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."

Craig Bellamy, who had put Newcastle ahead with his fourth goal in four starts after returning from a knee operation, said: "I don't know who made that decision to let Lua play but he's very talented and there's no doubt about what he would do. It is a big disappointment to see another two points disappear like that."

But Robson, already under fire for resting former England captain Alan Shearer in Thursday's 1-1 UEFA Cup draw at Valerenga, said: "It was a club decision and so I am not going to comment on it."

When Newcastle farmed out defender Nikos Dabizas on loan to Leicester earlier this season they asked for no loan transfer fee and kept him from playing against them on St. Stephen's Day.

But as Portsmouth paid a one-off stg£100,000 for LuaLua's loan as well as picking up a stg£350,000 wage bill, Newcastle allowed him to play on Sunday.

And now Robson's anguish is increasing with the likelihood that Kieron Dyer being out for at least a month with a torn hamstring but Jonathan Woodgate looks set to make his comeback tomorrow.

Southampton striker Kevin Phillips was yesterday fined stg£2,000 by the FA and warned over his future conduct after an incident with Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Phillips, who admitted the charge but requested a personal hearing, clashed with Lehmann at St Mary's on December 29 when Southampton were 1-0 losers.

After a late challenge from the former Sunderland star, Lehmann threw the ball at Phillips who responded by squaring up to the goalkeeper before several players intervened to separate the pair.