NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
BRISTOL CITY 0
Coca-Cola Championship
St.James' Park,
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Kick-off 3pm

Craig Hope reports from St.James' Park ...

FULL-TIME SUMMARY

NEWCASTLE United will feel bitterly aggrieved to have only taken a point following this goalless draw with Bristol City as three times they hit the woodwork, twice were thwarted by an inspired Robins stopper and were denied what was a blatant penalty in the second-half.

The non-award of the spot-kick is what will anger the Magpies the most as Jamie McCombe toppled Marlon Harewood in the 74th minute only for referee Graham Salisbury and his officials to ignore the home appeals.

Harewood had earlier struck the post after just eight minutes having been played in on goal by strike partner Peter Lovenkrands.

City keeper Dean Gerken, thrown in before kick-off when Adrian Basso was injured in the warm-up, then pulled off a fantastic double save after the break, first repelling Danny Guthrie's point-blank strike before palming clear Kevin Nolan's goal-bound header seconds later.

And the visiting goal continued to lead a charmed life when, in the 70th minute, both Steven Taylor and Nolan struck the crossbar from inside the six-yard area.

SECOND-HALF UPDATES (click refresh for latest)

Full-time, 0-0.

There will be four minutes added time.

90min - Ranger cleans out Elliot on the left and Bristol have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Williams wastes the opportunity, however, as his deadball floats away for a goal-kick.

87min - Lovenkrands lets fly with a half-volley from 20 yards which brushes off a red shirt and zips away for a corner. Ryan Taylor's ball is poor and McCombe clears at the near post.

85min - Danny Guthrie makes way for Nile Ranger - can he inspire a late winner?

84min - Time is running out on the Magpies and this one could be drifting towards a goalless draw.

80min - United seem a little deflated after the non-award of the penalty - they need to find one last push for a winner.

74min - Graham Salisbury has just denied the Magpies one of the most blatant penalties you will ever see! Jamie McCombe slides in on Marlon Harewood and topples the United striker - the City defender was nowhere near the ball and clearly caught the Toon No.10 - Chris Hughton is livid, and rightly so!

70min - The City goal is leading a charmed life as twice United strike the crossbar! First, Steven Taylor's six-yard slice, from Harewood's low centre, loops up onto the woodwork before dropping onto the head of Kevin Nolan, the Scouser is just yard from goal but sees his nod crash against the frame. The ball runs free and is seized by Peter Lovenkrands, the Dane has his back to goal but swivels before lashing a left-footed effort inches wide of the upright - how United aren't in front we'll never know!

65min - Andy Carroll replaces Jonas Gutierrez with Peter Lovenkrands reverting to the left-wing.

60min - Danny Haynes replaces Alvaro Saborio.

59min - Adriano Basso pulls off a fantastic double save to thwart the Magpies! First, from Marlon Harewood's centre, Danny Guthrie smashes on target from just six yards only for the Brazilian keeper to somehow repel the effort. The loose ball is then worked back to Ryan Taylor who swings a cross onto the head of Kevin Nolan eight yards from goal, the Liverpudlian steers towards the bottom corner but again Basso leaps through the air to fingertip clear.

56min - Gutierrez drives forward before rolling a pass to Harewood in space on the right-edge of the penalty area. The striker has red shirts blocking his path to goal but manages to fire low through legs, Basso is well-placed, however, and stoops to save.

53min - Louis Carey is booked for a tug on Harewood 25 yards out.

52min - Peter Lovenkrands collects Danny Guthrie's forward clip on the Milburn Stand touchline and drifts infield. The Dane goes by three red shirts before shaving the upright a low, left-footed shot from 20 yards - that was close.

50min - Ryan Taylor drops a right-wing lob into the penalty area, Alan Smith is coming on to it and looks odds-on to score his first for the club. Somehow, though, the skipper fails to connect with and City swipe clear the loose ball - Smith, lying forlorn on the goal-line, shakes his head in disbelief.

48min - United waste a corner as Danny Guthrie overhits a left-wing flag-kick with the ball drifting away for a goal-kick - Chris Hughton turns to his bench in head-shaking disappointment.

47min - Gutierrez steadies himself for a shot 25 yards out but trundles his effort along the Gallowgate turf enabling Brazilian Basso to save with ease.

Jamie McCombe has replaced Jamie McAllister during the interval as United get the game restarted.

FIRST-HALF UPDATES

45+2min - And the last action of the half sees Adriano Basso snatch Ryan Taylor's whipped free-kick to the safety of his chest inside the six-yard area.

There will be two minutes added time.

