Magpies lose on Owen return
Owen has played just 11 times since his move to St James Park in 2005
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Monday, 30, Apr 2007 10:07
Michael Owen's first appearance in ten months failed to inspire Newcastle as the Magpies went down 1-0 to Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.
A stunning second-half strike from David Kitson extended the Magpies' winless run to four matches.
On his first appearance under Magpies boss Glenn Roeder, Owen played the full 90 minutes and had the ball in the the net in the opening stages but it was ruled out for offside.
The result sees Steve Coppell's side climb to seventh spot in a Uefa Cup place while the Magpies languish in 12th place.
In an uninspired first half, both sides failed to make the most of their possession.
On seven minutes, Emre threaded the ball through to Owen who coolly finished only for the offside flag to go up.
The Royals' best chance of the half fell to Kevin Doyle on nine minutes but his shot deflected wide after goalkeeper Steve Harper made a hash of a clearance.
After a subdued period, the match sprang back into life on 35 minutes when James Milner's venomous 25-yard piledriver was deflected wide.
From the resulting corner, Obefemi Martins powered his header into the ground and over the bar.
The hosts made a perfect start to the second half when Seol Ki-Hyeon's cross found Kitson on the edge of the box and the striker drilled the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.
Roeder was forced into a substitution on 53 minutes - Antoine Sibierski forced off with an army injury to be replaced by Shola Ameobi for his first appearance since November.
But there was more injury woe for the visitors when Emre left the field on a stretcher after a strong challenge by Kitson.
Titus Bramble nearly capped off a nervy display by gifting Reading their second goal on 75 minutes after a suicidal backpass but the centre-back recovered to block Doyle's shot.
Martins should have equalised on 83 minutes but the Nigerian headed wide at the far post when unmarked.