: FOOTYMAD
