My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Liverpool (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6.5) - Did not have a lot to do but was still beaten thrice so he won't be too happy.

Danny Simpson (5) - Had a poor game at right back. Clearly at fault for their second goal, whilst he allowed too many crosses to come into the box.

Mike Williamson (7) - Had a fairly good game marking Carroll and seems to have settled into the team very quickly after being out for four months.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - Won several tackles, read the game well and us conceding three was an injustice to him for he was quite good.

Ryan Taylor (5) - Had a poor game and was taken off at half time. By that stage he was already booked and looked vulnerable.

Gabriel Obertan (6.5) -A fairly quiet game from him but showed some neat touches and was involved in some of our best moves in the match. Did not have that much space to work with unfortunately.

Cheik Tiote (7) -I thought he was good overall despite giving away some silly fouls, one which led to their second goal. Mind you he won the ball in that challenge but he should perhaps have not been that forceful in the challange.

Yohan Cabaye (5.5) - I thought apart from two moments in the match, where he was involved in our goal and where he set up Ba with a superb pass, he was quite poor. Could have been sent off for a stupid tackle on Spearing, whilst he gave the ball away quite a lot which is unlike his usual self. Mind you after playing 53 matches in a year, you are expected to have an off day thrown in there.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Made to defend quite a bit and unfortunately didn't have many chances to go forward.

Haris Vuckic (6) - The gamble to start with him kind of worked as he went off with the score at 1 all, but he wasn't involved in the game as much as we'd hope for. Did show some nice touches but needs more game time before we see his true potential start coming through.

Demba Ba (7) -Had one chance in the entire game and still found the target. Unfortuantely it was cleared off the line but he kept going right until the end.

Substitutes
Davide Santon (6)- Did slightly better than Taylor but still had a hard time dealing with the attackers downhis flank.

Hatem Ben Arfa (5) - Disappointing since coming on but he needs more game time. Wasted on the bench at the moment.

Sammy Ameobi (5) - Did nothing when coming on. Was dumb struck when he tweeted "5minutes here 5 minutes there". For someone so young he should be happy to be apart of the squad and shouldn't even think of complaining.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Fabricio Coloccini

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Swansea (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Statistics show he did not have a save to make all game.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - Did okay without really impressing. Defended well for the most part and put a few balls into the box. Did not go forward as much as Santon though.

James Perch (7.5) - I thought he did well alongside Coloccini. Hardly put a foot wrong and deserves some credit.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Came back into the team and it showed. He was his brilliant usual self, defended well and was unlucky not to score with a header which hit the post in the first half.


Davide Santon (8) - A fantastic performance from the young Italian. Kept bombing forward and still did his defensive duties as well. Looks a quality player and this after only his 2nd start in the league.

Gabriel Obertan (6) - I thought he did well to be involved as much as he was in the first half. However his delivery was poor. He gets into good positions without really taking the right options after that.

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - Good to see him back although there was a few occasions where he lost the ball and looked rusty. That was expected although he did have some good moments as well.

Yohan Cabaye (7) - Played some lovely cross field balls and was impressive although his corners could have been better. Got his fifth booking of the season which means he misses the next game.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) Was slightly better than Obertan without really getting enough quality crosses into the box. Linked up well with Santon in an attacking sense which bodes well for the future.

Leon Best (6) - Looked a bit rusty and off the pace a little which again was expected. Did win a few flick ons but was rightfully taken off in the second half.

Demba Ba (7.5) - Impressed yet again. Looks very lively and perhaps should have scored at least one goal. The shot he took towards the end of the first half was just awesome.

Substitutes
Shola Ameobi (6.5) - Did not have the impact one would have hoped for but did put himself about.

Haris Vuckic (6.5) - Came on towards the end and showed some neat touches.

Sammy Ameobi (6) - Did very little in the few minutes he was on for.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Davide Santon

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Norwich City (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Conceded four goals although he wasn't really at fault for any of them. Needed more protection from his defence.

Ryan Taylor (7) - I thought he did well at right back. Went forward a bit and held his own in the air.

Danny Simpson (7) - Made one or two blocks in the first half and marshalled the backline nicely for the first 40 minutes but then was unlucky to see the ball deflect off him for their first and he struggled from there on in.

James Perch (6) - Did not have a bad game, conceding four was a disservice for his performance but ultimately he could not handle Holt in the air and that's where two of their goals came from.

Davide Santon (6.5) - I was very impressed with him when on the ball. He looks very comfortable and has a fair bit of pace. Had a difficult day on the defensive side of things but gave a good account of himself nonthe less, considering it was his first start in the league.

Gabriel Obertan (5) - I was very disappointed with his performance. Needs to look up a bit more for sometimes theres a player open and he'll just look down and take on the two defenders in front of him instead of passing. Provided very little service to our strikers.

Dan Gosling (5) - Had a decent first half, in which he popped up in their box a few times, making some good runs. Then had a nightmare second half, firstly giving the ball away needlessly which led to their third goal and then minutes later getting sent off for a stupid challenge when already on a yellow. Blew his chance to stake a claim for more first team football.

Yohan Cabaye (7.5) - Played a delightful ball forward for Ba to run onto for our first goal and worked hard throughout. Just misses Tiote to protect him so that he can use his passing ability to greater effect.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - Another who disappointed a bit. Not as bad as Obertan but he too provided very little for the strikers. Did seem to form a nice partnership with Santon down that flank though which was encouraging.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Had a quiet first half but a much better second half. Won the ball for us which led to our second goal and linked up nicely with Ba a few times.

Demba Ba (9) - Scored two quality goals, the first with great control and the second with a clinical finish. Apart from that he was good on the ball and always looked a threat.

Substitutes
Sammy Ameobi (6) - Had very little impact but does deserve more time especially with Obertan playing below par.

Alan Smith (N/A) - Was only on a few minutes.

