NEWCASTLE ................................................................... 0 Beach of a game for switched-off United
MATCH STATS
NEWCASTLE United looked like a team past their peak, beaten as they were by Championship-bound West Bromwich Albion.
Unlike the previous four home games at St James’ Park, there were no post-match celebrations as the Magpies deservedly lost to the side propping up the rest of the Premier League.
If evidence was needed that Rafa Benitez needs a decent transfer kitty to spend this summer, then this was probably it.
Any suggestion that too many of these United players already have their minds on the beach is probably justified, as they were frequently second to the ball and unable to convert a scattering of presentable chances.
Benitez has been concerned about the lack of experience in his team for some time now and, on a day which saw this lot needing to be cajoled through a winnable late season game, it was clear he should be trusted with the TV riches coming United’s way.
Before the game, Benitez had told his side there would be changes at Watford next week if they didn’t win against the Baggies.
Sadly, his players did not heed the warning as the Hawthorns outfit earned a 1-0 victory.
The game started in scrappy fashion with neither side managing a shot b e t w e e n them in the opening 10 minutes. West Brom’s James McClean – booed for long periods due to his association with Sunderland – had the first goal attempt of the afternoon but struck wide of the post after a run down the lefthand side. Newcastle took seven minutes to respond when the ball dropped to Gayle on the edge of the box but his left-footed effort was gath- ered by Ben Foster. Despite having the most of the po possession, Newcastle struggled to make the most of it. Matt Ritchie did pick out Jonjo Shelvey on the ed edge of the box but he blazed the ball h high into the Leazes End. Newcastle wer were punished for their sloppiness in fron front of goal on 29 minutes, when Jake Livermore played a through ball into the path of Matt Phillips who slamm slammed it past Martin Dubravka for a w well-taken goal. The Magpies could c have been level when Ayoze Pere Perez helped the ball on for Kenedy, but his shot clipped the outside of the po post and rolled to safety on 33 minutes. Newcastle look looked like a lack-lustre side for much of the first half, and a Gayle header that th was flicked wide summed up a po poor opening 45 minutes. But they perhaps p should have gone in level at the break when Shelvey’s co corner was knocked down by Flor Florian Lejeune for Gayle but his hea header crashed off the bar. The op opening exchanges of the secon second half also proved to be disappointing dis for the Magpi Magpies, with an early cross from Kenedy easily swep swept away by Craig Dawson. It resulted in Benitez mak making his first change of the afternoon.
Jacob Murphy came on after 58 8 minutes with the substitution also resultesulting in a tactical shift as Paul Dummett mmett was replaced, with Ritchie moving ing to the left to accommodate the ex-Norx-Norwich City winger.
Benitez made a second change ge six minutes later as Islam Slimani i was introduced at Gayle’s expense.
Newcastle struggled to create chances, and while Ritchie did look lively when United got him on the e ball, goalscoring opportunities were re in short supply.
With 16 minutes left, Diame triggered a shot at goal, but it was deflecteflected over and West Brom cleared their lines from the corner.
Slimani attempted an audacious acious volley from Ahmed Hegazi’s clearance, but it was woefully wide of the target on 76 minutes.
Chances dropped for Slimani then Jamaal Lascelles on 80 minutes but ut the visitors survived a rare Newcastle castle attack.
DeAndre Yedlin swung the ball all in from the right with five minutes tes to go but sub Joselu – who replaced Perez in the closing stages – headed wide. de.
Kenedy sent a shot off target with a couple of minutes left as Newcastle castle tried frantically to force an equaliser. iser.
It would be the last chance of an instantly forgettable afternoon at St James’.
Thank heavens the Magpies s are already safe as this was pretty dire. e.