BLUES BATTER UNITED IN SJP HORROR SHOW
Things we learned from Newcastle’s defeat
NEWCASTLE United were fortunate to only suffer a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea following a passive display from the Magpies at St James’ Park.
Federico Fernandez put through his own net on 10 minutes and, having spurned a host of chances, the visitors finally doubled their lead through Tammy Abraham midway through the second half.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
CALL THAT A RESPONSE AFTER SOUTHAMPTON?
Frank Lampard felt Chelsea had a ‘lot of challenges’ ahead of the early kick-off with so many of the club’s internationals only returning to training on Thursday.
However, the visitors soon found their rhythm and passive Newcastle simply stood off and did not get in Chelsea’s faces. Newcastle were so rigid and considering the amount of time the Magpies had to work on a game plan over the international break, it seemed the black-andwhites just intended to stay in the match as long as possible in the hope of landing a late sucker punch like Isaac Hayden did in the corresponding fixture last season.
It is one thing setting up with a back five and intending to be difficult to break down with two banks behind the ball; it is quite another actually being hard to beat.
At the other end of the field, too, just like in the defeat against Manchester United, there was an opposing defence there to be got at but Newcastle did not ask enough questions in the final third.
KARL DARLOW IS NOT BEING PROTECTED
It is rare a goalkeeper emerges with some credit after a 2-0 defeat but where would Newcastle be this season but for Karl Darlow? How many times have we said it this season?
That the Magpies’ shot-stopper has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League is not a badge of honour; Darlow has simply been too busy and not been protected enough.
This defeat brought back memories of Newcastle’s tussle against Spurs back in September. Whereas the Magpies got out of jail on that occasion, following a late penalty, Bruce’s side were not so fortunate this time.
Indeed, had it not been for Darlow, it could have been even worse. With just nine minutes on the clock, the 30-year-old had already made two big saves to keep out Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham.
Had it not been for Darolow it could have been worse. With just nine minutes on the clock, the 30-year-old had already made two big saves
ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN SUBSTITUTION SAID IT ALL
With a quarter of an hour to go, Steve Bruce made his final change and threw on Andy Carroll. While on paper that was a positive change, tellingly, the Newcastle head coach left his three centre-backs on the field and instead substituted talisman Allan Saint-maximin.
Saint-maximin was often starved off the ball against Chelsea, and again struggled to really influence this game, but he is arguably the one Newcastle player who can create something out of nothing.
Rather than seeing out the game, Saint-maximin was taken off – perhaps with one eye on the trip to Crystal Palace on Friday – and it felt like damage limitation to a degree.
Yet, it said it all that despite Newcastle sticking with a back five, Chelsea still had so many chances in the final 15 minutes of the game to find a third goal.
CALLUM WILSON WILL BE RELIED UPON
For the first time this season, Newcastle lined up in the Premier League without Callum Wilson and how the Magpies missed the striker’s nous, instincts and presence in the final third. If there is one player who can feed off scraps, it’s Wilson.
Wilson suffered a hamstring injury at Southampton and while he had returned to training earlier this week, the 30-year-old was not risked and was not even named on the bench.
The summer signing has been directly involved in 70% of Newcastle’s league goals this season but with nine games to come in the space of just 36 days, clearly, Bruce saw the bigger picture.
Without Wilson in the side, Ciaran Clark was Newcastle’s next best alltime goalscorer with seven Premier
League goals for the club and it showed.
Wilson’s replacement, Joelinton, had a decent opening from the edge of the area on the hour mark but the Brazilian failed to hit the target.
A SEASON-DEFINING RUN OF GAMES TO COME
Newcastle picked up important wins against Spurs and Manchester United last year but what will ultimately decide the Magpies’ fate this season is how they fare against those teams outside the traditional six.
Bruce’s side will face Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Brom and Fulham in the space of just 22 days before a trip to Brentford to contest a Carabao Cup quarterfinal.
After suffering back to back defeats for the first time this season, Bruce can ill-afford a lengthy winless run and further poor performances. Even if the supporters are not inside the stadiums.