A frustrating watch for much of it, but that may prove to be a massive point for Newcastle United – providing we do beat Chelsea at St James’ Park next Sunday.
Here’s our marks out of 10 and comments on each player as Alexander Isak’s late penalty helped us to a 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Starting 11
Pope (6) – Couldn’t do much about the goal and was otherwise kept quiet. Distribution is still a cause for concern.
Trippier (7) – Kept up his good run of form. Handled Adingra well and was constantly barking orders to his teammates. Specifically Barnes for not tracking back in the second half.
Schar (6.5) – Looked a little fatigued late on which caused the introduction of Botman. Long diagonals remain a highlight of his play. Made some important interceptions cutting off counter attacks and it was his free kick that struck Ayari’s hand for the late penalty.
Burn (7) – Unluckily deflected the goal past Pope and after a nervy start grew into the game well. Won everything in the air as we’ve come to expect and bombed forward a number of times in the first half.
Livramento (6) – Was in the wars early and will know he could’ve defended Minteh better for the goal. Typically energetic offering great overlapping support to Barnes but the final ball was poor.
Guimaraes (7) – Controlled the game well and was often the conduit to all our attacks. Still has a habit of dwelling on the ball a bit too long but uses his body better than most. Wasn’t his flashiest performance but important nonetheless.
Tonali (6) – Was quite poor in the first half and was very lucky not to get caught in possession just outside his own box. Improved in the second half as we took a stranglehold on the game. Covers every blade of grass.
Willock (5) – Came close to opening the scoring with his trademark outside of the foot shot. Thought he had won a penalty in the second half but was correctly overturned and booked for simulation. Frustrating at times, none more so than breezing past Wieffer only to dribble it harmlessly out of play, which summed him up today; plenty of running but no end product. Didn’t grasp his big opportunity.
Murphy (5) – Crosses just didn’t find the target today. Several cut backs to the near post but nobody anticipated it. Unusually hesitant to cross at times in the first half. Hooked after 55min. Not his best day.
Barnes (6) – Another who was a step below the levels we have come to expect. End product was missing after doing all the hard work to get into advantageous positions.
Isak (6) – Tucked away the penalty but was otherwise anonymous. It’s happened quite a lot this season where we just can’t get him involved in the game as much as we should. Keeps banging in the goals though!
Substitutes
Gordon (6.5) – Thought he won a penalty within a minute of coming on but VAR (correctly) ruled that contact was initiated outside the box. Wasted some promising opportunities, but certainly added some pace to our play despite looking a little rusty in patches.
Wilson (6) – Forced a great save out of Verbruggen but it almost seems criminal that he is preferred over Osula at the minute. Was largely anonymous and just seems to give away fouls at the wrong time which releases the pressure.
Krafth (NR) – Replaced Trippier late on.
Botman (NR) – Replaced a limping Schar late on.
