Dean Ashton Sent Toon Packing In Last Minute

Last updated : 06 December 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

2004/5 Norwich 2 Newcastle 1

NORWICH: Green, Helveg, Fleming, Shackell, Drury, Bentley (Holt 89), Safri, Francis, Huckerby (Jonson 45), McKenzie (Svensson 82), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Edworthy, Ward.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Andrew O'Brien, Elliott, Milner (Ambrose 63), Butt, N'Zogbia, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi (Kluivert 76).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ramage.

Att: 25,503

Norwich's record signing Dean Ashton netted what could prove to be a priceless injury-time winner to beat Newcastle and keep alive his side's hopes of staying in the Barclays Premiership.

Substitute Patrick Kluivert looked to have denied the hosts when his last-minute goal cancelled out a stunning 35-yard strike from Youssef Safri midway through the second half.

However, Norwich - who remain bottom of the table, but now two points behind 17th-placed West Brom - threw everything forward and Ashton headed in Thomas Helveg's cross to condemn Newcastle to a fourth straight defeat.

The visitors, though, had been inches away from taking an early lead after just six minutes.

Jean Alain Boumsong's long ball into the box was missed by Norwich defenders Jason Shackell and Craig Fleming, allowing Alan Shearer to collect and turn at the near post, before drilling a low effort right across goal and only just wide.

In the 15th minute, Darren Huckerby swung over a teasing cross along the six-yard line, which just eluded McKenzie.

After 21 minutes, there was an horrendous miss from former England captain Shearer.

Laurent Robert's free-kick from the right was swept goalwards, with the ball bouncing right through to Robert Green.

The Norwich goalkeeper then inexplicably fumbled on his line, and the loose ball was dropped at Shearer's feet, no more than a yard out - but somehow the Newcastle skipper stabbed it wide with his left foot.

After 30 minutes, though, David Bentley finally managed a decent cross into the danger area from the right, but it was just too high for Ashton to steer on target at the back post.

Shearer got much better contact on a 20-yard drive a couple of minutes later, but Green was able to beat the effort clear.

In the 34th minute, Newcastle looked to have a clear penalty turned down when Norwich full-back Adam Drury brought down James Milner as he slid in to make a challenge on the byline.

Referee Andre Marriner was, though, unimpressed - along with his assistant only yards away from the incident down the right channel.

It was all Newcastle now, and only a fine reaction save from Green prevented Robert firing them ahead with his first-time effort, coming in at the back post from Stephen Carr's deep right-wing cross.

The Frenchman was then unable to slot home the rebound off the goalkeeper's legs, sending the ball high into the crowd behind the goal.

In first-half stoppage time, Shay Given managed to get just enough on Francis' back-post header to keep the ball out.

Norwich made a change at the restart, Huckerby - who had not been running freely - was replaced by Sweden winger Mattias Jonson.

After 55 minutes, a deep free-kick from the left into the Newcastle six-yard box caused all sorts of problems as Ashton out-jumped Andy O'Brien at the back post, with Francis eventually sending his half-volley over the bar as the ball dropped awkwardly for him on the penalty spot.

As the hour-mark approached, Robert twisted his way into the left side of the Norwich penalty area, before a low centre across the six-yard box was guided just the wrong side of the near post by Shola Ameobi.

A fine move between Helveg and Bentley down the right then resulted in the on-loan Arsenal midfielder chipping a perfectly-weighted, angled ball into the penalty box, where Francis got his timing all wrong and sent a poor header well off-target.

Norwich knew only a win would realistically keep their slim hopes of survival alive - and the home side took a crucial lead with a stunning 35-yard strike from Safri in the 68th minute.

There appeared no danger when Drury slid the ball sideways to the Moroccan just inside the Newcastle half.

The midfielder, though, took one touch before firing an unstoppable drive past Given right into the top corner, hitting the bottom of the bar, for his first Premiership goal.