Shane Ferguson (N/A) - Don't think he had a touch after coming on in injury time.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Demba Ba

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Chelsea (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (9) - Carrying on from his performance last week, he showed why he is fast becoming the best keeper in the league. Saved the penalty and really deserved to keep a clean sheet. The problem was that Chelsea had far too many shots at goal and obviously he was going to be beaten eventually.

Danny Simpson (6) - Not one of his best games of the season. Allowed Chelsea to get in behind him and gave the ball away needlessly at times.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - I thought he was our best defender on the day. Covered for Perch a few times and did his job. Will be missed if reports are true that his season is over.

Fabricio Coloccini (6) - Unfortunately struggled and was forced off in the first half with a thigh injury. I sincerely hope he's fit for next week.

Ryan Taylor (5) - Allowed Sturridge far too much room and showed that he needs Jonas in front of him for him to do well. Luckily Jonas should be back next week.

Gabriel Obertan (5) - Seems to lack confidence at the moment. Rarely took Cole on and only put about one or two decent balls into the box. He really needs to use his pace and take people on.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) - Fought hard and didn't do too badly in midfield but was at fault for giving the penalty away. His passing was good and the set pieces weren't bad either.

Danny Guthrie (7) - Our best midfielder on the day. Worked hard and was again very good on the ball. Lacks the pace sometimes but one can't fault him too much.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - I was surprised to see him start but was pleasantly surprised with his display. Now he hardly did the defensive work of Jonas, which cost us, as Chelsea really found a lot of space down his flank but what he did do was run at their defense and he played some clever balls to the front line. He looked dangerous and seemed to be heavily involved in the first half. Faded as the game went on the though and was then substituted.

Hatem Ben Arfa (6) - Not as effective as I thought he would be. Had some good moments without really penetrating the Chelsea defence. Was therefore replaced at half time.

Demba Ba (7.5) - Caused Luiz all sorts of problems. Was unlucky not to score twice as he hit the post and saw Cech make a good save with the other chance. Also showed some really good ball control and seems to be one of our most important players now.

Substitutes
James Perch (6.5) - At fault for their first goal but grew into the game and didn't too badly overall.

Sammy Ameobi (6.5) - Saw a shot cleared off the line but was otherwise not that effective. Does have some good skill though, proof of which was one great run late in the game where he beat a few Chelsea players.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Did well when coming on and he too was unlucky to see a great shot canon off the woodwork. Enjoyed his battle with John Terry in the second half.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Man Utd (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (9) - A superb display of goalkeeping by our young Dutch international. Made some terrific saves and was worthy of walking away with the man of the match in my opinion, for he only made one mistake all game.

Danny Simpson (8.5) – Made that goal saving block on the line at the end and defended with great heart and quality. Although Evra did well going forward I credit Simmo with keeping Ashley Young so quiet and ineffective.

Steven Taylor (8.5) – Was unlucky to be involved in their goal but apart from that he was superb in the air and made one goal saving tackle himself. Another impressive display by a man who cannot be far from the England squad.

Fabricio Coloccini (8.5) – Passed a late fitness test to play in the game and its great that he did for he was a rock at the back. Formed a solid partnership with Taylor throughout despite Hernandez making good runs and led by example.

Ryan Taylor (7.5) – A better performance from the left back. Made some good challenges when needed and deserves a lot of credit especially after his nightmare last week.

Gabriel Obertan (7) – He certainly was very involved in the first half, although his final ball could have been better. For a player who missed the last few games though he did not do too badly.

Yohan Cabaye (7.5) – Put in a good shift and helped us control some good portions of the game. Made some good tackles and showed why the fans have taken too him.

Danny Guthrie (7.5) – Put in a really good shift, considering he hardly trained this week. Broke up a few attacks and looked good in possession. Was unlucky to be taken off as it was purely for fitness reasons and not for the way he played.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) – Worked hard without really getting into many attacking positions. The sending off was possibly more to do with tiredness and not through stupidity.

Hatem Ben Arfa (7) – Kept possession well for us at times when it was needed and of course won us the penalty with a decent run. I’d like him to continue starting as he seems to be getting better with each game.

Demba Ba (7.5) – Had a difficult afternoon playing as the one striker but kept going until the end and took his penalty superbly.

Substitutes

Sammy Ameobi (6) – Was hardly in the game as an attacking sense but tried to help out defensively where he could.

James Perch (6.5) – A small impact by him as he came on for Guthrie and helped us hang on at the end.

Peter Lovenkrands (6) – Do not recall him doing much when coming on towards the end.

Newcastle United Man of the Match – Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Man City (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6) - Never looked like stopping either penalty and won't be happy about conceding three. Did make the odd neat save though.

Danny Simpson (6) - A difficult day for him although he did not do much wrong either.

Steven Taylor (7) - Defended bravely and made some excellent challenges in the first half. It became hard for him once we conceded those two quick goals though.

Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - Like his partner, defended well at times but had a difficult day marking the likes of Balotelli and Aguero.

Ryan Taylor (4) - He's worst performance of the season. Gave away the penalty, caught out for the second goal and allowed Richards far too much space down his flank.

Sammy Ameobi (7) - For someone starting his first game, he was decent today. Made some good runs and won us some corners although his decision making and passing was lacking a bit. That comes with someone so young but an encouraging performance from him none the less.

Danny Guthrie (6) - Struggled to win us possession and although he fought hard, we missed Tiote massively in our midfield. Seemed to lack fitness towards the end for some reason.

Yohan Cabaye (6) - Another who worked hard but failed to provide us with dominance in central midfield. Will hopefully be better next week.

Jonas Gutierrez (5.5) - Hardly got to the chance to attack and struggled to handle the City players down his flank.

Hatem Ben Arfa (7) - Looked good on the ball and showed more glimpses of his undoubted talent. Was unlucky not to score after a superb run when he hit the post and also showed his vision with a ball that found Ba in space from which he should have scored in the first half. Gave away the 2nd penalty with a clumsy challenge but the game was lost by then in my opinion.

