Feb 13th: Swansea...1 Toon...1
This was no fun to watch, at least not for the first three quarters of the match. Swansea were superior to us in the first quarter in every department, except, fortunately, in the final third where they couldn't create a meaningful shot on target, but they left us chasing shadows. Gradually their steam ran out and we came back into the game in the latter part of the first half, without ever looking as though we could be champions. The second half started like the first, painful to watch as Swansea pressed without threatening our goal, though eventually we did crack and frankly they should have scored a second. For that final quarter of the game we did start to pass and play with more determination, but were risking a fatal counter attack. Our effort was rewarded with a fine cross by Best, who looks still Second Best, and Wor Andy headed home an improbable header, that we didn't really deserve, but will gladly take. At least our defenders stood strong and must be credited with snuffing out Swansea's nice passing game, and it's thanks mostly to them that we are back at the top of the league!

To Match Reports for the earlier part of the 2009/10 season To Wolfie, another Dinosaur Team, our temporary replacements for one season To Dinosaurs Menu . . . . . . . . . . . August 8th 2009: West Brom... 1 Toon... 1 After the gloom off the field, it was great to see Chris Hughton's players put the doom aside and give a fighting performance. We dominated the play until the last 15 minutes and if Owen had been up front to take the chances... the score would have been the same! But if Owen had been up front showing his ManU form, we could have won. As it was, West Brom had the better chances and we have to thank our Supersub Krul for four fine saves that gave us the well deserved point, and some hope for the season. For the rest, Jonas flattered to deceive, Smith gave a gritty captain's performance, but the best sign was that man Krul who actually looked like he was enjoying it all August 15th: Toon...3 Reading...0 Best was the zest and determination which was so oddly lacking last season. The first half saw Jonas and Enrique dominating the left wing, the former had a couple of good chances while the latter finally sent in a peach of a cross for Ameb to head in. That is really his strength, though Monty still feels we need a quality striker if we are to challenge for honours. But at least the pre season gloom off the pitch has been dispelled by some fight on the pitch! The second half saw us grow in confidence as our youthful opposition seemed to run out of ideas and we looked strong promotion contenders on this showing- or were the team playing to impress As****, as his policy seems to be to sell anyone he can get a few (million) pounds for? August 19th: Toon...1 Sheff Wed...0 August 22nd: Palace...0 Toon...2 August 26th: Toon...4 Huddersfield...3 (Carling Cup) Good to welcome back Lee Clark (Monty can never say that of A*****) and his bruisers after the friendly punchup we had in pre season. Sadly Ash*** has disposed of one of the main protaganists in that scrap, Beye, sadly missed. Trailing 3-1, it looked as though Hughton's excellent policy of blooding some youngsters was going to backfire. But he was right to try, as our wafer thin squad of experienced players will surely need to call at some point on some of the second team. But it was a fine turn around after that, Wembley here we come! August 31st: Toon...1 Leicester...0 Let's be honest, Leicester were the better team in the first half, and only two fine saves from Harper kept us in the game. Mind you, we had a penalty claim turned down, and on a couple of occasions, quick incisive passing, almost on the break, gave promise of what was to come. But this was, when all said and done, a patched up team that did its very best but showed how thin our squad has become. All praise then to Ranger, who hadn't impressed in two subs appearances to date, who made all the difference with his hold up play and general determination. This was indeed shown by one an all, and a tactical switch in the second half nullified Leicester's main threat on the right wing and we ended up deserved victors. That goal game from a bullet by Guthrie, but it was down partly to yet another fine lay off by that man Ranger, who was ably supported by the more experienced Nolan. A***** in the stand had the nerve to attend, anyone buy him a drink? September 13th 2009: Cardiff...0 Toon...1 We made a forceful start, dominating possession and our incisive one touch passing impressed. After several corners, one finally paid off, as the much maligned Colo-chappy, he with the frizzy hair, lunged out a foot to