Sunday 11th November
A while since the last game against our arch-rvials Sunderland, in which we got an emphatic win, and the lads have been putting much more effort in the club. Our Chairman also has decided he loves the club after recently being in the mood of 'Willing to listen to others'. Which is good and bad, could do with more financial backing, I suppose. Chelsea have also been reported to be sniffing around our Strikeforce, Owen and Martins which if they bought both, we would surely be raking it in. Derby away today, they are in 14th and we are easily favourites although they have done decent this season compared to their media prediction. International week is the week after today's match, in which 21 players have been called up, nice to know that Newcastle are becoming a force in every sense!
Derby away. On paper this should be a comfortable victory, I mean we are first for god's sake! They do have a big threat though, Giles Barnes. Under 19 England star whom I may look to try and sign in the January transfer window, especially if he plays well today. We arrived at the changing rooms, and they were tiny! The tactic board was miniture and this made everything harder, how nice are they?! I resorted nearly entirely to the team that played Manchester City, but thought I would leave Margaritescu in there, as the fans think he is worst signing I have made yet! I will let him answer them himself. Morale is high as per usual and Martins is determined he will get another hat-trick, haha. Course you will Obafemi!
We start strong as we play the ball all around the park withsome juicy long balls resulting in few chances. First chance came off a Milner free kick in which N'Zogbia got his head to the ball first and flicked it on to the back post where Martins was standing unmarked, but unfortunatley he hit it quite far wide. Derby start to come in a bit with Barton getting a few fouls to his name. Derby's first chance falls to Earnshaw whom has his shot turned over, quality save by Given. Derby start to dominate in small areas but on the whole we control. We get let off the hook though on 21 minutes as Katan is brought down in the box by Habib Beye, but the referee, who is the best in the country may I say, said no to a penalty. Good decision... and boy did we fight back straight away, with a goal! A lovely ball by N'Zogbia for Martins to run onto and he hits his first shot straight at Kinsky's face and with the keeper down on the ground taps it into an empty net. 1-0! Derby start showing some more resilience and get few chances. This time Miller picks out Robbie Earnshaw who hits his shot on the edge of the box wide. On course to win our 12th out of 13 league game, we double our lead with Margaritescu the supplier to Martins this time. A low hard cross from margaritescu was met by a powerful volley by Martins as we start to cruise. Derby get two more chances before the break with Katan involved in both chances. The first was him taking the chance himself and hitting it from the edge of the box and it just sneaky wide. The second was a free-kick by Katan in stoppage time and Earnshaw collects the ball in space but gets no power behind the shot, so it is an easy safe for Shay Given. An eventful half, as both teams had their chances, but we edge it and deserve our 2 goal advantage.
Half time team talk was a little longer than I expected it to be at the start of the match, we were good in the first half but we weren't good enough. Martins and Margaritescu were playing well, but the latter would have to come off eventually. Chris Sulley told the lads a fwe things, and I told the midfield to watch Barnes as wehn he got the ball in the first half he was doing things, we needed to stop him. Stop him and we win the match.
Second half started brilliantly with the lads really working for their places. 5 minutes after the restart and we should of been 3 up as Owen and Barton came close. Martins put a delightful ball in, which fell to Owen who had his shot saved and Joey Barton ended up missing the rebound. Goalazzio!!! Martins Hat-trick! Just like he said he would. Owen was one on one with the keeper when he struck a powerful strike straight at him, he scuffed the rebounds and then Martins was there to pick up the pieces. 3-0 and in control. Soon after the goal I decided it is time for Milner and Margaritescu to depart, and on come Torje and Sepsi. Chances soon come thick and fast with Torje, only just came on, supplying Barton who scuffs his chance straight into the cord. Stancu then comes on for the underperformer Barton. Stancu has a chance for his first goal of the evening but ends up putting his shot straight at Kinksy. Stancu then repays the favour by putting a lovely ball to Martins' feet, who then turns and hits an early shot from 20 yards only for it to smack the post and go out for a throw in. 90 minutes gone, 2 miutes of injury time added on. The fans are singing... what! We end up conceding in the 91st minute with Giles Barnes scoring an absolute peach as a consolation goal for Derby County. A beautiful strike from the edge of the box. A possible transfer target, me thinks. The final whistle blows shortly after we dominated the entire second half.
When the players got into the dressing room they were incredibly happy. 13 games undefeated in the Premiership including games against the top 4 bar Chelsea is a great acheivement. I tell them how pleased I am, but it seems obvious to me what we need to work on in training. Man marking, tackling and Tactical Awareness. Then again, no team is perfect, although we are so close to perfect.
Returning back to my house I received word that Chelsea had been held at Stamford Bridge by Manchester United, although Man Utd should of won! Birmingham, Villa and Wigan all won suprisingly against heir counter parts as we move 6 points clear. Funny though, as now Martins has 4 hat-tricks in all competitions this season, 5 including the Abbey Hey friendly and he has now been put on the favoured personnel for the Club. What a bloody acheivement. Fantastic Obafemi, absolutely fantastic. "An eye for an eye and the world will soon be blind" - Gandhi.
Derby County 1 - 3 Newcastle United
Martins 23,37,59
Given - 7
Beye - 7
Enrique - 7
Radoi(c) - 8
Taylor - 8
Margaritescu - 7(Sub 65)
Milner - 7(Sub 65)
N'Zogbia - 8
Barton - 7(Sub 73)
Owen - 8
Martins - 9
Harper - Unused Sub
Geremi - Unused Sub
Torje - 7(On 65)
Stancu - 6(On 73)
Sepsi - 6(On 65)
Round The Grounds
Birmingham 1 - 1 Arsenal
Blackburn 1 - 2 Liverpool
Chelsea 0 - 0 Man Utd
Derby 1 - 3 Newcastle
Everton 4 - 1 West Ham
Man City 3 - 1 Fulham
Portsmouth 0 - 1 Bolton
Reading 3 - 3 Sunderland
Tottenham 2 - 3 Aston Villa
Wigan 2 - 0 Middlesborough