GIVEN that life at St James’ Park is seldom straightforward, this was a fitting introduction to a brave new era. Utterly dominant over feisty, limited opposition, Newcastle United failed to transform their possession into appropriate reward and allowed themselves to become embroiled in a kicking contest. Graeme Souness also left Alan Shearer on the substitutes’ bench; plus ça change on Tyneside.
Souness, Sir Bobby Robson’s successor as manager, should get used to chaotic evenings like this.
Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, the Israeli cup-holders, have won admiration for their integration of Jews and Arabs, but forgot their diplomacy. Five of their players were booked and Nicky Butt should be furious with himself for being sent off after a fracas with Abas Suan, who followed him down the tunnel.
What should have been a simple Uefa Cup first-round, first-leg fixture — especially after the excellent Patrick Kluivert had edged Newcastle into a 2-0 lead — deteriorated into malice. Butt, a 58th-minute replacement for Kieron Dyer, was shown the red card for violent conduct within moments of his arrival and now faces a suspension. Tel Aviv on September 30 will be interesting.
Souness the player would have thrived in such circumstances, but he recognised that his team had been suckered. “They (Sakhnin) have gone for the three-card trick and got us involved in non-footballing things,” he said. “There were some wild challenges — and I would like to have seen some of their players disciplined earlier — but we had to rise above that. We’ve learnt a lesson.”
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None more so than Butt. Having wrestled the ball from Suan, who had flicked Kluivert’s ankles, the England international grasped him around the neck. A mêlée was sparked; Souness stepped on to the pitch.
“At his age, with his experience, Nicky should not be getting involved in that,” he said. “I’ve certainly been there and sometimes frustration takes over, but he will be disappointed and so am I.”
The most positive impact was that of Kluivert, who scored twice and might have had a hat-trick. “We know what he can do,” said Souness. “When everything’s right, he’s one of best in the world.”
His displacement of Shearer and Craig Bellamy is unlikely to extend much further; at Southampton on Sunday, the exiles will return. “I think that’s a reasonable assessment,” Souness confirmed.
The Holland international was repelled by some fine goalkeeping by Energy Murambadoro, who lived up to his name by leaping athletically to tip a dynamic effort above the crossbar. There was also a wonderful, first-time volley that flew just wide of a post. Far more prosaic was the shot bundled over the line after Laurent Robert’s cross was imperfectly cleared.
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Kluivert’s second gave the scoreline a sheen of fairness. Again, Robert fulfilled the role of provider, on this occasion with a corner whipped from the left flank, and Kluivert escaped his marker’s attention to head in via the bar and post. The advantage was merited, although not of a sufficiently comfortable nature to negate the prospect of a testing return tie.
“It will be a different game in Israel,” said Souness. “They sat back and if they want to win, they’ll have to approach it differently.”
Aside from the absence of Shearer and Bellamy, a new regime was ushered in with a half-full stadium, Robbie Elliott becoming captain and Ronny Johnsen signing a short-term contract. The 35-year-old centre half, formerly of Manchester United and Aston Villa, will stiffen a defence shorn of Jonathan Woodgate and which lost Aaron Hughes to a leg injury last night.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): S Given — S Carr, A O’Brien, R Elliott, A Hughes (sub: O Bernard, 15min) — K Dyer (sub: N Butt, 58), J Jenas, L Bowyer, L Robert — F Ameobi (sub: J Milner, 69), P Kluivert. Subtitutes not used: S Harper, A Shearer, C Bellamy, D Ambrose, O Bernard. Booked: Bowyer. Sent off: Butt.
HAPOEL BNEI SAKHNIN (4-4-2): E Marambadoro — A Rabah, E Etchi, A Danan, B Ghnaim (H Salameh, 80) — A Kassom (S Edri, 84), A Suan, T Eliyahu, A E Masudi — A Hamud (sub: C V Rodrigues, 54), E A Olumide. Substitutes not used: Y H Aliaz, K Khalaila, H Abu Salah, N Shalaata. Booked: Rabah, Suan, Ghnaim, Danan, Rodrigues. Sent off: Suan.
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Referee: A Costa (Portugal).