Perez’s form is ideal response to those eager to criticise him
FANS MIGHT NOT LIKE HIM - BUT AYOZE IS KEY PART OF THE SIDE
TEN-MAN Newcastle United conceded a 94th-minute goal as they succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves.
The Magpies had recovered after conceding early to a Diogo Jota strike by equalising through Ayoze Perez.
However, a controversy-filled second half saw DeAndre Yedlin dismissed after he upended Jota, the American deemed to have prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Jota was involved in Wolves’ injury-time winner, too, as the forward’s fierce shot was only parried by Martin Dubravka into the path of Matt Doherty, who headed into an empty net to condemn Rafa Benitez’s side to a second straight home loss.
Here is what NUFC writer Chris
Waugh learned from a deflating defeat for the Magpies on Tyneside...
1. Perez answers his critics - and shows he remains important to this United side
It has been an up-and-down six weeks for Perez, who seems to go from matchwinner to the least-popular Magpie within the space of just a few days.
Last weekend, the Spaniard was applauded off the pitch by some supporters after he missed a series of excellent opportunities against West Ham United - and Perez then found himself dropped for the trip to Goodison Park.
Yet, following a decent cameo against Everton, Perez was restored to the starting XI against Wolves and he was part of an excellent front three alongside Christian Atsu and Salomon Rondon.
With Rondon occupying all three of the visitors’ centre-backs - during the opening 45 minutes in particular the Venezuelan was outstanding - Atsu and Perez repeatedly ghosted into gaps and the latter won a foul 22 yards out midway through the first half.
It was Rondon who stepped up to take the free-kick and the forward curled a magnificent effort which dipped viciously and cannoned off the underside of the bar and out.
Yet, rather than lament his near miss, Rondon ran out to the rightwing to collect a Wolves clearance before curling a lovely ball into the area for Perez to direct an unstoppable looping header over Rui Patricio and into the net.
Perez, just as he did against Watford, celebrated by running towards the side of the pitch and sticking his fingers into his ears, seemingly responding to the criticism he has received in recent weeks.
Given Perez has been directly involved in 16 Premier League goals since the start of last season - six more than the next Newcastle player - it is understandable he is
frustrated by the negative comments he regularly finds coming his way.
Without doubt the Spaniard needs to add greater consistency to his game and he has been in poor form for most of this season but he remains a valued member of Benitez’s first team - and the statistics suggest he warrants a starting berth.
2. Benitez’s tactics thwart Wolves - until United are reduced to 10 men
For the second match in succession, Rafa Benitez opted to field a three-man central defence - but the difference this time was he did so at St James’ Park.
In United’s past two away matches, the Spaniard has used such tactics but, aside from when playing against the so-called ‘Big Six’ over the last 18 months, he has never done so on Tyneside.
Yet, although Wolves are a newlypromoted side, they have spent serious money and boast Champions League experience within their squad.
As a result, Benitez opted to partly mirror the visitors’ system by deploying Matt Ritchie as a wingback and Ciaran Clark as a third centre-half, given Fabian Schar was serving a one-match suspension.
With Wolves normally playing with a three-man defence of their own, Benitez opted to partly mirror their system - and it made for a fascinating tactical battle.
Rondon, Perez and Atsu operated well as a front three while Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin overlapped well as wing-backs.
It was almost as if Benitez attempted to treat this match as if it was an away game - which is understandable, given Newcastle often appear better suited to playing on the road.
Aside from a shaky five-minute period after Wolves’ opener, Newcastle rarely looked troubled while they had 11 men - and it would be unsurprising if Benitez opts to use this formation again in matches against top-half sides in future.
It will not work against sides who travel to St James’ Park and sit off United but, when teams come to Tyneside with an ambition to attack, this formation could be something Benitez chooses to use again.
The sending-off changed the match and United eventually succumbed to a defeat - but this threeman defence is something which perhaps needs persevering with.
3. Mike Dean always courts controversy on Tyneside
Benitez’s tactical masterplan, which had been working pretty effectively, started to unravel at halftime - and had to be overhauled again just before the hour mark.
Javier Manquillo replaced Federico Fernandez at the break after the Argentine suffered a calf injury, a switch which saw Yedlin cover in at right-centreback.
The experiment, which saw the American fielded as a centre-back, appeared doomed from the start with Yedlin struggling positionally as soon as he moved there - and so it proved.
When Yedlin took a clumsy touch 25 yards out in the 58th minute, Jota pounced on the loose ball and flicked it round the United defender, who dragged him to the ground.
Without hesitation referee Mike Dean went to his back pocket, seemingly deciding Yedlin had denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity - even though Jamaal Lascelles appeared to be covering across.
It is debatable as to whether Lascelles was going to get there and if his covering run started after the initial offence, but Dean always seems to find himself at the centre of controversy whenever he referees Newcastle. Benitez certainly disagreed with the decision, too, seemingly gesturing towards the officials to consult VAR after the red card. However,, no matter whether the decision was correct, it was given, and as a result half-time substitute Manquillo then switched to right-centre-back instead - Perez moving back to wing-back. Later on, it was then Perez who was left incensed by Dean’s failure to award a spot-kick when Willy Boly’s flailing arm caught him square on the nose - and, but for a Dubravka save at the other end, Wolves would have taken the lead.
Again Benitez was left incensed but it is always the same whenever Dean referees Newcastle games, it appears.
4. A United home crowd are hit by suckerpunch of a late Wolves winner
It has been a testing time for Newcastle fans during Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club but supporters torn between continuing to support the team and railing against the regime have been perplexed as to where best to direct their anger.
The Magpie Group have protested opposite the club shop and outside of Sports Direct on Northumberland Street, while there was also a somewhat underwhelming 11th-minute walk-in during the 3-0 defeat to West Ham United last weekend.
Yet the largest and most high-profile demonstration was supposed to take place against Wolves, when there had been calls for a boycott for several weeks.
However, it was postponed in midweek, the Magpie Group explaining they wanted to allow Ashley every opportunity to complete a sale in the coming weeks.
For the fourth game in succession Ashley was absent from a Newcastle match - and he missed an extremely positive atmosphere at St James’ Park.
Well, it was positive until the controversial incidents of the second half, anyway. The noise levels were much improved on what they have been recently and the crowd was in excess of 50,000.
There were no anti-Ashley chants and there were no boos or ironic cheers directed towards Newcastle players this week, either.
Unfortunately, though, the 94thminute goal which Newcastle conceded ensured no United fan will remember this game with any fondness.
5. Newcastle’s home form is alarming
Although this defeat was harsh in many ways, the manner in which the Magpies lost this match will concern Benitez.
United did not manage the game well towards the end and they were caught on the counter-attack, which is criminal when you are down to 10 men.
This was Newcastle’s seventh loss in nine home Premier League matches this season and the Magpies’ form at St James’ Park is the reason they are still in relegation trouble.
If he could, Benitez would probably like to play all of Newcastle’s games on the road - but what he has to do instead is find a way for United to start picking up a greater number of points on Tyneside - and quickly.