Demba Ba (6) - Had a difficult afternoon but he still had chances to had to his goals tally. Missed a great chance in the first half and could have done better with one or two other chances but he fought right until the end and that showed when he was involved in our goal late on.

Substitutions
Peter Lovenkrands (5) - Was fairly anonymous after coming on.

Dan Gosling (7) - Scored his first goal for the club with a late tap in.

James Perch (7) - Never thought I'd say this but Perch did well in the build up to our goal, as it was a deflection off his pass which saw Ba with a chance which was then parried by the keeper and put in by Gosling.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Steven Taylor

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Everton (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Hardly had that much to do in all honesty although his handling was top draw.

Danny Simpson (7) - Allowed Rodwell to beat him to the ball for their goal but apart from that he contributed to the win today with some good defending. He also provided the cross which led to the opener.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - Played Saha onside in one moment of poor decision making but won a lot in the air and did well generally.

Fabricio Coloccini (8.5) - Outstanding display by our skipper. He won some vital challenges, dealt calmly with some situations when calmness was required and looked our best player today.

Ryan Taylor (8) - Had a difficult time marking Drenthe although there were times he defended well too. Scored what turned out to be the winner with a superb strike worthy of winning the match.

Sylvain Marveaux (7) - Wasn't in the game that much although he did show some glimpses of what we can expect when he gets a chance in the team. Worked hard and won the ball a few times although unfortunately for him he picked up an injury which could be serious considering he has a history of having groin problems.

Danny Guthrie (8) - I thought he was outstanding in the middle of the park. Kept possession well, got stuck in and kept going right up until the end. Seems to be relishing his chance in the team.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) - Formed a nice partnership with Guthrie before having to go off injured just after we made it 2-0.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - In terms of work rate he was excellent again. Helped out the back line on quite a few occasions. Hardly attacked today but I think what today showed is that he should always play on the left.

Demba Ba (7) - Worked hard without really getting many opportunities today. Came deep a few times and again was more effective than Best.

Leon Best (7) - Put in a good shift without getting any opportunities to have a shot at goal. Played his part in unsettling Everton which led to us winning the game in the first half.

Substitutes
Dan Gosling (7) - Did fairly well when coming on considering he has hardly featured at this level for the last 18 months. Made some good challenges although he was fortunate not to be penalised for handling the ball in the box. Will no doubt get better if given more game time.

Sammy Ameobi (7.5) - I enjoyed his cameo. Made some decent runs, helped out defensively and held up the ball with his unique style. Does seem a bit raw still but that's expected of someone his age.

Hatem Ben Arfa (7.5) - Did his job nicely when coming on. Held up the ball, won fouls and played the clock down which was what we needed to clinch the victory.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Fabricio Coloccini

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Stoke City (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - Was put under a lot of pressure but handled everything well. Came out to punch some balls, claimed a few corners and stood up to the challenges put to him.

Danny Simpson (7.5) - A performance with lots of passion and commitment from the rightback. Prevented Etherington from putting many balls into the box.

Steven Taylor (8) - Considering he was playing with a mask after his broken nose, he came through the game with flying colours. A really courageous performance.

Fabricio Coloccini (8.5) - Kept Crouch quiet and led from the front. Assured and intelligent defending from our captain for virtually the entire game.

Ryan Taylor (8) - Dealt with the the threat of Pennant and did not allow him to provide any sort of cross which could harm our defence. He also took some blows but carried on which is a sign of the spirit within the team.

Gabriel Obertan (7.5) - Provided Ba with a cross of a true quality in the opener and always looked dangerous, particularly in the first half. Wasn't in the game as much in the second half but a promising performance from our speedy winger.

Yohan Cabaye (7) - Put himself about without really stealing any headlines. Did play some good long balls for Ba and Obertan to run onto, which Stoke at times were unable to handle.

Danny Guthrie (8) - For someone who was starting his first Premier League game of the season he was quite impressive. Kept the ball nicely and won some tackles in midfield. I'd tie him down to a new contract as he seems willing and able to come into our central midfield if needed.

Jonas Gutierrez (8) - The amount of defensive work Jonas did yesterday was unbelievable. He helped Ryan Taylor quite a bit and played a big part in our win last night, without really attacking that much.

Leon Best (7.5) - Caused Stoke quite a bit of trouble and its no wonder as he was involved in the build up to all three of our goals. Just needs to find the net himself now as that's the only thing lacking.

Demba Ba (9.5) - There's not much I need to say about his performance last night. The performance spoke for itself. What I will say though is he silenced the Britannia Stadium with clinical finishing and he always looked a threat. Deserved the hat trick and the match ball which came with it.

Substitutes
James Perch (6) - Made one decent tackle but otherwise I really did not see the need to give him game time ahead of Santon.

Dan Gosling (N/A) - Don't think he touched the ball in the few minutes he was on for.

Sammy Ameobi (N/A) - Only had a few touches in his brief cameo.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Demba Ba

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Wigan (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8) - Made a stunning save to deny Moses early on and deserved his clean sheet today.

Danny Simpson (7.5) - Did not offer us much going forward but certainly defended well. Made some solid challenges when needed.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - Made one solid block which stood out and like his fellow defenders, handled what came his way.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - Not his best game for us but still did well. Was often caught in a two on two battle but stood up to the challenge.

Ryan Taylor (7) - Had a difficult day with Moses running at him but we came through with a clean sheet so he can certainly take some credit for that.

Gabriel Obertan (6) - Beat his man smartly early on with pure pace and put a decent ball into the box but that was as good as it got for him. Tried putting a few other balls into the box as well but his delivery let him down on almost each occasion. Taken off after 75 minutes and rightly so.

Yohan Cabaye (8) - May not have controlled the game but it was his moment of magic which won us the game. Scored with a beauty of a finish and it was worthy of winning any match. He certainly does work hard so it was wonderful seeing him score his first goal for the club.

Cheik Tiote (8) - Another solid performance by the Ivorian. He was all over the pitch and despite Wigan having three players in the centre of the park he still stood up and allowed us to have more possession than them. That is a credit to him for it was not easy today.

