Coloccini goal joy marred by late equaliser

FOR the second time in a week, Newcastle were taught the tough lesson that a game of football is not just 90 minutes.

Less than seven days after they conceded an injury-time equaliser to arch-rivals Sunderland, it was deja-vu for the Magpies, who dropped another two points when Aaron Lennon’s 91st minute leveller left the Tynesiders deflated.

Last week, they succumbed to a late equaliser because they were perhaps guilty of sitting back on a one-goal lead, but this time they were punished for chasing a second goal to be sure of victory.

But they shouldn’t be too disheartened, as the result lifted the Magpies up to seventh in the Premier League table with 30 points from 23 games.

What is frustrating though, is that their position could be even better.

Had they not conceded two late goals in the space of a week, Pardew’s men would be on 34 points, arguably needing just two more wins to guarantee Premier League survival.

Not bad for a side many backed to be part of a relegation battle, but what the Tynesiders must do now is ensure the points they have dropped don’t cost them later in the season.

But even in their position, the manager and players alike are still refusing to talk about anything other than survival until their Premier League status is secured, and despite jetting off to Portugal for training this week, Europe is definitely not on the Magpies’ agenda just yet.

Pardew’s men were minutes away from sending Harry Redknapp’s side back to the capital empty handed after a magnificent strike from the unlikeliest of sources had put the home side ahead just before the hour mark.

Celebrating his 29th birthday, centre-back Fabricio Coloccini scored a goal that onlooking Newcastle legends Malcolm Macdonald and Peter Beardsley would have be proud of.

Still loitering in the penalty area after a corner, the defender chested Danny Guthrie’s cross-field pass inside before firing a superb finish past Carlo Cudicini.

The Argentine has had plenty of critics since making his £10m move from Deportivo La Coruna in 2008, but his impressive displays this season have proved he is Premier League quality, with Pardew revealing he is one of the best defenders he has worked with.

His 59th minute strike capped off a terrific day for the player, who has come a long way since he arrived on Tyneside, and despite dropping two points late on, the defender still feels his side have improved massively this season.

“It was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored, it was certainly different,” said Coloccini.

“I normally score a header or a simple push over the line.

It was a great moment for me.

“The reaction of the fans was amazing. To have 50,000 people singing a song about you, it is unbelievable. I’m not from this country, my family are in Argentina, but I feel the love of the fans.

“I feel really good here. It is the best I’ve felt in my career.

It was my birthday and that was the perfect present.

“It shows how far we have come this season that we are disappointed to draw these last two games. It is frustrating we have dropped four points with injury-time goals, but we have to remember we were playing against two teams who are in the top six.”

He added: “We struggled a bit in the first half, but we were a lot better and we had the chances to win.

“For the manager to describe me as one of the best defenders he has worked with is good. He has a lot of experience in the Premier League and he watches a lot of centrebacks, so I’m proud to hear that.

“To have 30 points at this stage is good, but I think we maybe feel we should have more.

“At the start of the season we would have been happy with this, but we have come a long way. We could be even better off.

“We can look forward with some confidence for the rest of the season. We are not safe yet and that is the first target, but we are playing well and we have to keep it going. We have to have a positive mentality.”

After Coloccini had put the hosts ahead, the Magpies piled men forward in a bid to get a second, something they were criticised for not doing a week ago at Sunderland.

But with Spurs also pressing for an equaliser, the final half-hour became what Pardew described afterwards as a basketball game with play going from end to end within seconds.

Lennon forced a great save from Steve Harper after weaving inside from the left, before Luka Modric saw his 20-yard strike rattle the crossbar.

Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi had the hosts’ best chance of closing the game out, with the Dane denied by Cudicini after Joey Barton’s sublime pass had sent him through one-on-one, while Ameobi saw his shot on the turn also palmed away.

Substitute Nile Ranger danced round Michael Dawson in the box, only for his low shot to roll agonisingly across goal and then a minute later, Lennon squeezed his shot past Harper.

Match facts

Goals:

1-0: Coloccini (59, great goal from the defender, who chested Danny Guthrie’s ball inside and smashed the ball past Cudicini)

1-1: Lennon (90, the winger received Defoe’s lay-off, cut inside and drilled a low shot past Harper.)

Referee: Mark Halsey (Welwyn Garden City): Quiet game for the official who let play flowl 7

Attendance: 51,010

Entertainment: *** NEWCASTLE (4-4-2):

8 Harper: The keeper made some great saves in either half to deny the visitors.

7 Simpson: Excellent first half from the right-back, but he will be disappointed with Lennon’s goal.

9 COLOCCINI: Another sterling defensive display from the Argentinian capped off with a terrific goal.

7 Williamson: Quiet game but reliable when called upon and won some important headers

8 Enrique: Strong performance yet again from the Spaniard, who also threatened going forward.

8 Guthrie: Worked very hard in the middle before he got cramp. Great cross-field pass for Coloccini’s goal.

7 Nolan: Relatively quiet game for the skipper but he did well against Jenas and Modric.

7 Gutierrez: Caused problems with his deliveries but guilty of losing possession at times.

7 Barton: His precision passing imprressed again, creating several chances.

6 Ameobi: Battled well but missed several chances which could have secured the three points.

6 Best: Proved an aerial threat with his headed flicks but also missed a couple of golden opportunities.

Subs:

Lovenkrands (for Best 65): Did well when he came on and unlucky not to score when Barton had sent him through 6

Perch (for Guthrie 74)

Ranger (for Ameobi 88)

(not used): Krul (gk), Campbell, Ferguson, Xisco.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-1-1):

Cudicini 7, Dawson 5, Gallas 6, Hutton 5, Jenas 5 (Crouch 71, 5), Modric 7, LENNON 7, Bale 4

(Bassong 11, 5), Pienaar 7 (Kranjcar 84, 5) Van der Vaart 7, Defoe 7.

Subs (not used): Pletikosa, Kaboul, Corluka, Sandro.

MAN OF THE MATCH

FABRICIO Coloccini– the defender has definitely silenced his critics and proved he is Premier League quality.

Took his goal magnificently.