Owen teaches Reds a lesson in finishing

TWO chances, one goal is what makes Michael Owen an England cert in the Euro qualifiers.

He is not guaranteed a Premier League game on Saturday and that is what makes Newcastle a bit special in the game's top flight.

Owen's goal against Barnsley was bettered by Obafemi Martins, a substitute on the night. No wonder Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce came over all smug when he thought about his squad with striker specialists Owen, Martins, Shola Ameobi and Mark Viduka, who did not even pull on his boots last night.

"England have fewer options than me," was big Sam's claim.

Big talk but spot on when you think about it. Did not England last time out pair Owen with Alan Smith? That would be the same Alan Smith that Sam farms out on Newcastle's right wing.

Naturally Newcastle had too much for Barnsley. Especially as Simon Davey almost put the C team out in last night's Carling Cup second round showdown.

He made six changes from Saturday's squad. Only one was not forced on him.

Stephen Foster was cup-tied and Anderson de Silva did not have permission from Everton to play. Brian Howard, Istvan Ferenczi and Kayode Odejayi were not fit. Andy Johnson was rested, leaving Davey to make big changes as in came Martin Devaney, Grant McCann, Dwayne Mattis, Sam Togwell, Rohan Ricketts and Miguel Mostto. Five were strung across midfield in front of a back four, leaving Mostto alone in the lastthird.

Davey liked what he saw. "I was pleased with the performance, it is a proud dressing-room. We've come to a massive club and we've competed with them. A bit of world class finishing meant that we lost. The players can hold their heads up high."

He added: "We're happy with the way we played. Some of the boys have not played for quite a while and they got 90 minutes under their belt."

The first half followed the Barnsley game plan: give nothing to no-one, never. At that stage Newcastle could not help themselves. Inevitably though the whiff of a chance was Owen's in the 14th minute. Charles N'Zogbia was the architect of that. From 14 yards and at inside right the comeback striker hit it straight at keeper Heinz Muller. Bad news for England was the German had only to hold hands up to makethe stop.

Seven minutes later Muller punched out a corner and saw it returned with interest by Nolberto Salano. His hit from outside the box was finger-tipped wide by the keeper.

Barnsley even had a go for goal themselves. Rohan Ricketts hoisted one just three-quarters of a yard high from 25 yards away. Next thing and Newcastle keeper Shay Given had to make a save. Claudia Cacapa brought down Mattis and Werling wound himself up for 30 yardspecial. It was smack on target and Given flung himself right to get hands behind it.

Newcastle's answer was a couple of penalty shouts. Owen hit one into Rob Kozluk, Ameobi then cracked another one at Lewin Nyatanga.

Attendance: 30,523 Neither defender could get away and referee Graham Salisbury waved play on.

Muller saved from Geremi following a corner before Owen got a trademark goal, albeit his first at St James’s in two years. Ameobi directed the ball into his sprint path. He was gone from Nyatanga and Souza in a flash. Muller saw the shot from outside the six yard oblong, got a hand to it but only slowed its progress into the net.

Barnsley captain for the night Rob Kozluk plonked a cross-cum-shot onto the far post but that was as good as it got for Barnsley.

Newcastle improved big time with the arrival of Nicky Butt and it was his delivery that gave Martins his moment. He won a header, fed off it and cracked in a volley in. Barnsley defender Dominik Werling got a great view of both Newcastle strikes.

“For the two goals you saw a little bit of extra class. Owen was there at the right moment and Martins was very good for his goal although I thought it was an elbow which touched it.“

Davey, too, suspected handball. Not that it would have changed anything much.