Newcastle kicked off their Champions League campaign with a precious point at AC Milan, having Nick Pope to thank for our 0-0 draw at the San Siro.
The Toon stopper made a series of saves – nine in total – to preserve his second straight clean sheet, sending us into home games against PSG and Borussia Dortmund with something to build on.
Speaking pitch side to TNT Sports before the game, Eddie Howe’s message was clear. ‘Enjoy it, but do yourselves justice and rise to the challenge’. He asked his players to ‘attack it’ and make the most of this opportunity after working so hard to be here.
In truth, we never really laid a glove on Milan, as our first shot on target came from Sean Longstaff in the 95th minute. But, we stood strong in tough conditions, rode our luck and leave Milan with a good result on our first game back amongst Europe’s elite for over 20 years. Pope will make the headlines, but all of the back five played key roles, with Trippier and Burn both coming up trumps in the second half on more than one occasion.
There was one big surprise when the official teams were released. Many – including myself – expected Miguel Almiron to start, but it was boyhood fan Jacob Murphy who was selected down the right. Elsewhere, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali came back into the XI after rests on Saturday, replacing Callum Wilson and Elliot Anderson; who were both on the bench.
The Champions League music belted out and I’m sure I joined thousands of Mags around the world in feeling pretty emotional. Proud, excited, nervous and in utter disbelief that we were finally here after last season’s sensational top-four finish. The camera panned across the team, with local lads Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff living the dream and Jacob Murphy unable to hold back a grin as the famous anthem belted out.
We made a positive start, showing composure in possession, committing bodies forward and looking anything but overawed by the occasion. Whether it was Trippier’s dangerous ball into the box, Tonali’s burst down the left or a ball in behind for Murphy that was only cutout by a shirt-pull that went unpunished, we looked far more threatening than the hosts over the opening 10 minutes. The only criticism was our inability to test the untroubled Maignan.
Just as we began to look comfortable, Milan created three chances in a matter of seconds after a poor lapse in concentration from Burn. First, Pobega’s thunderous strike was parried by Pope, then Chukwueze had a back-post header stopped before Giroud’s flick was beaten away once again by Pope. We’d settled well, but we were lucky to stay level after that manic 60 seconds and had to stay in it after a period of Milan pressure.
They weren’t pressing us, giving our back line time and space to settle into the game, but Milan were beginning to cause us real problems whenever they got forward. After Krunic’s effort from distance forced a corner, another big opening came the way of Hernandez. The Frenchman was unmarked and should’ve scored, but his downward header was tipped away by Pope as we survived another big scare.
The first 10 minutes belonged to us, but we had Nick Pope and poor finishing to thank in the next 15 as we approached the half hour mark. Moments after, the referee waved away a penalty shout from Sean Longstaff before Milan went straight down the other end, seeing Hernandez almost set up a near-post tap-in for Giroud; who thankfully fired into the side netting. The action didn’t stop there, as Rafa Leao’s mazy run ended with a block off the line from Murphy after the Portuguese star tripped over his own feet just as he looked set to pull the trigger.
I had no idea how Loftus-Cheek escaped a yellow for two rugby tackles on Bruno, but right-back Calabria soon became the first player booked for dissent just before the break. With that, the hosts made a change at half time, seeing the caution skipper be replaced by Italian international Alessandro Florenzi.
One player who had to do better on the ball in the final 45 was Dan Burn. Many of Milan’s openings came from cheap giveaways and our big man from Blyth was regularly displaying his limitations in possession. Saying that, he showed his importance at the other end soon after the restart, heading away two dangerous set piece deliveries.
We had plenty of the ball, but Milan’s 15 shots to our two showed they were doing more with it. Finding the balance was key. A point on the road would be a good one, but we were starting to sit deeper which invited Milan pressure, relying on the odd counter instead of controlling possession.
A double change followed as Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron replaced Murphy and Gordon, which saw Isak move out to the left and Miggy down the right. Milan made changes of their own, one of which saw Christian Pulisic, giving Burn a different threat to death with as we approached the final 20 minutes. On the subject of former Chelsea players, Loftus-Cheek pulled up and was replaced by Yunus Musah, then Tonali was given a standing ovation by many inside the San Siro as Elliot Anderson replaced the Italian. A special moment for Tonali.
Moments later, Milan’s first big chance of the second half fell to Leao. He got a yard on Trippier and met a superb delivery from Florenzi, but his glancing header landed on the roof of the net. After that, we had Miguel Almiron to thank, as he stayed switched on at the back post to deny Hernandez before two heroic blocks followed from the resulting corner. Like in the first half, it was a flurry of Milan pressure that left us hanging on.
