Halloween might have been over for a yr now, however that did not cease Newcastle United from displaying some Jekyll and Hyde tendencies away to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle went into the match in opposition to a dejected host nation led by Nuno Espirito Santo, who had received three of their earlier three matches in all competitions.
Nonetheless, whatever the successful streak, Nuno’s poor away leads to the Premier League this season continued on the London Stadium, with Thun struggling a 3-1 defeat as Nuno handed the Hammers their first win as supervisor.
After all, West Ham had some nice moments to thank for his or her much-needed victory, together with Lucas Paqueta’s candy equalizer late within the first half.
Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a doubt that the away aspect’s benevolent defending from begin to end gave the workforce a lift, and looking back Nick Pope might have wished he had completed higher with that opener.
Newcastle’s worrying defensive show
Within the run-up to the sport, Newcastle would have been the clear favorites for the draw, with West Ham now and not using a win at dwelling for 247 days heading into the showdown with Eddie Howe and co.
However soccer is never performed to script, and Newcastle’s protection, which regarded strong in midweek’s comfy win over Tottenham Hotspur, gave option to a shoddy and error-prone backline on the London Stadium.
It was precisely the identical protection, apart from Sven Botman returning to the first-team lineup in entrance of Fabian Schaal. Coach Howe will need to have drastically regretted making this determination in stoppage time within the first half. Botman inexplicably curled a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka previous his personal goalkeeper, giving West Ham a slender 2-1 benefit.
However the Dutchman wasn’t the one participant to spend day off on the again, with Emil Craft hooked off on the half-time mark regardless of by some means managing to win with zero duels and tackles, as Howe was determined to have Kieran Trippier in his place.
Aaron Ramsdale can even really feel he’s in with a slight cry to get Pope between the sticks once more after the previous Arsenal keeper stored a clear sheet in opposition to Spurs. The previous Burnley stopper as soon as once more had shaky gloves, however he curled a late shot into the trail of Tomas Soucek to degree the victory for the house aspect.
Nonetheless, regardless of his many errors on Sunday, he nonetheless deserves some credit score as he has stored 5 clear sheets within the Premier League to date this season.
In the meantime, certainly one of his different teammates is strolling the very precarious tightrope of being named a starter on protection after a season filled with disastrous performances.
Howe should drop 3/10 Newcastle star
Howe actually experimented along with his personal eleven in East London, with the likes of William Osula, Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga all being launched into first-team matches sooner or later through the chaotic fixtures.
Nonetheless, the 47-year-old’s in depth changes did little to show the sport round as Dan Byrne as soon as once more struggled at left-back.
Byrne’s numbers by place at Newcastle | ||
|---|---|---|
place | video games performed | Purpose + Help |
C.B. | 82 | 2+2 |
lb | 78 | 6+2 |
Supply: Transfermarkt | ||
The 6ft 7in big has beforehand excelled as a left-back, scoring six objectives in 78 appearances on the left.
Nonetheless, in the mean time it’s clear that the growing older quantity 33 is not suited to the full-back position, with the Newcastle-based content material creator’s feedback earlier within the season that it will be “a nightmare” for Byrne to be picked recurrently right here, ringing very true in opposition to Nuno’s feisty hosts.
Actually, the Blyth-born defender contributed little to Howe’s trigger within the ahead space, making zero dribble makes an attempt.
On high of that, Byrne didn’t win a single deal with or floor duel within the 3-1 defeat and was given a disappointing rating of three/10 by Newcastle World’s Jordan Cronin after the sport.
Now could be undoubtedly the correct time for Lewis Corridor to achieve first-team expertise within the left-back place, slightly than Byrne, who has just lately proven no indicators of being suited to the demanding place long-term.
Corridor returned to the bench on the London Stadium after an extended harm absence from the primary workforce, however with Champions League motion resuming at St James’ Park in mid-week, Howe is trying to put away his lengthy service and signal a promising teen.

