Does it not show the sheer unpredictability and craziness of Newcastle United that even Sam Allardyce, who is renowned for organisation and keeping it tight, couldnt stop the side leaking three goals in the opening 11 minutes of a home clash with Portsmouth. Its frankly unheard of for the former Bolton boss to oversee a defence of such shambolic proportions, and he must have looked ashamedly embarrassed to witness the kamikaze that occurred in November 2007. Newcastle had been struggling under Allardyce during the preceding weeks but they hadnt been conceding a plethora of goals. He would have earmarked the home tie with the south-coast outfit as an attainable three points, but within 11 minutes, the afternoon was effectively over for 52,000 deflated supporters. Full-back Noe Pamarot hammered Portsmouth in front after eight minutes, before John Utaka barged past a weak Claudio Cacapa to double the south-coast sides advantage a minute later. If anybody had gotten to the bottom for three minutes, they might have missed all the goals, as Benjani Mwaruwari volleyed home a third two minutes later. Newcastle restored a bit of parity five minutes later when Pompey centre-half Sol Campbell diverted into his own net, but Niko Kranjcars free-kick midway through the second half laid the icing on the cake for Harry Redknapps entourage.
''I am devastated by what has happened here today. I am completely gutted inside. Portsmouth did not have to put us to the test because we gifted them the game in those 12 minutes. - Sam Allardyce, November 2007.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
