A gutsy performance from Newcastle United – who played 80 minutes with 10 men – but a result that leaves us in huge trouble.
We looked much the better side in the opening stages, however were immediately facing a huge uphill task when Ciaran Clark was stupidly sent off for a blatant pull back on Teemu Pukki.
To our credit, we worked tirelessly and gave as good as we got, at times, against a pretty awful Norwich side who would’ve been there for the taking had it been 11 vs 11.
As some feared we’d sit off and settle for a point in what had been dubbed a must-win game, VAR handed us the chance to go 1-0 after Federico Fernandez’s effort was adjudged to have hit a Norwich hand.
Wilson stepped up and, despite a glancing touch from Tim Krul that left 50,000 inside St James’ Park holding their breath, the ball clipped the bar and tricked over the line. The Gallowgate went wild and suddenly we had a lead to protect.
We did well to keep Norwich at bay for the next 20 minutes, with Fernandez a man mountain at the back – proving why he should walk into this feeble NUFC defence – and Joelinton putting in a huge shift down the right-hand side.
However, with 81 minutes on the clock, Norwich found the late leveller we were all dreading.
Dubravka failed to hold on to an aimless cross hung up to the back post, the ball was fired back across the box and Pukki smashed a superb volley into the top left corner.
When we knew the importance of all three points and we were so close to pulling off what would’ve been an outstanding win in the circumstances, this one really hurt.
Saying that, it could’ve got worse had Dubravka not redeemed himself by making a brilliant late save to deny Lees-Melou – who burst through down the left after dispossessing Schar in an awful area.
There were a few bizarre boos at the full-time whistle. Maybe they were born out of sheer frustration at our current predicament and ongoing search for our first win of the season, but I find it baffling that anyone could have a pop at the players for the effort they put in tonight.
To make matters worse on an already difficult night, relegation rivals Leeds beat Crystal Palace via a 94th minute spot kick of their own to move eight clear of ourselves.
With the fixtures coming our way in December, some felt we had to beat both Norwich tonight AND Burnley on Saturday to stand a chance of staying up.
Four points from the two felt like the absolute minimum – if not a few points short of what we REALLY need – so let’s hope we put things right with a much needed win this weekend.
Failure to do so and it might be time to start preparing for the Championship come January. It’s not over until it’s over – and the lads showed plenty of fight out there – but things really will start looking desperate if we head into games against Leicester, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd without a win on the board.
A spirited effort from the lads and an equally good atmosphere tonight, yet individual errors continue to haunt us as our wait for win number one of the season goes on.
I wouldn’t care, we’d have won tonight with 11 men. What a sickener.
Got in from the match too late to comment When you see how well Fede organised the back line, how alert ha was, how calm he was distributing the ball always on the ground, then you have to ask why wasn’t he picked earlier. I don’t blame Howe because he’s not had the chance to see the players in games. He has probably had advice from Jones. Hope he will not take his advice in future. Another player ignored was Manquillo who had a very good game and although he is principally a defender he is actually faster than Murphy. I am happy that Howe said that Fede was magnificent and hopefully that is the last we will see of Clarke who has given loyal service but is no longer Premiership standard. Lewis also had a good game but Hayden when he came on was awful. We have to give Howe time and please no stupid booing when the players have given their all.
Groucho(Quote)
Agree with all that Groucho, especially the booing bit, no need, they gave their all and did well to salvage a point considering. Just hope they are not too tired mentally and physically for Burnley .
Fede needs to start, was excellent when he came on and Joe is thriving under Eddie, could do a job as DM as Sharpy pointed out until we can buy a proper one.
Have to win the next game, no ifs or buts, shame as of the two I thought last nights was the one we were most likely to win of the two and but for Clark I reckon we would of.
kimtoon(Quote)
What on earth was Clark doing? Ridiculous so early. Just let the keeper save it or go a goal down. It was staggering.
I think we can take some positives from it. Played more or less the entire game with 10 men and yet still got a point and looked the team trying to win.
Joelinton was fantastic. Maybe he’s a central midfielder!