Jonas Gutierrez (8) - Put numerous balls into the box most of which were very good. Did his defensive duties too and kept running, often beating his man.

Leon Best (7) - Was good but just not that effective today. Beat Caldwell twice with neat skill but missed a great chance and he was the unfortunate man to make way for Ben Arfa who needed to come on, in an attempt to win the game.

Demba Ba (6) - Had a good headed chance in the second half but unfortunately his good run ends as he couldn't get on the score sheet. Was just not as involved as his previous three games.

Substitutes
Hatem Ben Arfa (7) - Made a difference without looking his best. Did some good things but also lost the ball sometimes when he kept the ball for too long. Needs more game time in order for him to show his true worth.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Hardly made a difference in terms of a goal threat but helped us win freekicks towards the end.

Sylvain Marveaux (7.5) - Set up the goal with neat control and never looked like losing the ball. Made a difference and he too deserves more game time.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Jonas Gutierrez

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Tottenham (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - I thought he did well. There was very little he could do about their goals and everything else he did well.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - Had a sound game without doing anything major.

Steven Taylor (6.5) - Gave the penalty away with a poor challenge. Defended fairly well for the most part though.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Our best defender on the day. Had a chance to win it for us late on but it was not to be. His passing, control and skill is just great to watch though.

Ryan Taylor (7.5) - Had a reasonably good day at left back. Thought Bale might trouble him but he stood up to the challenge until Bale eventually moved across to the other flank.

Grabriel Obertan (6.5) - Was involved quite a bit without really having anything to show for it. Did have a shot which went narrowly wide. Needs to work on his crossing.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) - Gave the ball away, in the build up to Spurs getting their penalty and did not control the game as much but still played his part in a good team performance. Generally his corners weren't that great today.

Cheik Tiote (8.5) - Outstanding performance from him. He broke up numerous attacks and helped us control the game for large periods. Almost scored with a delightful shot and it would have been no more than he deserved.

Jonas Guiterrez (7.5) - As usual, he had a much better second half in comparison to the first. Went on a superb run and cross which led to our first goal and worked hard as always.

Leon Best (6) - I thought he worked very hard without getting the service to test the keeper. Was eventually taken off after 70 minutes.

Demba Ba (8) - Another player who worked hard and put in a good shift. Scored our first goal with a well taken finish, especially as the ball bounced just before reaching him. Thought he was unfortunate to also be taken off after 70 minutes.

Substitutes
Hatem Ben Arfa (6.5) - Looked good on the ball although he was selfish at times. Who can blame him though, as he has been out for some time and probably wants to be in the spotlight again, especially with the team doing well.

Shola Ameobi (8) - Took a few minutes to get into the game but once he did he was quite a hand full. Scored the late equaliser with a clinical finish too.

Davide Santon (7) - Came on for a small cameo at right back and did fairly well for the few minutes he was on for. Nice to see him make his debut though.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Cheik Tiote

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Blackburn Rovers(H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Had very little work to do.

Danny Simpson (7) - Made about two defensive errors. One led to their goal as he gave Olssen too much room to cross and the other as Olssen hit the cross bar when he was on the wrong side of his man. Other than that he was fairly sound but it just shows how important concentration is at this level.

Steven Taylor (7.5) – A pretty solid display, although he wasn’t quite as busy as I expected.

Fabricio Coloccini (8.5) – I thought he was brilliant. Read the game so well and defended superbly all game. Did it with style too.

Ryan Taylor (7) – Made two or three important challenges and blocks and also put in the odd good ball into the box. Gave the ball away carelessly which led to them scoring so needs to be more careful.

Gabriel Obertan (8.5) – His best performance in a toon shirt thus far. Caused problems all afternoon and was a constant threat. Seems to be growing in confidence which bodes well for the future.

Cheik Tiote (8) – Another solid performance from Tiote following on from last week’s impressive display. Barely gave the ball away and won many challenges for us. His partnership with Cabaye seems to be flourishing as well.

Yohan Cabaye (8) – I thought his passing was superb. He fed Obertan and Jonas with so many balls to run onto and went about his work quietly yet very effectively.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) – Had yet another better second half performance and deserved his standing ovation he got towards the end.

Demba Ba (9.5) – A fantastic performance from our number 19. He looked dangerous from the first minute and finished all his goals clinically. Perhaps deserves a ten but I’ll reserve that for when he bags four goals in one match later in the season.

Leon Best (7) – Worked really hard and played well but his finishing let him down. Does get himself into good positions and if he keeps doing that he’ll score goals in games more often than not.

Substitutes

Hatem Ben Arfa (7.5) – Looked good when he came on and nearly set up two goals in his brief cameo.

Sylvain Marveaux (7) – He too did well when coming on and deserves more time on the pitch I feel.

Newcastle United Man of the Match – Demba Ba

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (Away)

Player Ratings
Tim Krul (7.5) - Did not really have a busy afternoon, surprisingly. Dealt easily with what came his way, except for the goal which was a good finish from very close range.

Danny Simpson (7.5) - Kept N'Zogbia quiet for most of the match and defended well. Did not go forward as much though, despite all our possession today.

Steven Taylor (7) - Almost made one huge error but was fortunate to see Villa waste it. Other than that, he had a decent game.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - Potentially at fault for their goal, as he fell over. It was a bit fortuitous though as the ball fell kindly for Agbonlahor too. Coloccini did keep Bent quiet before he was eventually taken off.

Ryan Taylor (7) - A better performance from Ryan Taylor today. He did his job for the most part and tried to support Jonas on attack too so no complaints about his performance this time around.

Gabriel Obertan (6.5) - Showed a few times that he had the beating of Warnock but unfortunately he couldn't find the cross to match his good work. His pace is nice to have in the team though, especially away from home as he carried the ball forward a lot on the break.

