Source: Telegraph
West Brom 1 Newcastle 1: match report
New division, same old story. Newcastle started life in the Championship yesterday with prospects of a takeover fading, no manager in place and Joey Barton dropped to the bench, a demotion apparently down to a training ground bust up. [LNB]With all that in the background, it was to the players' credit that they came away from the Hawthorns with a point, even if they had to endure a late assault from Roberto Di Matteo's West Bromwich Albion to get there.[LNB] Related ArticlesShearer wants Newcastle returnChampionship Round-upDown to business for Di MatteoChampionship team guideSport on televisionChampionship actionBarton was apparently involved in a training ground confrontation with Fabio Coloccini on Friday afternoon before storming off. Chris Hughton, in the unenviable position of caretaker manager, decided to drop him from his planned starting XI but, strangely, to name him on the bench. [LNB]He stoically claimed that this was for tactical reasons and met any questions about the training ground incident with the dead bat tenacity of a Westminster veteran. 'We can only focus on what's best for us to focus on,' he said, somewhat enigmatically.[LNB]As the farce unfolds on stage, Alan Shearer watches in frustration from the wings — in this case from a BBC studio at the ground. He reiterated his desire to return to St James' Park as manager, something that would certainly happen if his friend Barry Moat succeeds in his efforts to buy the club.[LNB] 'If someone comes in and buys the club and wants me as manager and everything is right and they want to get the club back up to the Premier League then yes I would dearly love the chance to finish off the job I started,' Shearer said.[LNB]The chance of that happening seems to be receding. Moat's offer does not meet Mike Ashley's asking price and with the transfer deadline only three weeks away time is running out. No buyer will come in if he can't remodel the squad so it looks like Newcastle will be stuck with Ashley unless a deal can be done in the next week.[LNB] 'I want it sorted either way because of my love for the club because at this moment in time it is not a nice time for them,' Shearer said.[LNB]It could have been a lot worse yesterday but they fought back hard after Albion had taken the lead. Robert Koren, the clever Slovenian midfielder, gulled Damien Duff into conceding a free-kick wide on the Albion left.[LNB]Jonathan Greening, the captain, struck an inswinging cross from the dead ball which was met, almost simultaneously, by Jonas Olsson and the outstretched fist of Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper. The loose ball dropped to Luke Moore whose shot hit Olsson, Shelton Martis poking in from the ricochet.[LNB]While this Newcastle team is not as bad as the pessimists make out, it needs leadership. A number of the players are clearly up for the Championship fight but while the club is unstable off the field, it will be difficult to gain continuity on it. [LNB]There will no doubt be more players leaving before the window closes, so whoever gets the manager's job full time will have sparser resources to work with.[LNB]The salaries handed out to some of the Newcastle squad defy credibility but in the equalising goal, there was a flash of remembered class. Shola Ameobi passed to Kevin Nolan on the edge of the box and the midfielder turned crisply and laid the ball off for the onrushing Duff, who met the ball with a first-time right-footed finish beyond [LNB]Scott Carson. It was a rare moment of composure in their frenetic performance.[LNB]By contrast with Newcastle, Albion have had a summer of quiet, encouraging progress. Di Matteo is an ambitious manager and with the quality in his squad — especially in midfield — his team must be one of the favourites to go up. Still, further recruitment is needed. [LNB]They lack presence up front with Ishmail Miller injured and Roman Bednar suspended while the Football Association investigate him for possession of cocaine. Still, they would have won this game but for Tim Krul's reflex saves on his league debut. [LNB]The 21 year-old Dutch keeper replaced Harper at the break, with the veteran taken to hospital as a precaution after taking a blow to the head. [LNB]Twice Krul denied the lively Koren with fine saves and his outstretched boot prevented Moore getting the winner. He was most impressive in deflecting over substitute Glen Dorrans' late blasted volley.[LNB]When he was finally beaten, in stoppage time, Olsson's header was ruled out for offside. 'He had one hell of an afternoon,' Di Matteo said.[LNB]
