Defence Blamed For Blackburn Defeat


By Matthew Jones
December 29 2003

Sir Bobby Robson has slammed his defence for the 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. Robson was understandably disappointed that referee Mark Halsey missed the fact that the goal was a handball, but more annoyed that his defenders had not dealt with the cross in the first place.

DEFENSE BLAMED FOR DEFEAT

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson has slammed his defence for the 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

Paul Gallagher bundled Brett Emerton's 72nd-minute cross past Shay Given with his arm to clinch a victory and Robson was understandably disappointed that referee Mark Halsey missed the offence - but more annoyed that his defenders had not dealt with the cross in the first place.

"We should have dealt with the cross," he said.

"We were muscled out on the cross. The referee has let us down in a way, but we still should have dealt with the cross.

"It is disappointing because we all knew that, had we won, we might have been fourth.

"We were fully aware of that. It was there for us - but we were not really good enough to get it.

"If you don't score you are not going to win a match - and we didn't score."

FULL REPORT

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