Cheik Tiote (8) - A much better performance from our central midfielder today. Despite giving the ball away in crucial areas a few times, which luckily came to nothing, he was more like his old self, winning the ball, turning and finding space to help us build another attack and upsetting their momentum. Also provided the cross in the build up to our goal. He now needs to build on this performance.

Yohan Cabaye (8.5) - Superb performance from Cabaye today. He really deserved a goal as he hit the post with a sublime first time effort and forced a world class save from Given, when it was goal written all over it. Apart from that, he dominated the middle of the park along with Tiote and put in a really good hard working performance.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - I thought he was disappointing today. Did do his defensive work but could have done more on attack.

Demba Ba (7.5) - A very sharp looking performance from him and one that can hopefully cut him sum slack for the time being. He beat his man a few times and also showed good inter play with some of his colleagues. Looked like the striker I saw at West Ham, now he just needs a goal.

Leon best (7.5) - At the right place at the right time, to score his third goal of the season, at the second attempt. A fairly decent showing from him and I must say it's surprising to hear he has never played the full 90 minutes for us yet in the premier league.

Substitutes
Shola Ameobi (5) - Offered very little when he came on. I'd much rather have kept Best on the field.

Sylvain Marveaux (7.5) - A very decent cameo from the former Rennes man. Played Cabaye in superbly at the end, which could have resulted in a goal while he barely lost the ball and helped us finish the game the stronger.

Sammy Ameobi (N/A) - Was only on the field for a few minutes.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Yohan Cabaye

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs QPR (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - Dealt comfortably with everything which came his way.

Danny Simpson (8) - A very good defensive display from the right back. He made a crucial goal line clearance which helped us earn a point. Apart from that the rest of his game was also fairly impressive, as he made some good tackles and looked decent when with the ball.

Steven Taylor (8) - Another player who defended well. He too made a good goal line clearance while he also made a good last ditch tackle in the first half. Had a more comfortable second half, as QPR seemed to run out of steam.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - Overall yet another solid performance by our skipper, although he had a hard time trying to do his work and covering for Ryan Taylor, who had a difficult first half. Showed his class at times, yet never seems to get the recognition from the media and commentators which I think he deserves.

Ryan Taylor (6) - He tried hard but had a tough time marking Shaun Wright Phillips. I think it was a good thing that SWP was moved to a different position in the second half, as Taylor wasn't as troubled after the half time break. I'd expect Santon to come into the team soon.

Gabriel Obertan (6.5) - He had a fairly good first half, tracking back and seeing a fair bit of the ball. The second half was a bit different, although he did have two half chances albeit with headers.

Cheik Tiote (6) - He did some good things but also a fair bit of ordinary things. The amount of times he lost the ball against QPR was so unlike Tiote and one wonders why his performances have dropped so dramatically this season. It's still early days though, so let's give him time.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) - A sound performance from Cabaye. He was a bit quiet but yet what he did do he did well. Wasn't able to go into their third of the field much though which affected us, as the lack of creativity proved.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Another player who wasn't quite his dangerous self. Had one or two runs which unfortunately came to nothing, whilst he had a lot of defensive work to do in the first half and seemed to pick up a knock too.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Didn't offer us enough movement up front, particularly as Best was having a good game. I don't think he was 100% fit also.

Leon Best (8) - Perhaps our best player on the day. Looked sharp on the ball and almost scored with a lovely solo effort. Ben Arfa's potential return may see Best benefit most as he needs support up front.

Substitutes
Sylvain Marveaux (6.5) - Looked good on the ball when he came on and deserves a start soon, I feel.

Demba Ba (6.5) - Looked more lively than Shola and just needs some chances in front of goal, which he isn't getting.

Sammy Ameobi (7) - Seemed fearless when he came on and I'd have loved for him to come on earlier. Seems a real confident player, who is good on the ball and not afraid to take on his man.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Leon Best

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Fulham (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8.5) - Outstanding today, the young Dutchman showed why he is our number one. Made some superb saves, which kept us with a two goal cushion for long enough to help us hold on for the win. His positioning for their goal was poor but after the saves his made, one can’t really fault him.

Danny Simpson (7.5) – Apart from a poor period in the first half when he gave the ball away needlessly, he was very good today. Made some key tackles and clearances and also put the odd good ball into the box.

Steven Taylor (8) – Another one who was outstanding today. Won many tackles and kept Fulham at bay for much of the game. He seems to be growing in confidence as he defended really well today.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) – Led the team well and again put in a solid performance. Read the game superbly and showed why he is our most important player at the moment.

Ryan Taylor (6.5) – Struggled quite a bit today. Had a difficult time handling Damien Duff. With that said, he did go forward a lot more today than in the previous games and so it helped us on attack. It was also his quick thinking which got us to open the scoring.

Gabriel Obertan (7.5) – Had a bit of a mixed game. He seems to lack a quality ball into the box although he did look dangerous when attacking the defender. He needs to do that more. He was however involved in the build up to our second goal with a good ball to Ba, after a neat run.

Yohan Cabaye (8) – I thought he too had a good game. He got stuck in, wasn’t afraid to shoot at goal and as we know it was his shot that led to our opener. Seemed to grow in confidence with that and also played some fine balls today.

Cheik Tiote (7.5) – Today was by far his best performance of the season. Broke up many Fulham attacks and won some tackles without losing the ball in dangerous areas. Seems to be getting rid of that rustiness which was evident in the previous games.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) – Another who grew in confidence as the game went on. His work rate was immense and recovered well after a rather quiet first half.

Peter Lovenkrands (4) – After 30 minutes, it felt as though we were playing with ten men as the Dane was largely anonymous. He was rightfully substituted after contributing very little.

Leon Best (9) – In contrast to his striker partner, he scored two very good goals. The one was a pure striker’s finish and the other was a touch of class, as he took one touch before turning the ball home. His work rate was very good too.

Substitutes

Demba Ba (8) – An impressive cameo from Ba, who showed more in the 30 minutes today than he did in all of his other outings. Set up our second with a dangerous early ball into the box and was also unlucky not to score when he hit the cross bar late on.

