JETRO FEAR OF TRAORE FAST SHOW
Sean avoids Matty flak and vows to return to his best
Dendoncker Almiron
SEAN LONGSTAFF knew he’d had a decent game as kid brother Matty didn’t give him a rollicking!
By his own admission, the Newcastle midfielder has struggled to maintain the lofty standards he set when he burst onto the scene 12 months ago – and Matty has let him know it.
But it was very different at Molineux with the spirit, energy and work-rate of the Longstaff brothers epitomising the rediscovered resilience in Toon ranks as Steve Bruce’s injuredravaged side halted a run of three straight league defeats.
“You cannot change what’s happened in the past,” said Sean, whose campaign has been disrupted by injuries and a red card against Wolves last October.
“The only way to look at it is to be positive and see it as an opportunity to prove myself all over again.
“I know the people close to me are pretty honest with us and luckily, I’ve got my brother next to me who’s one of the most honest of them all.
“He even walked into the dressing room and said, ‘Woah, you’re a bit different today,’ and then started laughing.
“He just said, ‘You’ve been better than you have been.’ I don’t know what mark he’d have given me.’”
It’s a year this week since Sean scored his first-ever goal for his hometown club in an FA Cup third round replay at Blackburn before raising his profile with a series of commanding midfield displays which helped haul the Magpies clear of the relegation zone.
The 22-year-old accepts he’s not been quite as good this term.
“Obviously the first half of the season was a bit disappointing personally,” he added.
“Getting injured and sent off, it was a bit stop-start but hopefully I’ve turned the corner.
“It was at this point last year when I came into the team and did pretty well.
“At Rochdale said to myself,
‘This is where last week,
I it all started back then so you’ve got to do the same again in the second half of this season.’ “And that was a start against Wolves – hopefully it’s something to build on.”
With Miguel Almiron full of confidence after scoring his third goal in six games and the defence more solid than it’s been for weeks, this was a result and performance Bruce (below) was well satisfied with despite a fresh spate of injuries.
Wolves would have won but for the heroics or Toon keeper Martin Dubravka. But despite Leander Dendoncker cancelling out Almiron’s opener, they couldn’t make their possession count. This was the sixth league game in a row they’ve conceded first and skipper Conor Coady said: “That’s something we need to get better at.
“We don’t want to have to keep relying on character to get back into game.”
WOLVES speedster Adama Traore is a tougher opponent than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to the latest defender to face him.
Newcastle defender Jetro Willems saw himself as a flying Dutchman until he experienced Traore’s scorching pace first hand.
“I like to think I am quite fast – at least I did before playing against him,” said the Toon wing-back. “That was something else.”
Willems actually coped manfully with Traore’s threat but admitted it was a gruelling 90 minutes.
“I’ve played against some very good players but no-one quite as fast as Traore (above),” he added.
“He’s unbelievable – definitely a beast, not only because he’s incredibly fast but so strong as well.
“In the Euros when the Netherlands faced Portugal, I played against Ronaldo. He is so skilful but sometimes it is easier than being up against an opponent with such pace.
“Traore is known as the fastest man in football and now I know that is true.”