Cunningham sent off as Newcastle win

BOBBY ROBSON felt for Birmingham defender Kenny Cunningham after the player was sent off in the Magpies’ 2-1 win over their Barclaycard Premiership rivals in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Cunningham was sent off for fouling Craig Bellamy with Alan Shearer tucking away the resulting penalty for the opening goal of the game.

Paul Devlin levelled the scores but Shola Ameobi's header earned Newcastle a place in the final of the FA Premier League Asia Cup against either Chelsea or Malaysia.

Robson sympathised with referee Rob Styles and Cunningham as he said afterwards: "Birmingham lost their centre-half and the referee, I suppose, had to apply the letter of the law. It was a penalty and he (Cunningham) was the last man.

"But in a game like this you think 'we've come all this way...could he perhaps have let him stay on. But it's tricky for the referee and he has to please everyone."

On the dismissal of Cunningham, Bruce continued: "We've come all this way to play 11 against 11 yes it was a penalty but it's common sense. In a pre-season friendly we're down to 10 men after 40 minutes.

Vladimir Smicer responded to the signing of Harry Kewell by scoring twice as Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 win over Thailand in Bangkok yesterday.

The Czech international's standing at Anfield is under threat following the signing of Kewell but he gave manager Gerard Houllier food for thought, albeit against inferior opposition.