Sat Sep 24 v NewcastleUpdated: October 3rd, 2007
Yet another refreshingly honest post-match interview by Pearce at BBC Sport.
Here’s a quote: ‘My assistant manager’s pulled me at the end of the game and said at half-time I think you should have said this and this….I said ‘yeah, I think you’re right’.
match reports
Newcastle 1 City 0 (MEN)
‘City’s miserable week continued as Michael Owen’s first-half strike sunk the Blues.’ Player ratings here.
Owen’s consistent punch conceals Newcastle’s glass jaw (Guardian)
‘Having taken a couple of punches, seen what Newcastle had to offer, Pearce said that his team would have been entitled to ask: “Is that your best shot? Is that all the problems you are causing us?” That is how weak Pearce thought Newcastle were. And they won. So can you imagine how bad City were?’
Newcastle ignited by Owen’s spark (Observer)
‘Talking of entertainment, it is pleasing to note that this game actually contained some. It was not a classic, by any means, but it was an open and honest tussle between two teams playing 4-4-2 and making dozens of mistakes.’
Owen finds his stride (Telegraph)
City’s second consecutive defeat was less undeserved than against Bolton Wanderers at home last week, though they ought to have had a point from pressing Newcastle on to the back foot for the last half-hour.
Terror on the team sheet (Daily Mirror)
‘Owen has rejuvenated the Newcastle attack and Shearer was back to his best, yet Newcastle still sent their supporters home puzzled. Should they celebrate a totally dominant opening half, with chances created, Owen flying and Shearer battering defenders? Or should they moan about the alarming turn-around after the break which could have let the game slip?’
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Owen provides shaft of light (Times)
‘Newcastle were industrious, but their inability to see out the game gnawed at their composure, while City’s growing influence was merely reflected in a series of free headers, all of which were wasted. As an occasion, it lacked quality, vibrancy and atmosphere.’
Owen removes albatross of despondency from Souness’s neck (Independent)
“No disrespect, but we showed them too much respect,” said the Manchester City manager, far from circumspect about his team’s performance in the wake of a third defeat in seven days. “I could sniff it. It took me about two minutes to sense we weren’t up for it. You can’t start off going through the motions like that, because it’s difficult to pick it up.”
Match stats
(Ian Whittell)
Pedersen in his pomp
Saturday’s game proved a shocking advert for England’s much-hyped elite league. With the ball spending far too much time in the air it produced only one clear-cut scoring chance - a far-post sitter spurned by City’s inrushing Joey Barton - and made a mockery of the £36 admission prices which restricted a derby attendance to a disappointing 22,334.
Pedersen in his pomp Ian Whittell
Saturday’s game proved a shocking advert for England’s much-hyped elite league. With the ball spending far too much time in the air it produced only one clear-cut scoring chance - a far-post sitter spurned by City’s inrushing Joey Barton - and made a mockery of the £36 admission prices which restricted a derby attendance to a disappointing 22,334.
Pedersen in his pomp Ian Whittell
Saturday’s game proved a shocking advert for England’s much-hyped elite league. With the ball spending far too much time in the air it produced only one clear-cut scoring chance - a far-post sitter spurned by City’s inrushing Joey Barton - and made a mockery of the £36 admission prices which restricted a derby attendance to a disappointing 22,334.
Pedersen in his pomp (Ian Whittell)
Saturday’s game proved a shocking advert for England’s much-hyped elite league. With the ball spending far too much time in the air it produced only one clear-cut scoring chance - a far-post sitter spurned by City’s inrushing Joey Barton - and made a mockery of the £36 admission prices which restricted a derby attendance to a disappointing 22,334.
Match reports
City 0 Reading 2 (Simon Stone)
City slumped to defeat against in-form Reading as the Blues’ chronic lack of firepower let them down again at Eastlands.
Lethal Lita shakes City to foundations (Jon Culley)
“It will be nice to work with a striker with some confidence,” Pearce observed ruefully, having watched his own front men, Darius Vassell and Georgios Samaras, make it perfectly clear that neither is in a state of mind remotely approaching that.
Lita feasts on double helpings from Pearce’s flawed menu (Ian Whittell)
Stuart Pearce will probably relish the opportunity to disappear from Manchester City on England coaching duty this week after Leroy Lita’s two excellently taken goals added to the growing malaise at his club.
