Newcastle facing player backlash over lethal LuaLua loan

NEWCASTLE are facing a players' backlash over the decision to let on-loan Lomana LuaLua play and score against them for Portsmouth but manager Bobby Robson insists: "It was nothing to do with me."

Democratic Republic of Congo international LuaLua, a stg£2 million buy from Colchester two years ago, joined Pompey on loan last month and claimed a late equaliser at Fratton Park on Sunday.

His strike held Champions League-chasing Newcastle to yet another draw they have now drawn their last seven away games in the Premiership and defender Olivier Bernard said: "It was a wrong decision. He was always going to score and he killed us."