A Black Day For Toon Fans!

Last updated : 22 March 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor

NEWCASTLE UTD 1 ARSENAL 3

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Steven Taylor (Owen 65), Coloccini,Bassong (Beye 38), Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor, Butt, Nolan,Duff, Lovenkrands (Ameobi 79), Martins.

Subs Not Used: Krul, Smith, Gutierrez, Geremi.

ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy,Arshavin (Song Billong 74), Denilson, Diaby, Nasri, Van Persie,Bendtner (Eboue 89).

Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Vela, Djourou, Gibbs.

Att: 49,972

The England international was introduced as a second-half substitute with the Magpies trailing 2-1 after goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Abou Diaby, but the game was effectively over within seconds when Samir Nasri fired home a third.

Obafemi Martins had earlier atoned for a first-half penalty miss with a 58th-minute equaliser but it couldn't drag the Magpies out of the bottom three.

ELSEWHERE ...

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Second-placed Chelsea missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on Manchester United as Luka Modric's goal gave Tottenham a 1-0 victory and ease their relegation worries.

A suspect vehicle near White Hart Lane delayed kick-off but the Blues failed to take advantage of United's latest defeat.

Victory would have taken them within a point of the table-toppers but Guus Hiddink's men were frustrated by a Tottenham side who have been transformed since Harry Redknapp's arrival five months ago, with Modric striking the winner just after the interval.

Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes also played a huge part in the victory, saving from John Terry late on when the away fans thought they were on level terms. Alex hit the crossbar in stoppage time as Spurs held on.

PORTSMOUTH

Earlier in the day, Portsmouth pulled themselves clear of immediate danger as two goals from Peter Crouch saw them come from behind to beat Everton 2-1.

Leighton Baines curled an early free-kick in off the post, but Crouch equalised in the 22nd minute and then nodded home the winner when left unmarked from a corner 16 minutes from time.

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Portsmouth's win raised the stakes for Blackburn at home to West Ham but they could only manage a 1-1 draw despite dominating the second half.

There was a strong suspicion of offside as Mark Noble put West Ham in front in the 36th minute, but there was no argument about the finish as the midfielder curled a shot into the far corner with the outside of his boot.

Blackburn's anger was all the more pronounced as El-Hadji Diouf had a goal ruled out for offside moments earlier.

Sam Allardyce brought Keith Andrews off the bench at half-time and it paid off as the midfielder equalised six minutes after the restart.

Diouf then had another effort ruled out for offside as he followed up Chistopher Samba's shot, and the Hammers held on for a point.

STOKE CITY - MIDDLESBROUGH

A Rory Delap special gave Stoke a 1-0 victory in the critical relegation battle against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.

A scrappy affair looked to be heading for stalemate until Delap's long throw was flicked into the far corner of the net by Ryan Shawcross in the 84th minute.

The defeat was a major blow to Boro who now look favourites to take that second relegation spot (along with West Brom).

WEST BROMWICH ALBION - BOLTON WANDERERS

The other battle at the bottom ended in a 1-1 draw with West Brom and Bolton sharing the points.

Scott Carson was given plenty to do by Bolton in the first half but it was West Brom who had the ball in the net, only to see Marc-Antoine Fortune's effort ruled out for offside.

West Brom were dealt a blow in the 67th minute when Matt Taylor ran on to a loose ball to volley home from the edge of the area.

However, Danny Shittu gifted West Brom a way back into the game in the 82nd minute as he deflected Robert Koren's wayward shot into the net.