Dutch international Kluivert, on for Ameobi, looked to have rescued a point for the visitors when he pounced on a loose ball in the box to send a low drive past Green's right-hand.

Norwich were not to be denied, though, as Helveg sent over a last-gasp cross into the Newcastle box, which Ashton got up between two defenders to head in a dramatic winner.

CANARIES v TOON - THE HISTORY

2004/2005     Wed 20 Apr     Norwich City     2 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Premiership  
    Wed 27 Oct     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 1     Norwich City     League Cup  
    Wed 25 Aug     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 2     Norwich City     Premiership  
1994/1995     Sat 08 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     3 - 0     Norwich City     Premiership  
    Sat 31 Dec     Norwich City     2 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Premiership  
1993/1994     Tue 29 Mar     Newcastle Utd.     3 - 0     Norwich City     Premiership  
    Tue 04 Jan     Norwich City     1 - 2     Newcastle Utd.     Premiership  
1988/1989     Sat 25 Mar     Norwich City     0 - 2     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
    Sat 17 Sep     Newcastle Utd.     0 - 2     Norwich City     First Division  
1987/1988     Sat 13 Feb     Newcastle Utd.     1 - 3     Norwich City     First Division  
    Tue 01 Sep     Norwich City     1 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
1986/1987     Wed 08 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     4 - 1     Norwich City     First Division  
    Sat 27 Sep     Norwich City     2 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
1984/1985     Sat 11 May     Norwich City     0 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
    Sat 15 Dec     Newcastle Utd.     1 - 1     Norwich City     First Division  
1981/1982     Sat 30 Jan     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 1     Norwich City     Second Division  
    Sat 19 Sep     Norwich City     2 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
1977/1978     Wed 26 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 2     Norwich City     First Division  
    Wed 05 Oct     Norwich City     2 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
1976/1977     Sat 12 Mar     Newcastle Utd.     5 - 1     Norwich City     First Division  
    Sat 02 Oct     Norwich City     3 - 2     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
1975/1976     Sat 22 Nov     Norwich City     1 - 2     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
    Sat 18 Oct     Newcastle Utd.     5 - 2     Norwich City     First Division  
1973/1974     Wed 17 Apr     Norwich City     1 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
    Mon 15 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     0 - 0     Norwich City     First Division  
1972/1973     Sat 24 Feb     Norwich City     0 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     First Division  
    Sat 07 Oct     Newcastle Utd.     3 - 1     Norwich City     First Division  
1964/1965     Sat 13 Mar     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 0     Norwich City     Second Division  
    Sat 31 Oct     Norwich City     1 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
1963/1964     Sat 25 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 0     Norwich City     Second Division  
    Sat 02 Nov     Norwich City     3 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
1962/1963     Sat 04 May     Norwich City     1 - 2     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Wed 13 Mar     Norwich City     5 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     F.A. Cup  
    Sat 22 Sep     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 1     Norwich City     Second Division  
1961/1962     Sat 24 Mar     Norwich City     0 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Sat 04 Nov     Newcastle Utd.     0 - 0     Norwich City     Second Division  
1938/1939     Thu 16 Mar     Norwich City     1 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Tue 27 Dec     Newcastle Utd.     4 - 0     Norwich City     Second Division  
1937/1938     Mon 18 Apr     Norwich City     1 - 1     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Fri 15 Apr     Newcastle Utd.     0 - 1     Norwich City     Second Division  
1936/1937     Mon 28 Dec     Norwich City     1 - 5     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Fri 25 Dec     Newcastle Utd.     0 - 1     Norwich City     Second Division  
1935/1936     Sat 29 Feb     Newcastle Utd.     1 - 1     Norwich City     Second Division  
    Sat 07 Dec     Norwich City     1 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
1934/1935     Sat 09 Feb     Norwich City     2 - 0     Newcastle Utd.     Second Division  
    Sat 29 Sep     Newcastle Utd.     2 - 0     Norwich City     Second Division