Derby v Newcastle 12/10/96 3.00Derby (0) 0 Newcastle (0) 1 FT Shearer 76 Alan Shearer sent Newcastle top of the league for the first time since March as Kevin Keegan's men made it six Premiership wins on the trot despite never finding their form. The England skipper looked as if he would be rueing a second minute miss as Paul McGrath made an inspirational debut at the heart of the Derby defence. But with just 14 minutes to go, the otherwise immaculate McGrath made his only mistake of the day and Shearer emphatically did for his club exactly what he had done for England in midweek. John Beresford played in a free-kick from the left which went all the way through, with McGrath, perhaps anticipating a touch, allowing Shearer to drift off him. It was all the room the £15million man needed, as he smashed home right-footed across Russell Hoult and into the bottom corner for his sixth of the season to turn the Toon Army barmy. Shearer celebrated, all the frustrations of the afternoon swept aside in the space of a couple of seconds, yet it was tough on Jim Smith's men. After a hesitant start, in which both Shearer and Ferdinand should have scored, Derby had created more real chances, while McGrath's close attentions had left Shearer looking time and again to referee Martin Bodenham. But for all the effort, they could not find a way past Pavel Srnicek, and Shearer's magic touch gave the visitors an undeserved second Baseball Ground win in 45 years. Both sides had originally made changes at the back, Philippe Albert replacing the injured Steve Howey for his first Premiership start since August and McGrath's debut seeing Matt Carbon standing down. News that Faustino Asprilla was due back on Tyneside via Paris during the afternoon was good for Newcastle, and while they might have been disappointed to see groin victim David Ginola on the bench, there was ample compensationin with the return of Peter Beardsley. And at the outset, with Beardsley pulling all the strings, it looked as if Newcastle's march to the summit would be untroubled. It might have been if Shearer had shown his England sharpness after a truly marvellous pass from Beardsley in only the second minute. Gary Rowett was caught stranded as Shearer raced in on goal, and while Hoult deserved credit for the pace he showed off his line, he should not have had the opportunity to dive to his left to save. Not that Shearer was the only guilty party, as Ferdinand, who had claimed eight in his previous six games, was equally generous to the home defence. Denied by a superbly-timed tackle by McGrath in the seventh minute, Ferdinand should have scored when Rowett's header ballooned in the air. Ferdinand reacted smartly, bringing the ball down onto his right foot inside the box, but then mis-hit wide. While Beardsley continued to impress one defence-splitting ball to Ferdinand was in a class of its own Derby's work-rate began to make an impact. Darryl Powell should have done better than spoon over after working a one-two with Dean Sturridge, and then Sturridge's over-eagerness caught him offside when Christian Dailly played him in. The period ended with Beardsley's subtle chip dropping just the wrong side of the bar and while they were busier at the start of the second half McGrath making two vital clearances it was Derby who came closer, Dailly's right-footer bringing a diving stop from Srnicek. Newcastle still threatened, with a Shearer header from Ferdinand hitting Rowett's back and dropping for Hoult to gather, but there was a spring in the Rams' step. Marco Gabbiadini came so close to scoring with his first touch after replacing Sturridge with 20 minutes left, Srnicek frantically back-pedalling before tipping over. That was the cue for Shearer to strike, but still Derby battled gamely on, the Newcastle rearguard creaking but just holding firm. Srnicek saved again this time from Darryl Powell four minutes from the end as Newcastle were happy just to hoof clear. But a fourth successive away league win was further proof of this season's new resolve at St James' Park. Not pretty, not really Newcastle, but enough. 
Derby: (3-5-2) Hoult, Rowett, C. Powell (Simpson, 88), McGrath, Laursen (Flynn, 83), Stimac, Asanovic, D. Powell, Dailly, Ward, Sturridge (Gabbiadini, 70). Subs not used: Carsley, Carbon. Booked: C. Powell. Newcastle: (4-4-2) Srnicek, Watson, Beresford, Peacock, Albert, Batty, Lee, Gillespie, Beardsley, Shearer, Ferdinand. Subs not used: Ginola, Clark, Elliott, Kitson, Hislop. Booked: Watson. Attendance: 18,092. Referee: M J Bodenham (Looe). |
