Magpies deliver for Joe Kinnear

By: j | February 7th, 2009

Any notion of the importance of today’s 3-2 victory over West Brom was overshadowed by the health of Joe Kinnear. The Newcastle manager, who suffered a mild heart attack in the spring of 1999, was taken to the hospital after complaining of high blood pressure. Per the club, he remain in hospital for observation and will be discharged in a few days.

Returning to the match, with the victory Newcastle now finds itself in thirteenth position and a full five points about Blackburn in the drop zone. The match was far from an attractive looking affair and more in the vein of two clubs fighting it out to avoid relegation with the lesser of defending woes winning out. Be that as it may, three points is naturally well received by the Magpies as it could very likely be the difference between surviving in the Premier or dropping down.

Damien Duff gave the Newcastle the lead only two minutes in after West Brom Leon Barnett stumbled, allowing Republic of Ireland winger to stroll in alone on ‘keeper Scott Carson and plunk the ball into the net. The lead didn’t last long as Marc-Antoine Fortuné, on-loan for AS Nancy, scored the equalizer only two minutes later as he was the recipient of Borja Valero’s pass after a Newcastle miscue. The horror show of defending continued as Peter Lövenkrands sent Ryan Taylor’s provision into the back of the net only five minutes later to bring the match to 2-1. Thankfully a futsol tournament didn’t erupt and additional goals were held off till four minutes before the half when Ryan Taylor’s corner was nodded in by Steven Taylor whilst West Brom decided defending a set piece is foolish.

Following the break Filipe Teixeira and Roman Bednar came in for Tony Mowbray’s side and the match lacked any notable chances until Marc-Antoine Fortuné brought it to within one with seventeen minutes remaining with a strong drive from just inside the area. With ten minutes remaining Mark Viduka was brought in for Shola Ameobi and while not influential in the decision it bodes well for the balance of the campaign. In the final stages of the match West Brom came within a whisper of leveling it but it was not to be and Newcastle walked away its second away win of the year.

Following today’s match Joe Kinnear said the following from the hospital:

“I’d like to thank everyone who has been asking how I have been feeling.

“Although I missed the game I had my grandson giving me a full commentary on the match.

“It was a great win for us and I told Chris well done and to pass on my congratulations to the players when he came to see me on Saturday evening.”

Newcastle returns to play in two weeks as it welcomes Everton to St James’