PLAYER RATINGS – Brentford 1-0 Newcastle: One 7, a 6, the odd 5 + several awful 3’s & 4’s

Another shocking display from Newcastle United as a second half strike from Josh Da Silva was all it took to send Brentford through to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup at our expense.

Here’s an assessment of each player’s performance along with ours marks out of 10:

Starting 11:

Darlow – 7 – He didn’t even have a great deal to do, yet he was probably the one NUFC player who didn’t let us down. Got down well to a close-range header in the second half and tipped wide Toney’s goal-bound shot in extra time. May be frustrated that he dived over the winning goal, but he’s the last player I’d blame for this defeat.

Yedlin – 4 – Didn’t offer an outlet at all going forward, failing to hurt Brentford with his undeniable pace. Should’ve done better for their goal, allowing Canos to get in behind him all too easily before his cross was smashed in by Da Silva.

Hayden – 5 – Let the cross that set up their winner come in all too easily, backing off Canos before he put it on a plate for Da Silva. Aside from that he did OK, although he struggled with Toney’s physicality when he came on.

Clark – 5 – One of few who looked prepared to put his head in where it hurts, with a few important clearances and brave blocks. That said, he gave the ball away moments before they hit the bar early on and his marking was questionable at times.

Lewis – 3 – Couldn’t live with their pace, power and trickery coming down their right, with Da Silva and Fosu skipping past him on several occasions. Once again, he looked timid going forward, weak in the challenge and a soft touch defensively. He was impressive for last season and on Liverpool’s radar at one point, but he appears to have been well and truly Bruced!

S Longstaff – 4 – Aside from one brilliant ball that put Murphy in behind, I’m really struggling to remember what else he contributed. Looked a yard off the pace, slow to react and wayward on the ball.

Shelvey – 3 – Played a lovely ball in behind after spotting Fraser’s infield run in the first-half, but that was the one and only moment of quality in a game any top midfielder would’ve grabbed by the scruff of the neck. Trudged around offering little other than hopeful long balls into the final third. When he possesses so much quality and was captaining the side in a cup quarter final, you expect MUCH more. Very poor.

Murphy – 4 – Threw plenty balls into the box, but his delivery let him down way too often and he rarely used his pace to good effect. Too many of his crosses hit the first man and he wanted too much time when he was put through on goal in the second half, eventually being eased off the ball.

Almiron – 3 – Played in his favoured position in a No 10 role but was anonymous throughout. Completed seven passes in the first half, never threatened the goal, failed to get anything going with Wilson, was eased off the ball too easily and was caught offside a few too many times.

Fraser – 6 – By no means a good display, but he was the only NUFC attacker on the pitch who almost made things happen. Very nearly set up Wilson with a clever low cross early on and stung the palms of the Brentford goalkeeper with a clever run infield and powerful strike. Drifted in and out of the game, yet did at least show glimpses of quality.

Wilson – 5 – Was feeding off scraps, with us regularly hanging in hopeful crosses or lumping it long to our isolated No 13, but he struggled to hold the ball up as well here and rarely threatened the goal – despite having a few decent chances fall to him!

SUBS:

Gayle – 4 – Really struggled to get into the game as we resorted to long ball tactics. Barely got a kick.

Joelinton – 5 – The ball rolled under his foot twice and his final ball was sometimes overhit, but he at least tried to drive us forward and run at them, picking up the ball on the half turn and carrying it forward well on the odd occasion. Set up Wilson with a cutting pass and beat a few men down the left, only for his final ball to be way over hit. A mixed bag but he offered more than most.

Carroll – 4 – Either offside, sloppy in possession or hoofing the ball into row z from 30 yards. Desperate.

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