Spirited City Failed To Learn Leeds’ Lesson

Saturday 23rd January, 1999

Newcastle United 3
(Harmann 1-0 Shearer 2-0 Ketsbaia 3-0)
Bradford City 0

Bradford went out of the FA Cup to Premiership Newcastle in a game that bore remarkable similarities to City’s Worthington Cup exit to Leeds earlier in the season.

Once again City started better than their Premiership opponents and once again they conceded a goal which owed much to good fortune. Dietmar Harmann was on hand to put in a rebounded Temuri Ketsbaia shot to give Newcastle a lead they scant deserved.

To City’s credit they kept their controlled passing style together despite the harrying of the Unted midfield and the firm back line, with Charvet keeping a tight marking brief on Robbie Blake and Dabizas beating Mills in the air frequently, and were nearly rewarded after three fine chances before half time: A Jamie Lawrence run through the left that brought a save from Given at the City man’s feet, a fierce diagonal shot from Mills that went over the bar and a flick on from a corner by Stuart McCall that hit the inside of the post and came out but despite these efforts Bradford never troubled the Home team enough, with the ball to often given to Beagrie or pumped to the front men. With the Newcastle defensive line snuffing out many attacks, City had to endeavour to create more chances, something they were incapable of against this class of opposition, particularly down the right hand side where Lawrence sat too deep and Wright seldom pushed past him.

After half time the game was decided in a single minute of play. A high pass to Blake held up in the wind and the City striker contrived to find himself on the goal side of the defence with the ball, running on he attempted to place the ball past Given only to miscue his shot a good few feet wide. While the supporters were digesting this a long pass freed Alan Shearer (right) who finished past Walsh.

At 2-0 the game was over. Newcastle kept control and while City played the remaining game with spirit, the Magpies always had control. A third goal came, a run and finish by Ketsbaia after centre-back Darren Moore had joined the front line. It flattered Newcastle, but they deserved a win.

This might seem harsh on the lively Bradford but unfortunately football is a harsh and unforgiving game. While City spurned chances they did create, a more quality opposition did not and, once a lead was established, they were able to control the game, something Bradford experienced at Leeds earlier in the season and a lesson that the players will have to assimilate should the Premier League beckon in August.

Newcastle United: GK: Given RB: Griffen RCB: Charvert LCB: Dabizas LB: Domi RM: Solano RCM: Harmann LCM: Speed LM: Brady (Glass) RCF: Shearer LCF: Ketsbaia Man Of The Match: Dietmar Harmann: Broke down attacks and was a threat in the last third.

Your opinions on the City team to MichaelWood@Iname.com