Home form a worry says Toon ace
DeANDRE YEDLIN claims Newcastle’s players are mystified by their poor home form.
Perhaps they should examine the teamsheet more closely.
The starting XI was the same one on duty countless times in the Championship last season.
Even Rafa Benitez didn’t realise it, though, until Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal pointed it out before kick-off.
“It tells everybody where we are,” he said after a seventh successive league game at St James’ Park without a win.
“I have been saying it all season. Some people say, ‘Ah, but you have to do this, you have to do that’.
“But it is the reality. We are in the Premier League with a lot of players giving everything but still, sometimes, it is not enough.”
Bumpy
Benitez will carry on trying to convince owner Mike Ashley that new signings are essential for Newcastle to guarantee survival.
Meanwhile, the dressing room already accepts that unless their home form improves, it could be a bumpy ride.
“I honestly don’t know the reason but we need to find a way to get wins here and quick,” said Yedlin, who at least halted the Magpies crashing to a sixth home defeat in seven with an injury-time clearance to deny Wilfried Bony with the goalkeeper beaten.
“It’s definitely two points dropped. In the first half, we had more than enough chances to kill the game and that’s why we’re disappointed.”
The table is so tight that had Newcastle followed up sub Joselu’s equaliser eight minutes from time with a second goal they would have climbed to 11th.
Joselu had responded to Jordan Ayew heading the visitors into the lead.
With tough trips to Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham approaching, Benitez is aware of the consequences if they don’t start winning on home soil.
“I said before the game that we had to win, we needed to win to have more confidence, but it was really crucial not to lose,” added the Spaniard.
“The positive thing is the attitude of these players, but we have to do a lot of things right if we are to win games.
“I think we can stay up if we continue working in this way but now the transfer window is open and we need help.”
While Newcastle – and the misfiring Dwight Gayle in particular – had chances to win comfortably, it was Swansea who were cursing their luck. Replays NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Darlow 6; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 6, Clark 6, Dummett 7; Shelvey 6 (Merino 82), Diame 6; Ritchie 5, PEREZ 7, Atsu 6; Gayle 5 (Joselu 64, 7). Subs: Elliot, Murphy, Hayden, Manquillo, Haidara. UP NEXT: Manchester City (a) Premier League, Saturday. SWANSEA (4-1-4-1): Fabianski 6; Van der Hoorn 6 (Roberts 65, 5), Bartley 7, Mawson 6, Olsson 5; KI 7; Dyer 6 (Narsingh 85), Clucas 6, Carroll 5, Ayew 6; McBurnie 5 (Bony 71). Subs: Fer, Nordfedlt, Fernandez, Mesa. UP NEXT: Wolves (h) FA Cup, Wednesday. Referee: Graham Scott 6. YOUR TURN: Who joined Newcastle from Swansea for £12m in January 2016? suggested they should have had a 37thminute penalty and the Magpies were reduced to 10 men when Mo Diame handled a Mike van der Hoorn shot that was going in.
“When you are lucky, everything comes true, but when you are unlucky, if the ball touches the hand, then the ref will not see it,” said Bony, who came on for the last 20 minutes.
“And we were unlucky again with that last chance I had.
“Look at Manchester City and how many times they score late goals but nothing is going for us.
“One point is not bad but we should have done better.”