TAYLOR SEALS MAGPIES PROGRESS
Local hero Steven Taylor made sure his first Newcastle United goal
was a crucial one as he fired the Magpies into the knockout stages
of the UEFA Cup.
The 20-year-old central defender had a part to play in Fabian
Canobbios ninth-minute opener for Celta Vigo but after Antoine
Sibierski had cancelled out the Uruguayans strike with a
36th-minute equaliser - his fourth goal in a black and white shirt
and his third in Europe - Taylor powered a header past goalkeeper
Esteban Suarez from Albert Luques corner four minutes from time to
send Glenn Roeders men into the last 32.
The victory, coupled with Fenerbahces 3-0 win over Palermo, means
the Magpies head for Eintracht Frankfurt knowing anything they
collect there can only improve their finishing position in Group H
with a maximum nine points already banked.
It also extends their unbeaten run in cup ties this season to 11
games, and they have not lost in their last four in all
competitions.
Roeder was indebted not only to Taylor and bargain buy Sibierski
but former England midfielder Nicky Butt, who put in a determined
display in central midfield, and Peruvian Nolberto Solano, who was
employed as an emergency right-back.
However, for 30 minutes the worry was that it was the Barclays
Premiership underachievers who had taken the field.
Perhaps not surprisingly for a team which had a right-winger
playing at right-back, a central defender at left-back and no
recognised striker on the pitch, the Magpies were disjointed at
first and struggled for any kind of coherence.
It took an early setback to spark the home side into life.
Roeder had warned of Celtas counter-attacking style but they did
not need to hit their hosts on the break in the opening stages as
Brazilian striker Baiano, supported by wide men Nene and Angel
Lopez, made life intensely difficult.
Indeed, when the visitors took the lead with just nine minutes
gone, it was hardly against the run of play.
Taylor headed a seemingly harmless Angel free-kick out of
goalkeeper Shay Givens hands and when the ball was recycled
Canobbio skipped past Emres weak challenge and curled a superb
left-foot shot past the goalkeeper.
It was not until former Manchester United midfielder Butt began to
stamp his authority on the game that the Magpies forced their way
into it and they equalised from their second attack of any note,
Luque having dragged a shot across the face of goal with just 20
seconds gone.
There were 36 minutes on the clock when James Milner picked up
possession wide on the right and flighted a cross towards Sibierski
at the far post, and he jumped unopposed to head firmly past
Esteban.
Titus Bramble might have put the home side in front on the stroke
of half-time but he could not keep his header down from an Emre
free-kick.
Newcastle returned knowing a second-half clean sheet would see them
through but they were not about to settle for a point.
It took a last-ditch block by full-back Diego Placente to cut out
Milners cross after a mazy run into the box.
However, as Baiano in particular kept the home defence on its toes,
nothing could be taken for granted.
As time ran down, it was the home side who looked the more likely
to snatch victory, substitute Obafemi Martins giving Charles
NZogbia a run at goal and then seeing his own shot blocked 14
minutes from time.
However, it was defender Taylor who provided the decisive touch,
thumping a header past the stranded Esteban from Luques
86th-minute corner before sprinting the length of the St James
pitch in celebration.
