A massive result for Newcastle United in the context of our season as Bruno Guimaraes’ second half strike helped us to a 1-0 win over West Ham on Monday night.
It wasn’t always pretty, we weren’t at our best at either end of the pitch and we’ll have to be far better if we’re to lift the Carabao Cup on Sunday, but this is a huge, morale-boosting win at the start of our biggest week of the campaign and hopefully one that can inject some belief back into the side heading into this weekend’s final.
We had to get through tonight with a win and no injuries and we’ve done it, all without a number of key players in Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman – and without doubt (whether Howe admits it or not) one eye on Wembley!
The result sends us back up to sixth in the Premier League. We’re back above Bournemouth, Brighton and Aston Villa, level with Man City, two off Chelsea in fourth and four from Nottingham Forest.
Howe made three changes from the side dumped out of the FA Cup to Brighton just over a week ago, with Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy in for Martin Dubravka, Lewis Miley and the suspended Anthony Gordon.
It was Barnes’ big chance to impress down the left in Gordon’s absence and his first league start in three months, while Pope’s return caused plenty of pre-match debate online after his recent struggles – but ended in our first clean sheet in seven.
Newcastle XI (4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Subs: Dubravka, Targett, Willock, Krafth, Wilson, Neave, Longstaff, Osula, Miley
Less than 50 seconds on the clock and West Ham should’ve been ahead, as Soucek arrived at the back post, made the most of Livramento’s missed attempt at a clearance and thankfully fired over from six yards. A huge let off, but alarming how easy it was for the Hammers to isolate Schar and create such a big chance so early on.
We looked so shaky, slow to react and sloppy on the ball, but we finally settled after a timid first 10, with Barnes having two chances. One from the angle he got all wrong, the second well saved by Areola after a sharp through ball from Trippier.
Barnes popped up once again on the 25 minute mark, forcing Areola into another save after Trippier’s corner and Burn’s header back across the box was glanced goalwards by the former Leicester man. Promising signs after a poor start and we were certainly growing into it, we just needed to find that quality in the final third.
Livramento’s lack of left foot (and the absence of Hall) was telling as we failed to make the most of getting into some good positions down that side, with Tino always cutting back on his right and slowing down the attack. We were on top in a strangely flat game with little to no atmosphere, but that quality, decision making and lack of left foot kept letting us down.
At the other end, Trippier bailed us out after holding up Kudus who threatened to burst through, with both centre-backs taken totally out of the game by Alvarez’s flick on. And that was pretty much that in an entirely forgettable first half.
West Ham saw far more of the ball at the start of the second half, where we came out slowly and struggled to get out. Pope’s kicking continued to be a problem too, as he shanked one into touch for the second time.
We hadn’t got going whatsoever but almost took the lead on the hour mark, only for Areola to pull off a remarkable save to stop Kilman putting into his own net from Murphy’s cross. Isak followed up but the ball was behind him and his effort flew over.
Then, FINALLY, a breakthrough. After having his initial effort blocked, Barnes delivered a lovely ball at the second attempt. It flew past Isak but Bruno arrived to poke home before celebrating in front of a packed out away end. 1-0 Newcastle and a lift we desperately needed.
Isak looked a shadow of his brilliant best and looked like a man playing at 50%, despite Howe insisting he was “fine” after “fatigue” and groin tightness forced him off against Brighton eight days ago. With that in mind, Howe brought him and Barnes off with just over 10 minutes to play, seeing Callum Wilson and Joe Willock come on.
Burn picked up a booking – his eighth of the season to leave him two away from a two-match ban – and we were just over five minutes to play before Sean Longstaff replaced Bruno in the closing stages.
Six minutes were added on and we didn’t see it out convincingly, with Longstaff, Murphy and Tonali gifting the ball back in poor areas, but we got there in the end to leave London with three massive points, another win in the capital and a clean sheet.
Next up…Wembley! Howay the lads.