I think we can safely say we need to win on Saturday.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stewie: JoeLinton was great, wasnt he!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
He (Joelinton) did sky a couple though. He was a good midfielder though. Where did this come from?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Jones more or less said that Fernandez was too good to put on the bench so he didn’t pick him at all. Have you ever heard such nonsense. I’ve heard of people being over qualified for a job but never heard of a footballer being too good to feature. Clearly Jones is not a good judge and I hope Howe will learn from it.
Groucho(Quote)
Apparently Shelvey has come out and defended Clark saying he would have done the same ?.
I immediately answered my own question ‘is he stupid?’.
Shelvey can go for me as well – let him go ‘ping’ a pass for someone else coz I’m bored of him as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We need a favour from Wolves tonight like – beat Burnley and give us a chance. Wolves already on 20 points (I didn’t see that happen ?) so they aren’t in it this season – I’m happy for them to win ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Our priority in January has to be CBs – but I don’t see us getting Tarkowski, I think Burnley keep him in a hope he helps keep them up.
Whilst I think we go for CBs, I did see today that Eddie Nketiah has refused to sign a new deal at Arsenal and could leave for free in the summer. I say we go get him in Jan before anyone else does. I think he’s good enough for PL and would certainly be good enough for the Championship if we went down.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Some odd results tonight so far.
kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa’s in trouble now. Everton fans walked out. I think their form is even worse than ours. 1 point in the last 6 games,
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Rafa has some canny players in that Everton team, so I’m surprised to see them doing so badly. Perhaps he’s lost his edge as a manager… I think he’ll get sacked soon.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well Eddie should have seen enough by now
Last night our back four looked better than the back three’s we have seen so far.
The Front three showed how well they can play against Brentford
The midfield three need to Stand up. I’m not convinced any have totally confirmed their place
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I agree and of the back 4, I think Lewis, Manq and Fede are in – I’m not convinced by Schar (but equally not sure on Lascelles – and the less said about Clark the better).
I’m not sure on the front 3 – Wilson & ASM obviously yes. But Joelinton looks better in a deeper role, in midfield breaking things up and moving the ball forward in transitions imo. I would play him left or right of a midfield 3 and put Murphy in that right attacking forward.
—————–— Dubravka —————-—
Manq — Schar — Fernandez — Lewis
— Willock — Shelvey — Joelinton —
Murphy —— Wilson ——— St. Max
I think Howe would probably pick Fraser ahead of Murphy, but I think Murphy offers more.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly has posted an article about players that may be available from the ‘top 6’ clubs.
I think we could buy Eddie Nketiah and Mo Elneny from Arsenal as their contracts are up in the summer. Elneny isnt the marquee signing we might want but he is a tidy midfielder who would do a good job and help us climb the table imo.
The other gooner I would maybe look to loan is Chambers – he’s a versatile defender and would give good cover off the bench imo.
Ake would be a good buy, but might have to wait til the summer for him (if we stay up).
I’d see if we could get Phillips from Liverpool but it would likely be a loan with an option to buy if we could get him at all. Same goes for Origi.
From Spurs, I rate Joe Rodon but think it would be dependant on if Conte wanted to keep him – also Davison Sanchez is out injured so highly unlikely. But I do think Winks could be a player we could get.
Dembele could be one to come in too I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Why do all ex-football players say “WITH NO DISRESPECT TO”…, and then show the player they are about to talk about no respect whatsoever?
For example.
They will say, with no disrespect to Jonjo Shelvey, I think he is a baldy slow championshio level player who is more interested in golf than football and his wife is far too pretty for him. But it’s about the money and lifestyle innit. Yes. NO DISRESPECT THOUGH.
After they just totally disrespected him!!!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
On a similar note the word ‘but’ in a sentence means everything I have just said is total Bllx.
as in ‘I think you’re a wonderful human BUT …’
PremAndUp(Quote)
Team? I think we go 4-3-2-1 but there are some selections that are difficlult to predict. Mainly, if Eddie brings Lascelles back in and which 3 of Hayden, Shelvey, Willock and Fraser play. I will give it a shot, and make a prediction.
Dubs
Manquillo Fernandez Schar Lewis
Hayden Shelvey Willock
Less-of-a-donkey-recently ASM
(but stop skying shots)
Wilson
Eric+Sykes(Quote)