Last-gasp goal denies McLeish

Published on Sunday 9 December 2007 01:05

NEWCASTLE 2

Martins 37 pen; Beye 90

BIRMINGHAM 1

Jerome 9

ALEX McLeish began life as Birmingham coach in the most dramatic of circumstances last weekend after Sebastian Larsson's stunning strike sealed a 3-2 win over ten-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane. But on this occasion it was the former Scotland coach who was thwarted in the final minute as Habib Beye chose the perfect moment to claim his first goal for Newcastle, and with it end the Magpies seven-game wait for Barclays Premier League win. The Senegal international headed substitute Emre's 90th-minute corner past Maik Taylor to inflict a first defeat on McLeish, whose side had taken the lead after nine minutes when Cameron Jerome made the most of yet more schoolboy defending to round Shay Given and score with nine minutes gone.

Sam Allardyce's men took their time to get going, but they finally levelled on 36 minutes when Obafemi Martins converted a penalty kick after being tripped by Mathew Sadler.

James Milner rattled the crossbar four minutes before the break as Newcastle threatened to overwhelm the visitors. However, Taylor twice saved from Martins, the second six minutes from time, and once from Milner, and the home side had to wait until the dying seconds to take all three points.

The draw will have come as a huge relief to Allardyce, whose side had not won since beating Spurs on October 22, and to the bulk of a crowd of 49,948 on a bitter afternoon on Tyneside. Having halted their recent slide with a more than creditable draw with league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday, the Magpies ran out determined to build upon that.

The did so knowing they would face a different challenge to the one presented by Arsene Wenger's technically adept outfit, with City setting up in a 4-5-1 formation in an attempt to tie down the game in midfield. But barely before they had broken sweat, they found themselves trailing again, and where it had been the brilliance of Emmanuel Adebayor which hurt them in midweek, this time it was their own defensive inadequacies which did the damage.

Defender Rafael Schmitz's long ball forward was little more than hopeful, but David Rozehnal allowed Jerome to outstrip him before rounding keeper Given and shooting into the empty net.

The hosts were unfortunate not to be back on terms on 27 minutes when Martins met Charles N'Zogbia's dipping free-kick just two yards out, but saw Taylor pull off a fine reaction save.

Nicky Butt's departure through injury 14 minutes before the break brought Mark Viduka on to the field, and his side finally broke through five minutes later.

Martins set off to chase a loose ball inside the penalty area and was tripped by the prone Mathew Sadler, and referee Rob Styles pointed straight to the spot.

The Nigeria international stroked the ball low to Taylor's left, and although the keeper got a hand to it, it went in off the post to level the scores.

Jerome saw a shot on the turn saved by Given on 39 minutes as City briefly rallied, but it was the Magpies who finished the half with the wind in their sails.

Taylor had to tip a close range Milner effort over the bar in the 41st minute - but the goalkeeper needed the assistance of the woodwork seconds later when the England Under-21 international shot from 20 yards.

Midfielder Fabrice Muamba drilled a right-foot shot just over from 25 yards and then Sebastian Larsson fired just wide after being set up by Jerome.

Given had to save smartly at his near post from Liam Ridgewell as he flicked Larsson's corner towards goal, before Milner whistled a right-foot shot across goal in the 56th minute.

Newcastle were belatedly starting to find their feet once again with Martins troubling the City defence with his pace, although no-one was able to take advantage of N'Zogbia's inviting 66th-minute cross.

Alan Smith fired wide from a tight angle on 71 minutes and with Emre joining the fray as a replacement for Geremi seconds later, the Magpies launched their final push.

Viduka headed well wide from an N'Zogbia free-kick eight minutes later and Martins forced a save from Taylor two minutes later - but the drama came at the death.

Emre saw strong appeals for a second penalty for handball by Larsson waved away a minute from time, but regained his composure to curl a corner to the near post for Beye to score.