Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

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Wasteful Owen says sorry

02 Mar 2008 - 12:17:29

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Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan revealed Michael Owen apologised to his team-mates after missing a string of chances in the 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

The England striker failed to find the back of the net in the first half despite rounding Brad Friedel and then saw the Rovers keeper keep out two efforts in the second period.

Matt Derbyshire's 90th-minute winner then rubbed salt into Owen's and Newcastle's wounds and left Keegan still without a win in his seven games in charge.

"Michael came straight into the dressing room, put his hands up and said 'sorry guys, I should have scored'," revealed Keegan.

"But he won't go hiding, that's for sure. He puts himself up there, gets himself into positions and on another day he could have had a hat-trick.

"But today it wasn't to be. He's a top-quality player and a great finisher, but today he put his hands up and said he should have scored a few goals.

"At least today, we created chances for him, and that's something we haven't done."

Meanwhile, Keegan claimed his side deserved at least a draw against Rovers as they slipped to within three points of the drop-zone.

He added: "Football can be cruel. I thought we played some really good stuff today.

"We should have come in at half-time at least two goals to the good, and we created another four or five chances in the second half.

"But amazingly, through a combination of sometimes not finishing off great moves and very good goalkeeping from Brad Friedel, they kept in it.

"That's bad enough, 0-0, but to go and then pinch 1-0 at the end was a real body blow for us and something I don't think the players deserved."