keep possession, passing back to the wing and confidently heading home the returning cross. The gritty performance continued with everyone contributing, noone outstanding, though Cardiff gradually proved they were no mugs, and frankly only their weak finishing enabled us to collect all three points. The 4-5-1 formation certainly helped dominate play, and the midfield certainly got up in support of the lone Ranger, but we never really created another clear cut goal chance, but let's congratulate our team for proudly sitting on top of the table. Only 40 more games to go! September 16th: Blackpool...2 Toon...1 - the bubble has burst. But not for long... September 19th: Toon...3 Plymouth...1 You felt Plymouth might be whacked out after travelling the length of England and so Taylor (Steven of course) found when he was unopposed in the penalty area after a corner kick. Six minutes gone and we were already one up! But instead of crushing the weary travellers, our performance now resembled those lacklustre efforts of last season, and you couldn't dispute the visitor's equaliser. However the introduction of the lone Ranger changed all that and we just about deserved the lead. Wor Andy polished off the afternoon off with style, sending Plymouth away unhappy down the A1, M1, M5 and whatever September 22nd: Peterboro...2 Toon...0 (Carling Cup) Monty was going but was glad he didn't. OK, the Cup isn't our priority, but what we did learn tonight is that our backup players are not yet ready at this level. September 26th: Ipswich...0 Toon...4 In late summer twilight, two sets of fans united in tribute to Wor Bobby, before one were crushed and t'other jubilant. Toon started with slick precise passing and should in truth have opened up the home defence before the half hour mark. The Tractor Boys looked rusty and failed to mark Nolan on a set piece, and he headed strongly home. Nolan's second just two minutes on, was the best of the goals, an intelligent chip over the defence by Wor Carroll and Nolan ran on to cleverly shoot home. The third another two minutes on had us in raptures as R Taylor fulfilled his reputation (at last) as a free kick specialist. From then on the tractors seized up and we should have scored more. Nolan completed a fine hat trick (pity he couldn't have played like that last season) and only a couple of enforced defensive substitutions gave any encouragement to the home team. On loan Kish-something proved commendably adaptable in defence, and Ranger again showed promise, as did his replacement on loan Harewood. Only N-Rique made a couple of blunders, though he made up for these with some determined tackling and passing. OK Butt looked his age, but he hasn't played much. So- Top of the league again, Monty's gloom at the start of the season has been dispelled, though the sight of Ash*** on Wor Bobby's Day was enough to remind us that all is still not rosy in the garden, it still needs weedin. September 30th: Toon...1 QPR...1 With all our main rivals (the Zebras, the Smoggies and Preston NE) all losing yesterday, here was a great chance to go five points up in the Championship. Instead, we started as though we were back in the darkest days of last season, poor passing, little crossing, and typified by Guthrie's feeble penalty, which probably shouldn't have been awarded anyway. We did perk up on the half hour, and put in some crosses leading to shots by Guthrie, Wor Carroll and Ranger, but this were a first half to forget. Things improved with the Return of Jonas, then Harewood redeemed hisself with a fine equaliser, but Monty was left reflecting that mebbes we canna play during the week, as this is the third midweek match in a row without a win! October 3rd: Toon...0 Bristol City...0 October 17th: Forest...1 Toon...0 A game of two offside decisions. In the first half DB was marginally offside as he received a pass which he trickled pass Harper to score the only goal. In the second half Nolan may have been millimetres offside after a fine passing move and his 'goal' was completely crazily disallowed. In truth, in the frenetic first half it was only the excellent Harper who kept us in the game. But we seemed to have weathered Forest's initial storm and nullified their 5 man midfield when a short injury break seemed to galvanise the home team for renewed action, and our makeshift defence finally wilted, albeit even though the goal should have been struck off. I won't do a Fergie rant about refs, cos the whole offside rule is such a farce at trying to enforce. But the second half was nearly all Toon. We pushed forward and deserved that equaliser which was not allowed. We dominated them, and they gradually got pushed further and further