After Saturday night’s dismal display at Arsenal, what was always going to be a big week for Newcastle United just got even bigger.
Losing at Arsenal isn’t the problem, it was the nature of our performance. What happened to Eddie Howe’s high-intensity Mags who get in your face, snap into tackles, defend well and refuse to roll over? We have had a season full of injuries, off-field issues and unlucky draws, but we need to improve to make something of 2023/24.
Blackburn is a huge chance to do exactly that. Win and we’re into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, one win from Wembley (where the semi-finals will be held) and heading into Wolves – who leapfrogged us on Sunday – with some much-needed momentum and hope.
Speaking about Saturday’s defeat and tomorrow’s trip to Ewood Park, Howe said: “My initial analysis of Arsenal was very similar to how I feel now. We need to better in lots of different areas of the game. Normally we do, but it was a difficult day for us. After a performance like that you want a chance to respond very quickly.”
It’s not clear if Martin Dubravka will recover from illness, Nick Pope is still several weeks away, but Joe Willock is ‘very close’ to starting and Alexander Isak came through 60 minutes at the Emirates unscathed.
Elliot Anderson and Matt Targett are ‘close’ to resuming training, but the likes of Joelinton and Callum Wilson remain out.
Predicted XI – Karius – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
This is a tough one. In goal, it sounds like Dubravka may not recover in time, but I’d argue that Karius deserves another shot after some decent stops on Saturday.
I can see Burn returning at left-back and wouldn’t be surprised if Botman is given a night off after his stinker at the Emirates, allowing Lascelles to come in alongside Schar.
Willock is a tricky one. Howe will be so tempted to start him, but I think he’ll be used from the bench and saved for Wolves on Saturday, as our current midfield three should have enough to beat Blackburn. If they don’t, he is an ideal option from the bench.
In attack, I think we could see Barnes and Murphy out wide, with Isak or Gordon leading the line. Can Isak start three games in seven days after his groin issues? I’m not so sure and (like Willock) we’ll need him against Wolves. However, Howe may feel he could play an hour again as he did at Arsenal. We must manage recent injuries carefully to stop them reoccurring, but we also want our best players on the pitch for a potentially season-defining game.
Prediction – Blackburn 1-3 Newcastle
We are shipping goals and have lost some of the hallmarks of an all-action Eddie Howe side in recent weeks, but this is our time to show some character and get back to winning ways.
We’d won four-straight away games prior to Arsenal and are facing a 16th-place Blackburn side who have the second worst defence in the Championship and lost their star player Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace in January.
Barnes to score in front of a packed out away end at Ewood Park to send Eddie’s Mags into the last eight.
HOWAY THE LADS!
We “should” have too much for them, but this is the FA cup and anything can happen. We need to go into this with a strong mindset and respect Blackburn. We must play as if it was City or Liverpool and make sure we get through in 90 mins. The mindset at the weekend was shocking. We must improve on that.
To my mind, and maybe I’m wrong, but this bad form and mindset seems to go back to the PSG game when, let’s face it, we were cheated and robbed of our place. Officials were confirmed to have broken the rules of the game and we were dumped out of Europe. We would have approached the Milan game differently had we beaten PSG. We may not have stayed in the CL but could have got a Europa place. After that awful cheating, it seemed to me that our team just didn’t play the same. Maybe I’m imagining it but that’s what it’s like. I’m not saying it’s right that we should be affected. They are well paid professionals, but the mindset seemed to change after that and our season drifted away.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I think you’re right. But I think Howe & the players bought into the media & fans calling out the injustice.
We went into that last group game still strong favourites to take the Europa spot (which would have been a massive achievement from that group) and still with an outside chance of 2nd spot.
The 2 games ebbed & flowed & im sure at one point we were in 2nd. But we were certainly ahead against AC and we only needed a draw to take 3rd and Europa.
Our inexperience in tournament football showed in the end & where we needed that Rafa like siege mentality – instead we pressed ahead trying to score again.
Shortly after though we were also knocked out of the CC by Chelsea & it definitely felt like that was the turning point.
I truly hope it’s not that the players have lost faith in Howe – but it definitely feels like certain players who were so dependable last season have been less so this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aye Sharpy, let’s hope that they have the right mentality going into tonight’s game and really want to atone for the poor show in London. If we get knocked out of the FA then our season is probably done as I don’t feel that we will get a European place now. We could still get knocked out of course, but I’d rather it wasn’t against a championship side struggling in their own division. Let’s see. 🤞🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I hope so mate. I thought the Sunderland win might have been that shot in the arm they needed – but of course that was the game we lost Joelinton as well who’s a huge miss.
I think there’s a subconscious feeling that any game we get through without any further injuries is a better result than any positive score.
If we can get passed Blackburn tonight I don’t think it’s a bad season cups wise (based on recent history).
In terms of the league, I think we are only 2 points off 7th which may be enough for Europe – but should be the target regardless (6th is defo out of reach I reckon).
If I was Howe I’d be laying that challenge down & it gives the likes of Barnes & Willock and other players coming back in a sense of purpose.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Willock and Dubravka start. No Botman and Anderson on the bench. Good strong side. If we lose this they should hang their heads in shame.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
hwtl
kimtoon(Quote)
I know he’s getting some stick but Trippier has been wasteful with a few of his deliveries so far 😡
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jesus, do we not want to win this game? 😡😡 absolutely dog sh.it. Shocking performance once again. Do they think they just need to turn up and the game will win itself? Fucking awful! 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We have to see a step change up in performance in the second half or we are out the FA cup.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Slow & cagey. There’s no urgency to our play – too many passes & with them having 3 CBs they are set every time.
Ironically I’ve been saying Howe should play 3 CBs and BBurn are showing you can play it with a solid defence & dangerous attack – they’ve definitely had the better chances.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This is Bruce football
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Our set pieces are an absolute joke!!.
We have Schar, Lascelles & Burn on the pitch. – why are we messing round with these short set pieces man??
Sharpy17(Quote)
There we go!! Trips whips the ball to the back post & onto Lascelles head & it causes problems!! So simple 🤷🏼♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can someone please tell the commentator that our strip is blue not black 😡😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 what a bunch of wankers
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Embarrassing this. Yet another display where our opponents are showing more grit & determination.
Thank god for Dubravka!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just awful. O. M … G! Shockingly bad football. Defence is horrible. Extra time and I can see us losing this. Just what we don’t need with a tough game against Wolves coming. 🤬🤬🤬.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Such a disappointing watch from us again
kimtoon(Quote)
jeeze should be ahead
kimtoon(Quote)
🤬🤬🤬 just watch us go out on pens.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Holy cow Bruno, ***.
We ain’t gonna win this are we
kimtoon(Quote)
So, it’s the lottery of pens. We will be out. I just feel it. 🤬🤬 so wasteful. And Barnes has been terrible since coming on.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Get in Dubs top drawer tonight
kimtoon(Quote)
Very very lucky tonight. The boys owe dubs all lot.
Well done Blackburn played brilliant to be fair.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well, that was stressful. Dear me. Shocking pen from Barnes but amazing from Dubravka. Quarter final.
Gilly Toon(Quote)