Allardyce: international duty caused Rams defeat

NEWCASTLE manager Sam Allardyce believes his Newcastle side were reeling from the effects of a wearying international week when they lost to Derby on Monday night — but admits he used to take advantage of similar situations at Bolton.

The Magpies boss saw the majority of his first team squad link up with their national teams during the past fortnight and they put in a noticeably jaded performance against a team who battled hard for every ball and scored the only goal of the game through Kenny Miller.

Miller, who missed Scotland’s famous 1-0 win over France as he worked his way back from a hamstring strain, was one Derby player who did not have international commitments and his performance was comfortably better than Newcastle’s Michael Owen.

Owen, on the other hand, shone for England in their vital Euro 2008 qualifiers, scoring three goals in two games.

At Pride Park he lasted less than an hour, contributing little before being substituted as a precaution over a tight groin.

Allardyce, who does not believe the 27-year-old will miss United’s meeting with West Ham on Sunday, believes there could be a link.

“We’ve had 14 players on international duty over the last two weeks and they have not performed as they did before they went away,” he added.

“Unfortunately, having just a few days back with them since Friday probably ended us, I think.

“Judging by some of our players’ performances (against Derby) compared to what we’ve done to the other four teams we’ve played, I think that’s the case.’’

Although Derby did see a clutch of players represent their countries — including several of Miller’s Scotland team-mates and the likes of Claude Davis and Benny Feilhaber – Allardyce believes the Rams benefited from less disruption to their routine.

“If you’ve got two weeks to work at getting better and coping with the Premier League that makes it better,” he said.

“I used to seek that advantage when I was at Bolton when bigger teams came to play us and it works well.”

He added: “The performance was always going to be scrappy against Derby because they were going to be fired up after waiting two weeks for this game after the Liverpool result.

“We think we should have had a penalty when Dean Leacock hauled down David Rozehnal on the corner of the penalty area. The ref doesn’t give it and they kick it up the other end and we lose to a wonder goal.

“There’s nothing you can do when someone strikes a ball like that and it goes in the top corner.”

Allardyce also criticised Rafael Benitez’s tenure at Anfield, suggesting the Spaniard would have been “very lucky to be in a job” if he had not reached two Champions League finals.

Allardyce insists Benitez places too much emphasis on European competition instead of launching a sustained bid for the Barclays Premier League title – but believes his success on the Continent could have saved his job.

Liverpool have finished fifth, third and third domestically under Benitez as well as winning the European Cup in 2005 and reaching the final last season.

Allardyce said: “Rafa would be very lucky to be in a job if he hadn’t got to two Champions League finals, because they have had some very, very poor finishes poor finishes in the Premier League.

“While they are a very good Champions League team, they are not a Premier League-winning team yet.

“They don’t have that mentality to win that yet.

“Being a foreigner, Rafa doesn’t understand it’s supposed to be Premier League first and Champions League second.”