We had a one-man counter from Almiron, who did well to break free from Leao, but it summed up our fading energy levels and determination to protect what we had that he was the only Mag able to break forward. Sloppiness slipped back into our game and we look shattered, giving Milan more hope of a late winner as we entered five minutes of added time.
Isak – who didn’t look comfortable on the left – was then replaced by Harvey Barnes. We won a late free-kick with three minutes to play and threw our big men up in hope of a late winner. It was cleared and a Milan counter followed, but captain fantastic Kieran Trippier showed his class to cut it out, winning a crucial tackle before keeping the ball in. His moment of class allowed one last attack, which ended with our first shot on goal from Sean Longstaff, who saw his edge of the box effort tipped over superbly at the death.
The resultant corner came to nothing and it ended all square, sealing a 0-0 draw at the San Siro and a hard fought point. A spirited and committed display that relied on some luck, plenty of grit and a superb display from Nick Pope.
Next up, a trip to Sheffield United on Sunday, followed by a Carabao Cup clash with Man City a week today.
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Tonali – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Karius, Harris, Dummett, Lascelles, Wilson, Targett, Barnes, Hall, Livramento, Almiron, Anderson, Miley
Milan XI: Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernández, Loftus-Cheek, Krunić, Pobega; Chukwueze, Leão, Giroud.
Good write up Olly, quick off the mark there mate!
Well chuffed with that. Of course a win would’ve been amazing but I’ll take an away point at Milan. Could’ve stolen it at the end there too. MotM for me was anyone between Longstaff, Pope and Trippier. They all had a great game.
On another note Olly, I know it’s not your fault mate but you’re the only one we see, this site is absolutely fucking awful at the moment … same issues of comments disappearing, details disappearing etc, it makes having a conversation during the match impossible.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Right got here via twitter as cannot access the featured discussion on the site website, it’s just blank. Refreshed countless times, turned the pc off and back on, no change. Went on twitter saw the link on there and here I am.
Unless the website starts showing me threads I can click on, I won’t bother anymore as it’s a pain going on twitter.
As for the match, our motm was pope imo. We could of nicked it at the death too
kimtoon(Quote)
I suggested a positive result would be a bonus tonight and so a good result .. and with a clean sheet is doubly so.
It’s important to recover some of the defensive stability Newcastle United had last year if they are to be competitive.
Again I can’t comment on performance as I didn’t see the game.
The last two results are a good start to the games between international breaks. On we go to Sheffield
I’m not seeing any problems with this site
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
We didn’t play our best football & imo we lack something up front when Wilson doesn’t play. That’s not me saying Isak had a bad game – not at all, I just don’t think we look as likely to score without Wilson in the team.
BUT – we were playing AC Milan at the San Siro!! 7 times winners only 2nd to Real Madrid – semi finalists last season & a team with a wealth of European experience.
I think the occasion overwhelmed us a little bit & we were sloppy with the ball again – but every player put a shift in and worked hard for the shirt tonight.
They didn’t let the game or crowd get to them & there was bodies on the line with block tackles where needed.
Yes Pope was excellent tonight & my MOTM too – but defensively we were excellent.
It’s a point on the board & confidence that we can mix it with the biggest & best team – that belief will only settle us for the challenges to come in this competition – and belief against the better teams is something we’ve badly lacked imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good result from a pretty poor performance. Last season I thought we’d signed a world class player in Isak but what I’ve seen in the few games is Isak is rubbish. I just don’t understand. Can’t hold onto the ball. No dribbles (remember Everton). No shots. It’s weird.
Family? Illness?
Bruno’s slowly getting back to his best. Murphy has reverted to his useless setting. Tonali uncomfortable on the left and we so miss Joelinton and Willock.
georgio(Quote)
Having said all that the team ran their hearts out. So much effort and commitment. Proud really.
georgio(Quote)
The blog is moving to a new host (the guys who run website / fix issues) soon. It’s in the process of being arranged, so I really hope these issues are sorted by then!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I have to say I’m really disappointed and annoyed with the likes of Lee Ryder & Craig Hope calling the draw lucky!! 😡😡🖕🏼.
Luck is if they hit the post/crossbar 7 times in the first half – not Pope making the save.
That is Pope playing brilliantly well – there may be an argument of poor finishing on their part – but luck it most certainly wasn’t.