back, and it was only a lack of firepower that stopped our fine team effort. I was going to say we needed an owen, but that's rubbish, we need a Big Al Shearer (well we have done for a year or more) and though Wor Carroll and the on loan Harewood showed plenty of physical strength, and guts, maybe a little guile and subtlety needed to be added to the blend. We deserved at least a draw. October 20th: Scunthorpe...2 Toon...1 Dark nights at Scunthorpe were always likely to be our nemesis- this is the awful reality of being out of the top flight October 24th: Toon...2 Doncaster...1 A goal down, penalty against, player sent off, this could have been our Waterloo, who said the age of miracles was past? This was a win we desperately needed, and scrapped for- but I still don't think Chris should get the job November 2nd: Sheffield Utd...0 Toon...1 Well this was Cockney Chris's first match in permanent charge, though Monty, despite Chris' loyal efforts for Toon, still regards him as temporary, until the dreaded A***** is defrocked. Yes, we're back at the top of the table, thanks to another gritty performance, with determined tackling, and most of all to three fine late saves by Harper. Most of the team impressed by their guts, though I would pick out specially N'Rique, whom I haven't always admired, who had several fine forward runs, and Wor Andy, who has the same ruthless spirit, in embryo, as Wor Al. The first half was mostly rearguard defence though we gained in confidence as it wore on, trying to hit the Blades on the brake. In fact, on a couple of occasions we cut through them like a knife etc etc. The second half started well with a more forward looking drive, and Wor Andy hit the post with a fine leaping header before we had a lucky but deserved deflected goal. The home team put some pressure late on, but it was good to see the team determined to hang on, I recall specially one fine clearance by Old Man Butt. Cockney's tactic of subbing first one forward, then a second, meant we had three or four forwards on the pitch, and 'twas only thanks to our great goalie that this strange policy didn't backfire November 7th: Toon...3 Peterborough...1 November 23rd: Preston...0 Toon...1 Though we started with promising passing and attack, Preston had taken control by half time and in truth it was only their poor finishing that kept us level. The difference in the second half was one flash from Nolan to net us the winner, but overall we played with determination and the occasional glimpse of real skill. A Premiership side would've slaughtered us, but let's get there first! November 28th: Toon...3 Swansea...0 December 5th: Toon...2 Watford...0 December 9th: Coventry... 0 Toon...2 First half the traffic was all one way as Toon had a succession of corners, and a succession of fluffed passes and shots. After so much pressure it was almost a shock when the Blues broke away and crashed a shot against the woodwork. But we took a deserved lead on the stroke of half time when the maligned Amoeba turned and got a nice goal. Coventry put more pressure on us in the second half, but we held firm and the impressive Ranger should have put the game beyond doubt. But he later made amends and got a fine first goal for Toon from the excellent Nrique's pass, two nil and the already half empty Ricoh Arena seemed fuller of Toon supporters than the sad lot for the home team. Apparently that ex-Toon gigaflop Owen scored a hat trick elsewhere, and it seems to me that we do still need a forward with experience- Harewood doesn't quite fit the bill as yet. But on the bright side, with all the talk of lack of goalies for England next summer, surely wor Harper must soon come into the reckoning? (I must however commend Krul, who had one great match for us, and remember that European night some years back in which he starred?- I hope he stays with us, like Wor Harper has done, so long the understudy, now the star goalie) December 12th: Barnsley...2 Toon...2 December 20th: Toon...2 Boro...0 Our defence looked solid again, and our left side always threatening with NRique busting a gut forward as well in support of the mercurial Jonas. Frankly this was a solid but unspectacular performance, we did just enough against Strachan's sloppy forwards and his erratic goalie Dec 26th: Sheff Wed...2 Toon...2 Wor Steven stated recently that Toon have more to give and on today's evidence, who could disagree? It looked as though the Christmas dinners had gone down the wrong way as The Owls stormed into a deserved lead. That seemed to awaken us, and the turkeys swept aside, Nolan headed powerfully home to equalise, then Amoebi turned nicely to put us into the lead, OK he had been offside but it was a good