Haris Vuckic (N/A) – Looked good in the five minutes he was on for before going off with a hand injury.

Alan Smith (N/A) – Hardly did anything noteworthy when replacing Vuckic.

Newcastle United Man of the Match – Leon Best

Newcastle United Goals Thread 2011/2012

Premier League Goals

Sunderland (A)
Goal: R.Taylor (1-0)


Credit to Siralicdman for providing the goals.

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Sunderland (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8.5) - Was terrific in goal today. Made some top quality saves, kicked well for the most part and handled crosses well. Two clean sheets in a row, can't ask for anything more from a keeper.

Danny Simpson (7) - Certainly got stuck in, although he was lucky not to be booked today. He put quite a few balls into the box, although he lacked decent delivery at that key time.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - Won a fair bit in the air and again combined well with Coloccini.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Another top quality performance from captain colossal. Read the game well, as always and saved our back line on a few occasions. Did start off being beaten early on, but showed his class, as we kept a clean sheet.

Ryan Taylor (8.5) - For someone for may not start the next game, he put in a decent performance. Got beat once or twice but that's understandable for someone played out of position. Scored an absolute beauty of a free kick, worthy of winning any game.

Joey Barton (6.5) - Was unlucky not to score with a good header, when it was illegally cleared off the line. Did not quite stamp his authority on the game the way I expected, although that was not due to lack of commitment that's for sure.

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - Lost the ball in some critical areas and does not look the same Tiote of last season. That will come with games. He did put himself about though and we have two clean sheets so can't be too hard on him.

Yohan Cabaye (7.5) - Made one foolish tackle but other than that got stuck in. Won the ball a few times, through pressing well and he almost scored with a shot from 25 yards out. A better performance than last week I'll say.

Jonas Gutierrez (8) - Won us the free kick which led to the goal and was outstanding in the second half. Took players on and showed his worth to the team. Did a lot of defensive duties too.

Gabriel Obertan (7.5) - Another player who had a better second half. Looked dangerous on the break and linked up nicely with Ameobi at times. An encouraging performance.

Shola Ameobi (8) - I thought he lead the line superbly today. May not have scored but he troubled Sunderland and won several free kicks for us. His flick on for Gosling late on, summed up his performance. Strong, won key headers and played with pride.

Substitutions
Mike Williamson (7) - Won a few important headers late on.

Dan Gosling (6.5) - Could have scored late on and got involved in the few minutes he was on.

Man of the Match - Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Arsenal (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - Did not have too much to do but did well when called upon.

Danny Simpson (7) - I thought he gave a good performance. Got stuck in at times. Did leave some gaps at the back when he ventured forward a few times.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Our best player on the day. Lead by example. Read the game well. Was able to cover his fellow defenders and even tried to go forward when he could.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - Put in a solid performance although the biggest concern with Steven is the fact that he puts in some unnecessary challenges, which could see him get into trouble on another day. Other than that justified his selection ahead of Mike Williamson.

Ryan Taylor (6.5) - Despite being a make shift left back, he actually had a quiet evening, even though I had my concern that Arsenal were going to attack his channel. They did that a few times but we handled it and still managed a clean sheet. Hopefully he will be replaced with a proper left back ahead of our next game though.

Joey Barton (7) - I thought he had a mixed game. There were moments where he was outstanding, showing his commitment to the cause, whilst there were other moments where he gave the ball away unnecessarily. Having said that, Song should have been sent off for the stamp on Joey, whilst I can understand why he went down after the slap from Gervinho. It wasn't necessary for him to pick Gervinho up the way he did but I suppose that's Joey.

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - Seemed a bit off the pace. That will most probably be due to his visa problems. Hopefully the 90 minutes and a full weeks training will see him sharper next week. Still a very important player to us.

Yohan Cabaye (6.5) - Took a while to get into the game but showed glimpses of the player he can be for us this season. Put in a good shift and was taken off towards the end.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Failed to stamp his mark on the game. May be dropped for our next game. He did win us some free kicks which stopped Arsenal from getting a head of steam but that was about it for him.

Demba Ba (5.5) - Taken off at half time. That tells you he wasn't really in the game as he failed to link up well with his strike partner. It will take him some time to settle in and let's not forget Arsenal had most of the possession which will not always be the case at home this season.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Put in a good shift although he too failed to test their keeper.

Substitutes
Gabriel Obertan (7) - Showed some real pace when given the chance and looked good on the ball. Hopefully he starts next week, so that we can see more of him.

Leon Best (6.5) - Showed one good turn but other than that, never really made an impact.

Peter Lovenkrands (5.5) - Had very little time to make an impact.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Fabricio Coloccini

Newcastle United Goals Thread 2010/2011

Premier League Goals

Aston Villa (H)
Goal: Barton (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-0)
Goal: Carroll (3-0)
Goal: Carroll (4-0)
Goal: Nolan (5-0)
Goal: Carroll (6-0)


Wolves (A)
Goal: Carroll (1-1)
Everton (A)
Goal: Ben Arfa (1-0)

Stoke City (H)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)

Man City (A)
Goal: Gutierrez (1-1)

Wigan Athletic (H)
Goal: Ameobi (2-1)
Goal: Coloccini (2-2)

West Ham (A)
Goal: Nolan (1-1)
Goal: Carroll (2-1)

Sunderland (H)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-0)
Goal: Ameobi (3-0)
Goal: Ameobi (4-0)
Goal: Nolan (5-0)

Arsenal (A)
Goal: Carroll (1-0)

Blackburn (H)
Goal: Carroll (1-1)

Bolton (A)
Goal: Carroll (1-3)

Chelsea (H)
Goal: Carroll (1-0)

West Brom (A)
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-3)

Liverpool (H)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Barton (2-1)
Goal: Carroll (3-1)

Man City (H)
Goal: Carroll (1-2)

Wigan (A)
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)

