Jumping to the defence of Mbemba and Lascelles
STOPPERS BACK TO THEIR BEST - AND MITROVIC AND HAYDEN IMPRESS AS WELL
NEWCASTLE United’s advantage to third-placed Huddersfield Town has been cut to just eight points after Leeds United claimed a cruel late equaliser at St James’ Park and the race for the second automatic-promotion slot now looks set to go to the wire.
Here is what we learned from a cruel Good Friday evening on Tyneside... 1. THE CAPTAIN DELIVERS JUST AS HE PROMISED
In his pre-game programme notes, captain Jamaal Lascelles referred to this match as “probably the biggest game of the season” for Newcastle but predicted the “characters” in the dressing room would deliver.
It was interesting to see Rafa Benitez opt to continue with both Lascelles and Chancel Mbemba because they struggled badly at Hillsborough the previous weekend.
At St James’ Park against Leeds, the pair looked far more assured.
It was the skipper who popped up with the all-important goal in the 67th minute. 2. MITRO FINALLY DELIVERS
With Dwight Gayle sidelined following yet another hamstring injury, Benitez had to make a decision whether to start with the steady and reliable Daryl Murphy or the temperamental if talented Aleksandar Mitrovic.
In the end, the United boss opted for the latter – presumably impressed by the Serbian’s positive cameo off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
Four goals and three assists had arrived before the Leeds game in a relatively disappointing season on the whole - but Mitrovic did start this match well. From the very first minute the Serbia international was involved, putting himself about and running the channels.
Not only did Mitrovic’s all-round game appear to step up two levels for this match but his general demeanour and body language improved too.
Mitrovic very nearly got his goal too when he capitalised on a poor Luke Ayling header back and flicked the ball over Rob Green only for Pontus Jansson to make an excellent goalline clearance.
Then came Mitrovic’s very important assist for Lascelles’ goal and all round this was an encouraging display from him.
Let’s hope more is to come from Mitrovic yet... 3. WHAT A DIFFERENCE ISAAC HAYDEN MAKES
The 22-year-old had not been seen in a Newcastle XI since the start of February.
In fact, his last start came when Steve McClaren’s Derby County visited Tyneside.
What Hayden brings to this side is an intelligence in the middle which they have lacked at times.
The Magpies looked far more calm and reassured in possession than they have done in midfield for a while – Shelvey aside – and Hayden looked an upgrade on Mo Diame in terms of a central player who can break up play and then help start attacks. 4. DID THE REAL NEWCASTLE UNITED FINALLY STAND UP?
We have not seen a convincing display from this Magpies side at St James’ Park in a good few months – and when you first look at the cruel 1-1 scoreline you would not necessarily believe they dominated this match either.
Yet from the half-hour mark until the 95th minute the home side was excellent.
Mitrovic and Hayden made a real difference to the line-up while they were backed up by impressive displays from Matt Ritchie and Mbemba.
Newcastle created chance after chance during the second half and, but for wasteful finishing, excellent defending and brilliant goalkeeping, the scoreline could and should have been far more heavily weighted in the home side’s favour.
If they can replicate anything like this sort of form in their final four games promotion - and maybe still even the title - remains firmly within their reach. 5. INJURY-TIME CRUELLY COSTS NEWCASTLE
The Magpies not only needed to make a statement after last weekend’s meek display in South Yorkshire, they also played after both Brighton and Huddersfield Town had won their games - the latter claiming victory thanks to a questionable 96th-minute penalty.
A defeat could really have increased the anxiety levels on Tyneside over the Easter weekend and a draw has not helped.
Instead, Newcastle are now only eight points clear of the Terriers, who have a game in hand.
They are nearly there now - but it will be tight.