finish. From then on, we sat back and though we defended well, Butt the most impressive, we in no ways bossed the team as top o' the league. I wasn't sure if The Wednesday neutralised our usually excellent left side, but Cockney Chris was right to take off the usually excellent Jonas today. OK the ref evened things up with a goal for The Owls that should have been disallowed, but Harper kept up his claim for England by producing a point blank save to earn us one measly point against the team in the bottom three. No Christmas present today, but at least we are on target for the Premiership, and one nice bonus was seeing Wor Jack in the crowd. In Monty's view, he had been our best manager until Wor Kev turned up. Dec 28th: Toon...0 Derby...0 Monty enjoyed the first half as we bossed the game so well for long periods, the introduction of Ryan Taylor giving a better balance with play sometimes switching breathlessly between the wings as we completely outran the Rams. Only pity that RT hit the woodwork and then missed a sitter one on one with the goalie. The best save of the half was by Harper in a rare break away move. The second half was more scrappy and sadly Wor Steven missed a glorious header, highlighting the fact that we do need an established goalscorer- what a shame Martins left in the summer! Only a fine save prevented our victory, but in the end it was only two points over the Christmas period, but this match not for the want of trying FA Cup: Jan 2nd 2010: Plymouth...0 Toon...0 FA Cup: Jan 13th: Toon...3 Plymouth...0 Easy win over a feeble side, could've been even more emphatic- harder test to come v WBA Jan 18th: Toon... 2 WBA...2 This was exciting football, with two teams in good form. Perhaps we were rather daft to play to The Baggies' strength by allowing such an open game, and the return cup match at the Hawthorns ought to be a much tighter affair. We displayed some good tight ball control and excellent passing, but WBA more than matched us at first and really deserved to go ahead. However Guthrie's fine free kick drew us level, only for us again to lapse into a lower gear. However WBA scoring immediately after the restart woke us up and yet another fine move down the left resulted in a fine headed equaliser. You can see why Maradonna rates Jonas so highly, though his final ball and finish isn't perfect, yet he displays a great work rate, one that a few others could emulate. Not that there was anything to complain of in tonight's team effort, though I felt Amoeba should have been subbed earlier, and I would have liked to see Ranger given a go too. As it was, the main gripe was the referee who failed to award two clear cut penalties (to us, of course), and in my view WBA's second should have been disallowed for offside. PS Ashley showed up again, when will he ever do the decent thing? Jan 23rd: WBA... 4 Toon... only 2 Never turned up in the first half. Threatened to get back after the break, but an abysmal refereeing decision turned the game. Really disappointing, no consolation to be 'concentrating on the league' Jan 27th: Toon... 2 Palace...0 Jan 30th: Leicester...0 Toon...0 The biggest cheer was for adopted Geordie Wor Nobby, even though he were sadly wearing Lecicester blue. The match itself turned on the ref's correct decision to reduce the home team to ten men. It changed the game, for up to this half hour moment, Leicester had been harrying us and looked bound to score. True, we did start well, but once they had sorted out our long ball to Wor Carroll game, they took control. A man to the good, we should have broken them down, but at times it looked as though we were the side with only ten. The bright spots were our three new recruits, Williamson showed some good defensive qualities and Routledge some pace on the right wing which is an area we have been sadly lacking. However our senior men failed to play up for once, Nolan was ineffective as was Guthrie, and Butt looked just too weary. Even Harper made the odd blunder today. Cockney Chris did fail to put on Jonas, unless he was injured why did he not come on? All in all, we must have been glad to grab a point, but that was not Champions form. Mebbes we never have been, and it is only a miracle that we have done this well. (Signed) slightly dispirited Dinosaur Monty Feb 5th: Toon...5 Cardiff...1 An encouraging result against promotion rivals, with Cockney Chris' new recruits all lined up and eager to impress. Sadly we had failed to woo our main transfer target who was Moses, but at least we got one striker, let's hope he's not Second Best, but rather a Second Best to lead us to the promised land. Feb 9th: Derby...3 Toon...0 To Dinosaur Monty's page start To Dinosaurs Menu