A pathetic performance from Newcastle United, who didn’t turn up from minute one against a Man City side who were allowed to run rampant.
For all the pre-match hope after back-to-back wins in cup competitions and a feeling this could be the perfect time to play a fragile City team who played in midweek, it was an embarrassing effort.
We were passive from the off, could barely string a pass together, barely made a challenge and allowed Omar Marmoush to score a first-half hat-trick (in the space of 14 minutes) thanks to some pretty woeful defending from Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall.
I couldn’t quite believe how bad we were. Howe got our approach all wrong from the off and the players didn’t turn up. In every area of the pitch we weren’t at it, be it tactically, technically or physically.
The result sees us fail to capitalise on Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton last night and Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham this afternoon, with Bournemouth leapfrogging us in the league following their comfortable win at Southampton this afternoon.
With league games against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool to come in our next two, our top-four hopes are in trouble if we continue to play like a side who have one eye on next month’s Carabao Cup final.
Howe has made seven changes to the side that beat Birmingham in the FA Cup last weekend, with Pope, Livramento, Targett, Longstaff, Miley, Osula and Wilson all dropping out of the side for Dubravka, Trippier, Hall, Tonali, Murphy, Isak and Gordon.
STARTING XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Pope, Wilson, Barnes, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Livramento, Longstaff, Miley.
We sat in to start in a bid to frustrate them, but it was far too passive, our press was non-existent and we weren’t imposing ourselves on a fragile City side whatsoever. When we did get the ball, we were giving it away too cheaply, aside from one moment around the 10-minute mark when we finally enjoyed a period of possession.
However, that didn’t last long and the goal conceded to hand the hosts a lead on 20 minutes was so, so poor. A simple long ball from Ederson should’ve been dealt with by Trippier, but he got it all wrong and Marmoush lobbed Dubravka to make it 1-0.
One then became two barely five minutes later and it was another soft one, as Marmoush was allowed to cut inside too easily and fire past Dubravka after getting the better of Trippier again. It could’ve ben 3-0 moments later, as Burn’s crucial interception denied a back-post tap in.
At the other end, Willock robbed Gonzalez in a great position to set up Isak, who did well to work a shot that was well blocked by Stones.
An awful start then went from bad to worse as we were cut open once again. Savinho burst in down the right and his cut back found Marmoush in acres of space to complete a 14-minute hat-trick. Game over and a frankly pathetic opening 30 minutes as we headed towards a hammering and our third defeat in our last four league games.
Howe could’ve hauled off just about anyone at the break, but it was Trippier and Willock who made way for Livramento and Miley. We did improve slightly (it couldn’t get any worse) and had our biggest chance to pull one back on the hour mark, as lovely play from Bruno and Hall set up Miley, who fired his shot too close to Ederson.
Two more changes then arrived with 20 minutes to play, as Bruno – who had been booked – and Gordon were replaced by Longstaff and Wilson, but it didn’t change much and City made it four. A simple corner and Haaland flick that was tapped in by McAtee. Yet another soft goal to concede as we failed to win the first or second balls in a crowded box.
An afternoon to forget but huge lessons to learn and big improvements needed if we want to finish in the top four and lift a trophy next month.
Next up, Nottingham Forest – currently six points clear of us – at St James’ Park next Sunday.
HWTL.
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