West Ham
Goal: Best (1-0)
Goal: Best (2-0)
Goal: Nolan (3-0)
Goal: Best (4-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (5-0)

Sunderland (A)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)

Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Goal: Coloccini (1-0)

Arsenal (H)
Goal: Barton (1-4)
Goal: Best(2-4)
Goal: Barton (3-4)
Goal: Tiote (4-4)

Birmingham City (A)
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Best (2-0)

Bolton (H)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)

Everton (H)
Goal: Best (1-0)

Wolves (H)
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Ameobi (2-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (3-0)
Goal: Gutierrez (4-1)

Blackpool (A)
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)

Birmingham City (H)
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)
Goal: S.Taylor (2-0)

Chelsea (A)
Goal: Gutierrez (1-1)
Goal: S.Taylor (2-2)

Carling Cup

Accrington Stanley
Goal: R.Taylor (1-0)
Goal: Ameobi (2-1)
Goal: Lovenkrands (3-1)

Chelsea
Goal: Ranger (1-1)
Goal: R.Taylor (2-1)
Goal: Ameobi (3-1)
Goal: Ameobi (4-3)

FA Cup
Stevenage
Goal: Barton (1-2)

Credit to KO, the prodctz and Siralicdman for providing the goals.

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Chelsea (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6.5) - Had a good game bar one mistake. The problem is though that, that mistake led to their second goal. He came for something he couldn't reach and the ball ended up in the net. You do feel sorry for keepers sometimes.

Danny Simpson (7) - Did his job for the most part. Showed some good touches and can't be blamed for any of their goals. Does need some competition though.

Steven Taylor (8.5) - I thought he was outstanding and fully deserved getting the late equaliser. Won a lot in the air, read the game well and showed many today why he was so highly rated by many before losing his way a bit over the last 2 years.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - Another player who played well today. Despite allowing Ivanovic to win the header in the build up to their first goal, he did not allow Chelsea to have too many opportunities after that and his partnership with Taylor was impressive.

Jose Enrique (8) - Came close to being my man of the match as he gave a very good performance today. Many question whether he'll be with us next season but he played very well. Won many challenges, went forward quite a bit and linked up fairly well with young Ferguson. He will definitely be missed should he choose to leave.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - Played in an unfamiliar role but worked very hard and made some good runs. Can't say he stood out but he was involved in getting us the free kick which led to our first goal and he certainly contributed to us getting a point.

Joey Barton (7.5) - Despite giving the ball away quite a bit today, he was very committed and got stuck in, which we needed since Tiote wasn't there. Good captains performance probably describes his performance best.

Ryan Taylor (6.5) - For someone filling in, he did reasonably well. He broke up a few of Chelsea's attacks and set up both goals. One being from a rather poor free kick whilst the other was from a good corner.

Shane Ferguson (7.5) - Another promising performance from him. Linked up nicely with Enrique and went forward with real enthusiasm. Went off with an injury but not before putting in a solid shift.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) - For someone who's played in all our league games this season he showed little signs of fatigue. He worked hard and scored our first goal, even if he knew very little thereof. Has had some good form of late so its nice that he scored, no matter how fortuitous it was.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Today was another mixed bag from Shola. Did some good things but some awful things too. I'd start Ranger in the next game if it were up to me.

Substitutes
Kazenga Lua Lua (6.5) - Failed to have a big impact but did do well on one occasion when he took on Ivanovic.

Nile Ranger (7) - Won a superb header to assist the late equaliser. Perhaps deserves a start next week.

Sammy Ameobi (7.5) - I was very impressed with the younger Ameobi. Certainly showed no fear and put himself about in the few minutes he was on for.

Man of the Match - Steven Taylor

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Blackpool (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - Another very good display from the young Dutch keeper. Was kept busy today and took everything in his stride. Made some decent stops, most notably when Campbell was through on goal. He did well to get a piece of the ball and not the man and showed he is a keeper high on confidence.

Danny Simpson (7) - He had a very good second half, with his positional play outstanding. He made some pretty good interceptions and tackles although he was lucky not to concede a penalty when he lost his footing and handled the ball in the first half. Did not get the opportunity to attack too much today.

Mike Williamson (7) - Put under heavy pressure today but handled it well. We rode our luck at times but Mike did well in the air and did what was required of him for the most part.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - A calming influence at the back and survived what was a busy day for him at the back. Formed a good partnership with Mike and was one of the more consistent performers on the day.

Jose Enrique (5.5) - Had a very poor first half in which he made numerous errors. One almost led to a goal when he played a horrendous pass to Tim Krul and was lucky we got away with it. Had a bit of a better second half but still had a bitter sweet afternoon especially as he was behind the line for their goal and cleared the ball off the ball on another occasion.

Joey Barton (6) - I thought Joey was poor today. Lost the ball a few times and his delivery was not at his usual high standards. Did put in a good shift but we needed more from him today.

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - Was unable to control the game like he normally does. Gave away some freekicks in dangerous areas too. Still had moments though where he showed off his talent.

Kevin Nolan (6) - Put in a typical shift but was unable to have much influence on the game be it with his passing or his ability to get onto crosses.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Another player who had a mixed afternoon. Did one or two good things but was also unable to play that final pass or cross for the strikers to get on the end of.

Peter Lovenkrands (7) - Scored our goal today with a well taken shot from just outside the box. Did have a decent first half but seemed to fade, the longer the game went on and was susbtituted after the hour mark.
Shola Ameobi (6) - Wasted many fine chances today. Lost his footing numerous times and was often frustrating to watch. Still put himself about but we just can't afford to waste so many good chances if we want to be a force again.

Substitutions
Stephen Ireland (6) - Showed some more glimpses of promise without really testing the keeper. Needs to start a game soon if we are to see his true ability.

James Perch (N/A) - Only touched the ball once in his few minutes on the field.

