Owls’ strikes ground atrocious defence
MAGS FAILED TO HEED THE WEDNESDAY WARNINGS
NEWCASTLE were hit by double trouble as they were bombed into submission at Hillsborough.
The last time they had lost away, in early January, Blackburn Rovers completed a humiliating double over them. Now three months on, it was Sheffield Wednesday’s turn.
The way United were beaten was criminal – from two set-pieces when they failed to do the basics and effectively mark up.
FOUR defenders were on Tom Lees at a free-kick, yet he was allowed to rise and head home on 58 minutes. Less than 10 minutes later, one-time Mackem Steven Fletcher headed a long throw-in past Karl Darlow when marked by Jamaal Lascelles with Mo Diame screening him at the front.
Two air raids, two goals, three points lost. Four markers on the first goal, two on the second. Rafa Benitez, who puts great store on sound defending, would not be pleased!
Yet it was not as though United had not been warned. They defended atrociously throughout.
With only one minute 56 seconds on the clock Paul Dummett, under absolutely no pressure, cleared straight to Gary Hooper inside the penalty area and he rattled the bar.
Then, after Fletcher had missed a sitter, Chancel Mbemba, unsure throughout, was beaten up the byline line by Hooper for Darlow to produce a great stop from Fletcher close in. Only 21 minutes had elapsed. United, boasting a good defensive record away, were searching for a record-breaking 14th win on the road but never looked likely to achieve it. Wednesday deserved their victory, just as they did at St James’ Park on Boxing Day. True, they ought to have been reduced to 10 men as early as the 18th minute when Barry Bannan received only a yellow card for crunching Matt Ritchie - but that was the only piece of good fortune they required. Jonjo Shelvey was United’s sole hope of a goal. He had hit the bar on the stroke of half-time with an audacious effort from inside his own half and, released to go forward with some success, notched what was only a consolation three minutes from time.
United finished a bad second in a two-horse race made even worse by the fact top scorer Dwight Gayle limped off, troubled yet again by his hamstring.
The second half of the season has been a nightmare for him.
The title is now Brighton’s to lose and although automatic promotion still looks assured this was not one of the Magpies’ brighter days. A swift return to form against Leeds is urgently required as Newcastle launch themselves into the final five matches of an arduous campaign.