To say Allan Saint-Maximin is an important player in this NUFC side would be an understatement.
The explosive Frenchman saved Bruce’s bacon in extra time last night, smashing home from range after bursting past two in yellow, but his influence even when not scoring (or assisting) is quite clear.
We’ve taken 24 points from a possible 36 when he’s been in Bruce’s side from the off – yet gathered just 7 points from a possible 39 when he’s been injured or on the bench.
Here’s the stats, comparing our results (and goals for and against) when he starts vs when he doesn’t:
NUFC results when ASM does NOT start
Played 13 – Won 1 – Drawn 4 – Lost 8 – Goals for: 9 – Goals against: 26
- L: Arsenal 0-1
- L: Norwich 1-3
- D: Watford 1-1
- L: Liverpool 1-3
- D: Brighton 0-0
- L: Leicester 0-5
- L: Burnley 0-1
- W: Palace 1-0
- L: Man Utd 1-4
- L: Everton 1-2
- L: Leicester 0-3
- D: Wolves 1-1
- D: Everton: 2-2
NUFC results when ASM does start
Played 12 – Won 7 – Drawn 3 – Lost 2 – Goals for: 15 – Goals against: 10
- W: Spurs 1-0
- W: Man Utd 1-0
- L: Chelsea 0-1
- D: Wolves 1-1
- W: West Ham 3-2
- W: Bournemouth 2-1
- L: Aston Villa 2-0
- D: Man City 2-2
- W: Sheffield Utd 2-0
- W: Southampton 2-1
- W: Chelsea 1-0
- D: Norwich 0-0
So, as the above stats highlight, we win more, lose less, score more and concede less when the Frenchman starts.
He can be erratic and greedy or pick the wrong pass when he does eventually release the ball, but the stats above show just how much of a different team we are with him in it.
After two separate hamstring injuries have hampered his Newcastle career so far, let’s hope he can now stay fit and continue to have match winning moments like last night’s.
