Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair, Taggart, Savage, Gilchrist, Elliott, Izzet (Campbell, 32), Zagorakis, Eadie, Heskey, Cottee (Thomas, 60).

Subs not used: Gunnlaugsson, Arphexad, Fenton.

Booked: Taggart, Savage.

Newcastle: Harper, Barton, Marcelino, Dabizas, Pistone, Speed, Solano, Gallacher, Lee, Shearer, Ferguson.

Subs not used: Given, Ketsbaia, Glass, Hughes, Antunes.

Attendance: 21,225.

Referee: P Durkin

Newcastle United v Leicester City Tuesday 28th December, 1999

Leicester (0) 1               Newcastle (1) 2 FT
Zagorakis 83 Ferguson 21
        Shearer 53

Geordies Have A Chew On City's Bare Bones

Peter Gilbert 28.12.99

So we go into the end of this millennium, this century, this decade and this year in 7th place in the toughest league in the world, still in the most famous cup competition in the world and odds on favourites to win the League Cup.  Not bad really especially when you walk back to your car in the freezing December air with disgruntled City fans whinging about this afternoon's performance and even questioning the competence of our manager.   A funny lot football supporters.
We lost this game but let's try and be logical.   We had a makeshift side out, we could have had a penalty in the first minute, good efforts on goal fell into their 'keepers hands and we had a referee who appeared to have a clause in his contract which ensured that he had to consult with A. Shearer before he made any decision in our favour.   If you combine that with an enormous lumbering 'off duty' policeman for a linesman who gave such obscure and ridiculous decisions against us, that he was nearly attacked by an incensed fan in a wheelchair ( this is quite true and not some sort of sick joke, on my part that is), then you would have to say that we did well to complete the game with only a one goal deficit.

We started brightly with Eadie having a snap shot 'saved' by Harper in the toon goal, I say saved but as the ball flew goalwards it hit the flailing arm and flew wide. From the corner Izzett collected the ball and was smeared down but P.Durkin the ref  (aka A.Shearer's long lost uncle) just put his hands behind his back.
So it was the boys who looked like sticks of rock who scored first, Nolberto Solano fed the ball to Shearer who fouled Gilchrist and crossed to an offside Ferguson but neither aforementioned linesman nor ref. spotted it and so we went one down.

There was another farcical incident shortly afterwards when Shearer was so blatantly offside even the linesman saw it. All players stopped it was so obvious, but A. Shearer knew otherwise and bore down on goal. Luckily Flowers was aware of what was going on and he watched the ball round the post for ( yes you guessed it) a corner.
At half time Steve Guppy and Neil Lennon drew the raffle. Lennon was roundly booed by the Geordies as they obviously recalled the time when he 'head butted' Shearer's boot just before the world cup.
The second half started in lively fashion but Utd went two up when Solano won a 50/50 ball on the half way line. He fed Shearer, and Flowers carrying a knee injury was a little slow off his line.
They hit the bar and the woodwork before we pulled one back from a Zagorakis free kick and in the final 10 mins. we besieged them and their goal mouth which was obviously presided over by The Angel of the North , so lucky were they to escape a severe drubbing.

If one was to find fault with City's performance; the following points could be made:
i)Our keeper didn't look quite fit enough.
ii)Our defenders, defended well but their ability to pass the ball out of defensive situations was below the required standard.
iii) Midfield lacked bite, ingenuity, possession and simple ball passing skills.
iv) Our attackers looked tired and when chances came along they behaved like punch drunk boxers.

Young Danny Thomas came on and looked lively wide on the left but he's so young and this was a day when our lack of genuine premiership players let us down. The writing was on the wall when Izzett went off injured with a calf strain. It remains unclear why MON doesn't bring on Fenton and Gunnlaugsson, if these two players are 'out of favour' or not up to it (which is no more than the truth) then we should part company with them, except we've got no-one else to replace them at present.( Oh yeah never thought of that)
I'm really looking forward to the return of Lennon, Guppy, Izzett,Impey,Marshall. I would also like to know;Where is Rob Ullathorne?

Things can only get better.

Happy New Year -New Decade -New Century-New Millennium to all true blue Leicester City Fans. That excludes anyone who finds themselves moaning the year to conclusion.