 NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 CITY 0 FA Barclaycard Premiership 18th January 2003 attendance 52,152 scorers Shearer(1), Bellamy(64) |
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Any plans Manchester City had to make a steady start and hold United at bay lasted precisely 10.4 seconds. That’s how long it took Alan Shearer to punish City keeper Carlo Nash’s carelessness and fire United ahead with the second-fastest goal ever scored in the Premiership.
Former Magpie Steve Howey, from kick- off, rolled the ball back to his keeper. Nash’s first touch gave Shearer the chance to close him down, his clearance struck Al, and Nash was left scrambling helplessly as our skipper fired into the empty goal.
For the remaining 89 minutes and 50 seconds City strove to get back into the contest, and Ali Benarbia fired against the post after 23 minutes, but United always looked a winning bet. Shaun Goater and Marc-Vivien Foe conjured up a remarkable 58th-minute double-miss, and five minutes later United were two goals ahead. Laurent Robert galloped away down the left and when his cross came in Craig Bellamy was there at the far post to slide the ball past Nash.
FROM BLACK & WHITE NEWCASTLE’S PROGRAMME 24TH SEPTEMBER 2005