FLAGGING? GET OUT OF TOON
Ritchie insists St James’ Park is still a happy home after getting his side out of jail with dramatic strike
NEWCASTLE 2 BOURNEMOUTH 2 MATT RITCHIE put a positive spin on Newcastle’s inconsistencies and mistakes – as he echoed the words of his boss Eddie Howe.
The corner flag-booting supersub had clawed back a point in stoppage time and pulled up a question about why the Toon had a problem at home.
“Steady on, it’s five wins in seven, isn’t it?” Ritchie asked. Actually, it’s four in their last seven – home and away – in all competitions, hardly a disaster.
But other Premier League stats show a malaise that Howe has yet to solve, and that includes the glaringly obvious one of Dan Burn being ruthlessly targeted by opponents using quick right wingers.
It’s three wins in 11 league games, taking 11 points, which is not top-seven form. Newcastle have also conceded at an alarming rate – 19 in their last seven league games – and it’s a trip to rampant Arsenal next on Saturday.
Ritchie said: “With the cup included, the form is fine. Yes, we’re not playing as well as we have done in the last two years but there’s no straight road in football. There are always ups and downs.
“It’s not going as perfectly as it had for the first 18 months, two years since the change of ownership.
“We’ve had challenges off the pitch, everyone knows. If you look at where we’re at, with the challenges we’ve had, it’s an absolute credit to all involved.”
This is true. Freak injuries and having no centre-forward has been damaging and unavoidable. What is avoidable is allowing opponents to rip down the left side and run at Burn, who only recently recovered from three broken bones in his back. Forest, Luton and now Antoine Semenyo have all cashed in.
Add in the fact Burn is usually hooked for Tino Livramento AFTER the damage is done – and Newcastle are committed to spend a mad £30m on loanee Chelsea left-back Lewis Hall in the summer, who can’t get near the pitch – and it’s all a bit confusing for Toon fans.
Ritchie sought to calm any panic. He said: “We have clear sight and a clear goal of what we want to achieve. That’s still within our reach, so we’ll continue to strive for that.
“We’ve got a fantastic group. I don’t say that lightly. This is an unbelievable football club only going in one direction.
“If we lost, confidence would be knocked. You have to respect a point in this league. For us, a point is massive because it keeps that momentum.” Boss Howe concedes the Toon are not at “full power” and says he is searching for defensive solutions.
He says a goal is never one person’s fault, adding: “I can watch it and usually see three or four errors.”
Martin Dubravka could have done better saving Semenyo’s shot (left), and also slipped to allow Dominic Solanke’s opener. Anthony Gordon’s home penalty split those two goals.
Ritchie hoofed the corner flag celebrating and joked: “I probably shouldn’t have celebrated like that! But emotion really took over.
“To give the lads something after watching them – and enjoying watching – from the bench for the last two years, playing a bit-part role, has been an absolute pleasure.”
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Dubravka 5; Trippier 6, Schar 5, Botman 5, Burn 3 (Livramento 71); Miley 7 (White 90), Guimaraes 6, Longstaff 6; Barnes 6 (Murphy 67, 4), Gordon 6, Almiron 5 (Ritchie 90)
BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Neto 6; A Smith 6, Zabarnyi 6, Senesi 6, Kelly 7; Christie 7, Cook 7; Semenyo 7 (Ouattara 78), Kluivert 7 (Scott 71), Tavernier 7; Solanke 7