Shefki Kuqi (N/A) - Only got to play about 30 seconds

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Man Utd (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8) - For someone coming into the side for such a big game and after three months out of the team he did particularly well. Made two top draw saves in the first half and came off his line well most times. His kicking from goal kicks was poor but overall he showed why he should be our number one in years to come.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - Had a fairly quiet game but did his job. Almost gave away a penalty late on but the right decision was made so he can go home having done what was required of him.

Mike Williamson (8) - I thought he defended very well tonight. Won a lot in the air and put in some crucial challenges just when it was required.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - I thought he read the game superbly and made some good interceptions. Also showed his experience when Krul came late out to collect a through pass. He prevented the attacker from getting near the ball and the danger passed. One of our players of the season.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - Had a very good first half although his second half wasn't as good. Thought he was certainly up for it after some fans questioned his performance in the last game. Made to defend more in the second half and he was up to it.

Joey Barton (7.5) - He put in a really good shift and led from the front tonight. Took the ball from Rooney a few times which showed how much defensive work he did during the game.

Cheik Tiote (7.5) - Back for this one and it showed. Good on the ball, passed it well and allowed us to have a go at them. Did give one or two unnecessary challenges away but we got the clean sheet so I can't complain.

Danny Guthrie (7) - Played his part tonight. Worked hard and distributed the ball nicely. Linked up well with his fellow midfielders whilst he wasn't afraid to do his defensive duties as well.

Jonas Gutierrez (8) - I thought he was sensational in the first twenty minutes. Really ran at them and had the beating of O'Shea a few times. Got tired as the game wore on but still did his defensive work. Did not get as much opportunity in the second half as he did in the first but showed that when on his game, he can trouble the top teams.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - Not as involved as I'd like him to be but he worked hard and could and probably should have won us a penalty. It wasn't to be and he was substituted just after the hour mark.
Shola Ameobi (7.5) - Another player who had a very good first half and really looked up for it. Caused Man Utd many problems but then got tired and was eventually taken off after seventy minutes.

Substitutes
Stephen Ireland (6.5) - Looked decent when coming on and it was a pity we did not have more of the ball at that stage to utilise him properly.

Nile Ranger (5) - Made very little impact which was very disappointing despite only getting twenty minutes.

Man of the Match - Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (A)

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (7) - Had a fairly good game. Made no mistakes and could do nothing for their goal.

Danny Simpson (6) - Had a difficult afternoon but managed to give a decent enough showing.

Steven Taylor (5.5) - I thought he struggled today. Got away with a clumsy challenge in the box while he also gave the ball away in some potentially dangerous positions. Was rightfully substituted.

Mike Williamson (7.5) - I thought he was excellent today. Won a lot in the air and did not allow the Villa attackers to get the better of him too often. Apart from a body check once he can be pleased with his showing.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - Although he gave the ball away a few times, he was solid in defence and showed his worth to the team yet again. Did look at times as though he was not 100% fit but still had a good game.

Joey Barton (5) - A thoroughly disappointing performance from the "best Engish midfielder" in the league. Hardly got on the ball and gave the ball away several times when he did. The fact that he was constantly complaining did not seem to help us at all either.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - For someone who seldom plays in midfield I thought he did a good job. Went about his business quietly although it will be great to have Tiote back for the next game as the team will be stronger with Coloccini in defence and Tiote in midfield.

Danny Guthrie (6) - Not a particularly bad game from Danny although his passing let him down on several occasions. Seems to go for "the pass" to many times and gives the ball away instead of building things patiently.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Had a decent first half and did his fair share of defensive work but failed to do the same in the second half. Yet again his link up play with Enrique was our strongest weapon going forward during the game though.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - Had two decent chances in the final minutes of the game but could not put one away. He at least made the keeper work which was the least he could do I suppose. Other than that he worked hard but lacked any real service to help get himself on the score sheet.

Nile Ranger (6.5) - Showed glimpses of why so many people have been calling for him to start a game whilst funny enough he also showed why he was kept on the bench so much. He started the game well, had one or two chances and then just faded. His decision making at crucial times let him down but as a striker I suppose he needs to be greedy too.

Substitutes

Ryan Taylor (6) - Had a slight impact but not enough in the end.

Shefki Kuqi (N/A) - Not on long enough.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Mike Williamson

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Stoke City (A)

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (4) - What was he doing for their second goal? I'm afraid for all his loyalty, he should be replaced by one of the two youngsters next season. Just does not fill me with confidence and I'd be disappointed if we sold one of the youngsters in the summer.

Danny Simpson (6) - Put some good balls into the box particularly in the first half but needs to be playing in his natural position.

Mike Williamson (6.5) - I thought he did fairly well defensively. Could not be blamed for any of their goals and won a fair bit in the air.

Fabrcio Coloccini (5) - A disappointing performance from the usually reliable centre back. Made a few errors and seemed to lose concentration at crucial times.

Sol Campbell (4.5) - At fault for their first goal, perhaps the second too and was rightfully taken off in the second half. Why he was given a start is beyond me.

Jose Enrique (7) - Looked good until he went off injured. One always got the feeling it was going to be hard to get something from today after he went off.

Cheik Tiote (5.5) - He did not have a bad game but made some unnecessary challenges and played into Stoke's hands. Also got a yellow card which means he misses the next two games.

Joey Barton (6) - In terms of commitment and effort one can't fault him but he did look rusty and his balls into the box were nowhere near what he is capable of.

Kevin Nolan (6) - Put in a good shift but was one of only a few who could come away from today with any credit be it only a little.

Peter Lovenkrands (4) - He seems to do nothing for most of the game but still manages to start the next game. Can't say I remember him doing anything worth mentioning today.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Really put himself about and deserved more support especially in terms of supply to him.

Substitutes
Shane Ferguson (8) - What a superb performance from one so inexperienced. Took players on, showed great skill and got the ball into the box a few times. Looks a real prospect and deserves a run in the team now, with Enrique's injury.

Nile Ranger (5) - Hardly did anything since coming off the bench.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - Earned a few free kicks but was brought on when the game was over as a contest unfortunately.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Shane Ferguson