Champions League football will return to St James’ Park next season, as Newcastle secured a top-four finish thanks to last night’s 0-0 draw with Leicester. What a remarkable job Howe has done on Tyneside this season.
Nick Pope – 7 – Had absolutely nothing to do all evening other than a huge save in the dying embers to get us over line, reacting brilliantly to stop Castagne’s goal-bound effort.
Kieran Trippier – 8.5* – A quality performance down the right hand side again. Completely bossed the game in possession and his set piece delivery was absolutely superb all evening, leaving him unlucky not to get an assist. Made 112 passes in the game, three of them key and played 16 accurate long balls. What a signing Trippier has been for the Magpies, who was seen calming his teammates down with around five minutes to go as he knew we only needed a point. A true leader.
Fabian Schar – 8 – Really solid defensively, reading the game well and stopping Leicester counter attacks. Was a bit wasteful in possession at times and took too many long shots from goal that came to nothing. Won everything in the air (10 aerial duels won) and was first to so many loose balls as the visitors looked to get out. Made one vital interception to step Tielemans slipping Barnes in.
Sven Botman – 8 – Dominating performance from the Dutch giant, dictating play and out muscling the Leicester forwards on many occasions. Didn’t give Vardy a kick all night. Another Rolls-Royce performance from the big man, who makes it look easy at times.
Dan Burn – 6 – Struggled to pose a threat in the final third, but won a great duel with Iversen that nearly led to a goal for Wilson in the first half. Saw a lot of the ball but never really looked like creating a chance.
Sean Longstaff – 7.5 – So refreshing to see him back in the starting line-up. We looked a lot more fluid in possession with him in the side, especially in the first half moving the ball quickly through the thirds into the attacking positions. Linked up well with Miggy down the right but never really affected the game too much in the attacking third. Great to see him back from injury – an integral part of the side who gets through so much work on and off the ball.
Bruno Guimaraes – 7 – A very, very lucky boy not to be sent off in the first half in my opinion for a high challenge on Soumare. Saw lots of the ball completing 99 successful passes, a lot of them in Leicester’s half. Probed and tried to make penetrative passes but Leicester defended well and stifled him effectively. Some nice link up play with Longstaff and Almiron, but should’ve scored with a header at the back post in the second half, just couldn’t make contact – in fear of smashing the post, perhaps?!
Elliot Anderson – 7 – A late call as Joelinton suffered an injury in the warmup. Was lively in the first half, linking up with Isak, keeping the ball moving and making himself available. Sometimes failed to get his cross into the box on a few opportunities and looks like a player still finding his preferred position, but he didn’t look out of place at Premier League level and did well to step in at short notice. Faded as the game went after working so hard in the first 45.
Miguel Almiron – 6 – Really lively in the first half down the right hand side, causing Leicester all sorts of problems, but his final ball was lacking quality in the decisive moments. Was unlucky to hit the post, but blazed a couple of decent chances over. Really unlucky not to score in the first half striking the post with a solid left footed effort inside the box. Willing runner, just didn’t have his shooting boots on sometimes looked too predictable against Leicester’s low block.
Alexander Isak – 6 – For me, he isn’t quite the same player on the left wing and seems to be lacking ideas other than dribbling inside. Got a few shots off after cutting inside from the left but they were way off target. Struggled to get into the game in the second half and was subsequently moved centrally where he looked a little more dangerous. Booked for a bad foul on Castagne to stop a first half counter.
Callum Wilson – 6 – Didn’t really have a sniff other than a close range header in the first half and effort Ndidi clear off the line. Lacked service from his team mates, who struggled to find him in space due to Leicester’s low block. Not his best showing and was subbed just after the hour mark for Saint-Maximin, but what a season he’s had.
Substitutes:
Allan Saint-Maximin – 6 – Enjoyed bits of interplay with Burn and Isak down the left and perhaps should’ve been brought on sooner, as the game was crying out for someone to beat a man and produce a bit of magic.
Jacob Murphy – N/A – Didn’t offer a great deal on the right, but good to see him back from groin issue.
Anthony Gordon – N/A
