As I was at the game myself, it was interesting to read and listen to the comments made about the game afterwards and compare them with my own. I genuinely felt that the first goal was going to be a killer-blow for whichever team hit first. It happened to be Newcastle and a lot of credit has to go to Michael Owen how he controlled a well-hit pass and got it up and over David James and the attentions of I think Sol Campbell who somersaulted Owen into the air after he made the vital chip over the keeper.
So we got the first goal and that was probably decisive. I was like all the away support … very nervous about Newcastle trying to hold onto a 0:1 advantage away from home but credit to the team who altogether had a great performance putting in 2 more goals to finish off Pompey away from home.
I have to also of course give credit to Shay as well. If Shay hadn’t stopped that deflected shot around the post for a corner in the first half, it could’ve been Portsmouth with 3 points.
Newcastle as a whole looked skilful and comfortable on the ball.
Nicky Butt
I particularly thought some of Nicky Butt’s one-touch football was top-class and he even sprayed in the second-half a pass 40 yards out the wing on a one-toucher.
I felt he showed that when he plays like that, he is a class above your average midfielder in terms of vision and efficiency. But there were good performances around the park.
COLUCINI
I though Colucini looked very comfortable at the back the whole game and gave a relaxed and classy performance as did the rest of the back four.
OWEN
I feel that Owen showed why he’s one of the best finishers to grace the game with the first goal. What a scoop. People who continue to knock Owen for whatever reasons need to ask themselves why they bother as he does deliver the goods time and time again.
He’s a natural predator and will always score goals whoever he plays for. Why he’s not in the England team is beyond me.
SHAY
Well done too to Shay. He made 2 great stops which echoed the general professional and thoroughness of the entire teams performance.
You hope they can grow form this a lot of confidence and wins to get them even further up the table where a club like Newcastle belong.