44min - The wall does its job from McAllister's free-kick and United clear.

43min - Maynard, in full flight and looking to burst in on goal, is bodychecked by Zurab 25 yards out - the covering black-and-white shirts spare the Georgian a red card as he enters the notebook of referee Graham Salisbury.

40min - City are coming into this and after United's promising start they have faded badly. This time the Robins attack down the right with Sno sliding a pass infield to the supporting Johnson, the midfielder carries to the by-line before drilling low across goal, Harper reads the delivery and dives to snaffle - good take.

36min - City win a corner on the right which is floated over by Lee Johnson. The Robins have bodies steaming in but it's the head of Steven Taylor which climbs to glance clear - good win.

31min - Danny Simpson's right-wing centre is brought under control by Alan Smith 14 yards out. The skipper has his back to goal but manages to hook in the direction of the far conrer only for Basso to dive and save - not a bad effort.

26min - Jonas skips away from two red shirts with one of those trailing in his wake, Evander Sno, hanging on the shirt of the Argentine at the expense of a free-kick. Ryan Taylor's delivery is poor but Carey swipes at an attempted clearance and the ball skids away for a corner. Steven Taylor is penalised for a push from Danny Guthire's flag-kick.

20min - Zurab makes a hash of an attempted backpass to Steve Harper allowing diminutive midfielder Lee Johnson to nick in. The manager's son gets there before the United keeper but only succeeds in weakly poking the ball across goal with Steven Taylor recovering to hack from the six-yard area - that was a let-off!

16min - Cole Skuse's rising drive from 25 yards clips off a home shirt with the ball whistling inches over Steve Harper's crossbar. Elliott stands up a right-wing corner which is punched to safety by Toon stopper Harps.

15min - Ryan Taylor's long throw causes momentary panic in the Robins backline as the ball bounces through the six-yard area without any takers.

12min - It's been all United during these early exchanges and City are yet to enjoy any attacking possession.

8min - Lovenkrands does well to hold up play before slipping a pass back to Gutierrez on halfway, the Argentine measures a forward chip back in the direction of his Danish team-mate who has set off on a left-wing run. Lovenkrands, noticing the unmarked Harewood in the penalty area, lifts an inch-perfect cross over Carey and into the striker's path. Harewood has just Basso to beat but, while smashing a volley beyond the City keeper, he fails to get the better of the woodwork and the ball cannons off the post.

6min - Ryan Taylor pings a free-kick into a congested penalty area from the right, Harewood swings a leg but the ball arrows high and wide of Bosso's frame.

3min - Lovenkrands and Harewood combine with the Dane freeing his strike partner in the inside-left channel. Harewood swoops a low cross through the 18-yard box, Danny Guthrie is arriving from deep and cuts a shot in the direction of Basso's target, McAllister is sliding to block and appeals for a penalty go up as the ball appears to strike the defender's arm - Graham Salisbury waves away the home cries for a spot-kick.

The Robins get the game started attacking the Gallowgate End. United are lining up with Danny Simpson at left-back and Ryan Taylor in the opposite full-back berth.

Gale force winds have been sweeping through Tyneside all morning but you wouldn't know if you're sat inside St.James' Park, the stadium's towering Milburn Stand obviously acting as a shield from the blustery weather.

TEAM NEWS

CHRIS Hughton has chosen to shake up his frontline by bringing in Marlon Harewood for his full debut and Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands in place of Andy Carroll and Nile Ranger.

Harewood took just eight minutes to fire his first for the club following his second-half introduction during Wednesday night's 1-1 draw with QPR at St.James' Park.

And the 30-year-old, on loan from Aston Villa, has been rewarded with a first start for the Magpies.

Jonas Gutierrez also returns to the starting line-up with Nicky Butt making way.

Jose Enrique misses out because of a slight hamstring strain with Ryan Taylor, having recovered from a calf problem, deputising.

TEAMS

NUFC: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Zurab Khizanishvili, Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith (c), Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Marlon Harewood
Subs: Tim Krul, Andy Carroll, Nile Ranger, Tamas Kadar, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Ryan Donaldson

BCFC: Adrian Basso, Bradley Orr, Jamie McAllister, Louis Carey (c), Marvin Elliott, Lee Johnson, Nicky Maynard, Cole Skuse, Evander Sno, Lewin Nyatanga, Alvaro Saborio
Subs: David Clarkson, Paul Hartley, Gavin Williams, Ivan Sproule, Jamie McCombie, Dean Gerken, Danny Haynes

Referee: Graham Salisbury
Attendance: 43, 326