Good report as always Olly! Thanks mate
That was a very messy, rubbish game but we somehow nicked the win. Good thing WH were so poor too and couldn’t shoot. Up to 6th. Bring on the cup final, but we must do way better than that.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I was proved wrong but good God that was poor! I actually briefly fell asleep during the first half – extremely rare during an NUFC match.
Livramento is the reverse Almiron. Every time. Every single time.
The Panther(Quote)
Panther – the difference being that Tino is a RB being made to play LB because Howe thinks he can do a better job than an actual LB in Target. Almiron was played in his preferred position and wasn’t good at it.
I don’t think Barnes offered the kind of support Gordon does for either his full back or Isak.
The issue being of course that Barnes himself is a LWF with a right foot & likes to cut inside.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Last night exposed that problem imo. Right side we are ok – Trippier & Murphy both right footed and have balance.
Our left side has gone with Hall & Gordon & last night had 2 right footed players which created a total imbalance – and yet for some reason was still the side we seemed to play down the most?!. Maybe force of habit expecting Hall & Gordon to be there.
But it needs fixing for the final imo. The only natural left footed player we have to select is Target – but I don’t think he’s a solid defensively as Tino. My line up based on that would be:
———-——— Dubravka —————–
——- Kraft —— Schar —— Burn ——-
Trippier ————————-——- Target
— Bruno –— Tonali —– Joelinton —
————- Isak ——— Barnes ————-
We can’t weaken the midfield imo – that will be a key battle. My hope would be that the width comes from Trippier & Target.
I know it’s not perfect – but from what we have to select from, I think it would give us the best chance of reducing Liverpools threat & giving us a chance of nicking a goal.
It looks defensive/negative but it’s similar to how we lined up in the second leg against Arsenal & it worked well – though I acknowledge we had stronger players in that game 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, as a two-footed player in my youth I often have trouble understanding how Premiership players can literally only use one foot. Of course, we are talking about light years’ difference in standard, but the principle remains the same. Livramento’s play was way too predictable, as was Barnes’s. Just one hard, low left-footed cross every now again wouldn’t be beyond them, would it? Maybe it is.
The Panther(Quote)
Panther – I agree mate. What also baffles me is these players spend all day on training grounds with all facilities, coaches and opportunities available to them – yet they don’t seem to work on or improve on these things 🤷🏼♂️.
In addition to that though, I think it was a bit naive sticking the same formation & game plan when key players are missing & WH had 3 CBs.
It was good to see Bruno get into the box & scoring but I don’t think we see that enough from him, Joelinton or Tonali. They seem to get to the edge of the box & keep playing it sideways.
I remember one passage of play where Tonali picked it up on the right edge of their box – the shot looked on but he tried to play it out to Murphy instead & his pass was intercepted.
We need to mix it up for Liverpool imo – their forwards would have dined out on us last night.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Didn’t see the game as was busy but looks like I didn’t miss much. Sounds like we need to vastly improve for the final.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – hey missus, how you doing?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Fine Sharpy, still job hunting, had interview today, they had over 80 applicants ! . Had no idea how hard getting a part time job was. If I don’t find something within the next couple of months then I may have to rent out lewis room as savings running very low now. 😟
How’s things going for you ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – 😧 that’s madness. Crazy to think part time jobs can be so in demand. Hope you get sorted 🤞🏼 can’t imagine you having to rent out Lewis’ room 🤦🏼♂️.
Yeah I’m all good thank you 👍🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah Sharpy, not an option I really want to pursue if I’m honest but may have to. I have not claimed universal credit as I don’t like the thought of benefits and sanctions if you don’t take jobs they say you have to like working overnight or across other side of town for a part time job.
Lots of people claim universal credit and work 16 hours a week which is the minimum requirement to still get UC and which is why I suspect I am finding it hard to get a part time job. I do have £200 a month coming in from rent on the land next to my garage which a neighbour is parking his work vans on.
Anyway I keep looking and going into places in person to ask, but at some point I may have a tough decision to make.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – that makes sense as to the difficulty you’re having but it just shows the system is F’ing stupid.
Hope you find something soon 🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
System is so bad Sharpy and my age is defo going to be an issue too.
kimtoon(Quote)