I’m not expecting them to wax lyrical or only have positive things to say – not at all. We didn’t play our best football. But ironically our best player was Nick Pope & they write his performance off as luck 🙄🤯.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly – this isn’t a pop at you mate, you know I rate what you do on this blog highly.
But they need to get their fingers out mate – these issues have been over a year now. Maybe they’ve been locked into contracts or whatever I don’t know – but there might not be much left by the time they act.
The blog is growing in the sense of the podcast now & there are still plenty of daily articles – and why not?! NUFC are back!!
That might make it profitable 🤷🏼♂️. But the community of posters certainly hasn’t grown & the match day craic is scant – not even the article writers make regular posts or their match day predictions – 1 post a week.
I say again mate, I don’t hold you responsible at all – but who else do I tell.
PS – this was my second attempt as the site refreshed and cleared my first attempt 😡😂.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Thought Gordon was very poor,lost count how many times he lost the ball,midfield still not right imo,but a good point
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – I agree re midfield. I still think Bruno & Tonali need to be afforded time to see if they can form a partnership – but they do look disjointed at the mo. Both excellent players in their own right but more ying & ying rather than ying & yang at the moment.
Longstaff played well last night, but a player rarely mentioned & one we are really missing imo is Willock. He provided that balance on the left side of midfield & made the runs from midfield we seem to be missing this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY agree 100% on Willock hes a big miss hes still a few weeks away and had no pre-season so will take a few games to get up to fitness and Joe is a big miss you could see he was carrying something a few weeks for him to,can we get bye untill then??
icedog(Quote)
Ice – our next 2 PL games are Sheff Utd & Burnley. I’d be very disappointed if we can’t dominate in those 2 games with a combo from Bruno, Tonali, Longstaff and Anderson – we should be building on that Brentford win.
Then it’s figuring out the front 3 as the back 5 seem to be picking themselves again – and whilst they are keeping clean sheets I’d leave them be.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I mentioned Longstaff & Burn playing CL football for their boyhood club & didn’t consider Murphy – largely coz I didn’t expect him to play in all honesty.
But to his credit I thought he played well. Having a right footed player playing right wing just works.
He’s played Champions League for NUFC at the San Siro 🤯
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joy for them boys alright,pity Longstaff shot didn’t hit back of the net
Icedog(Quote)
Olly, yeah I still can’t access blog discussion via website as it’s blank in that area, everything else is there just not this link or previous ones. I got here via your twitter page.
So the blog won’t be on here anymore then? when will it move ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Joelinton could be back earlier than expected. Very good news. We really miss him.
georgio(Quote)
We badly need to start scoring cannot keep defending every game
Icedog(Quote)
I understand mate. I can only apologise and pass it on – I’m told the site is going to a new host over the next week, so I really hope these issues are sorted by then.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
When I say ‘moving to a new host’, I mean there’ll be a new team running the site in terms of the ads, layout and fixing bugs. So nothing will change in many ways, I just really hope they can get to the bottom of this problem, as the current host clearly couldn’t!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Thanks Olly, still here via twitter link. Odd it’s only me having problem seeing featured discussion part of page on website. It’s completely normal apart from that area on page😕
kimtoon(Quote)
Fantastic that young Minteh started at CF for Feyenoord in the CL. Could be the real deal for us next season.
georgio(Quote)
I watched the Feynoord game and he did well. Looks a strong player and still just 19. Excellent prospect for the future.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ice, well yes ..but😉 .. being hard to beat is what underpinned nufc’s successful season last time and the prime reason for the last two good results is a bit of defensive resilience and it’s good to see. If the team build on that nufc’ll be ok
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
There were a Couple of earlier comments on missing players which I’ve kind of agreed with.
Reflecting on it abit and Looking from a different perspective, players ‘stock ’ can sometimes rise when they’re absent; Anderson is a good example. A decent player who many including me were asking to start. He is now and is doing ok but is not making that noticeable difference.
I’m not sure joelintons performances warrant the comments ..and I speak as a big fan.. as he was wasnt that effective this season
I do think Willocks attributes to carry the ball at pace in attack are a bit of a gap this year .. coincidentally Anderson could be his closest ‘style’ replacement.
It seems to me that they’re playing deliberately more conservatively. Quite why is not clear but is willock really that important to resolve it or are the missing piece to making it click ?
I don’t believe so and im not sure willock is the answer. Again I’m speaking as big fan of willock.
Oh, and nufc need to figure it out long before he returns after the international break
GoWest!Mag(Quote)