Post by deadbat on May 19, 2021 21:13:35 GMT
With supporters in attendance at St James Park, Newcastle were able to send their home fans away happy with a comfortable victory over the relegated Blades. After such an improved performance at the weekend, hopes were high that United could build on this as hopes turned to the new managerial appointment and next season. Sadly, the performance the visitors served up was reminiscent of much of the dross that they have displayed for most of the campaign. The Blades were timid on and off the ball with all the flair and creativity on display, coming from the home side.
Joe Willock scored just before half time with a headed finish after good work Saint Maximim and Murphy in the lead up. Newcastle had dominated the game and opportunities. In the second half, Newcastle had further chances before United at least were able to have more possession but other than a McGoldrick effort off the top of the bar, never really looked like mounting a comeback in a drab contest.
The Blades made one change from the side that won at Goodison Park with Jayden Bogle in for injured George Baldock. Goal scoring hero of the weekend, Jebbison, started again with Boyes and Seriki adding to the youthful nature of the substitutes bench.
The home side were unchanged with Arsenal loanee Joe Willock looking to score in 5 consecutive games and seemed to be matching up the Blades in a 3-5-2 formation with Ritchie and Murphy in the wing back positions.
Newcastle started on the front foot and won a corner before Almiron had the first shot on target with an effort at Ramsdale that was comfortable.
Saint Maximin went on a meandering run skipping away from Basham and Stevens before United held him up. The Blades had struggled to put much together so far and a wayward McGoldrick pass saw Newcastle back on the attack but Egan was able to clear.
Despite the home side looking the livelier side buoyed by the returning fans, a great chance came for the Blades when Jebbison, Osborn and Stevens worked space in a great move and McGoldrick was in but his deliberate side foot finish went the wrong side of the post. He should have at least hit the target and probably should have scored.
Another good move saw great interchange with Osborn at the heart of things and Bogle’s cross was overhit. Another ball came in and McGoldrick fired over when well placed. It had been a good response from the Blades with a number of good pieces of play and openings.
Newcastle came back and after two Norwood give aways under no pressure, the home side got up the field and had men over as Joelinton had his effort blocked as the Blades defence pack pedalled.
The next phase of the game saw little action in either goalmouth but Newcastle settled down after the Blades decent spell and Norwood cynically chopped down Willock giving Newcastle a free kick 30 yards out. The effort was blocked from the Blades wall.
The best effort of the game came just before the half hour as Newcastle worked an opening and Ritchie was allowed to send over a cross unchallenged. Shelvey met the header with no one tracking his run. The save from Ramsdale was fantastic as he sprang to his right to keep it out. He seemed to strain himself in making the save but carried on after treatment. Newcastle won two corners in quick succession and Fernandez won a header that Ramsdale made the save but was still not totally comfortable seemingly in some pain.
Saint Maximim got forward and made a surging run as he got away from Basham and the Stevens who chopped him down right on the edge of the box leading to an inevitable yellow card. Ritchie took it but it was a long way off target.
Egan was the next to try and stop a Newcastle player by illegal means as Joelinton was grabbed but Dummet’s header was wide. Egan then seemed to pull Almiron down but the referee felt the Newcastle man went down too easily.
Joelinton had to have some treatment but Newcastle were back on the attack with Willock showing his skill to get away from Fleck and then the same man having a curled effort blocked after Saint Maximim worked space again.
Murphy sent over a cross and Joelinton got away from Egan who wrongly tried to play him onside. The offside trap did work a moment later when the ball through sent Saint Maximim though and he slid Willock in whose shot low down was superbly saved from Ramsdale again. Robinson completed the clearance.
Newcastle continued to probe and had more opportunities with United’s players not seeming to want to tackle or engage at all. There was so much space all around the midfield and final third and there were gaps all over with pace and power of the Newcastle players causing problems. The half ticked into 5 minutes of stoppage time but it seemed inevitable the home side would get a goal their dominance deserved.
United could not get out and Robinson’s clearance was awful leading to Saint Maximim getting on the ball and wriggling away before a lovely slide rule ball to Murphy. No United player was close to him and the cross came in unopposed. WILLOCK met it with barely a token challenge from Bogle and headed home past Ramsdale giving him no chance. Half time came not long after and the home side definitely deserved the late goal for their attacking play and penetration. The Blades had done little of note outside of the first 5-10 minutes when they had a few good chances but had regressed badly and been completely second best.
Dwight Gayle replaced Joelinton who had been struggling first half. Saint Maximim superb skills teased Stevens and Fleck before his no look pullback found Almiron whose shot was well off target. Norwood was wasteful again with a cross to no one in particular. United tried to keep it but ended up just passing it backwards and out before Saint Maximim blazed over as no one got close to him at all again.
Some decent play from United saw McGoldrick and Basham combine and they won a free kick right on the edge of the box after Shelvey tripped Basham. McGoldrick hit it but it was a long way wide with his effort.
Saint Maximim continued to terrify the Blades and he got away from Egan with pace and strength and Ramsdale had to save United again as the cross shot came over.
Basham’s sloppy play nearly saw the home side in again but Fleck intercepted before Norwood then gave it away and Newcastle broke again but for once Saint Maximim made a poor choice. United could not get going and Jebbison was looking increasingly isolated in the game. Newcastle continued to ask the questions with Gayle nearly getting in on another chance where there was big spaces in the Blades backline.
United’s players were not taking any responsibility at all and no one was trying to penetrate or play a forward ball. It was safe and easy for Newcastle who waited patiently for the turnover and then were onto the attack.
Brewster came on for Osborn on 66 minutes as the Blades tried to find something as McGoldrick dropped deeper. He managed to get a shot away that was deflected wide. Egan’s headed effort was the first time the Blades had make the keeper work and this was a simple catch. The Blades were relieved to see the back of Saint Maximim who hurt when he slipped. Sean Longstaff came on to replace the dangerman.
Newcastle then broke again and were away down the left but as the ball came in from Willock, it was cleared at full stretch with players converging in to convert. Bogle at least got United out for a period and won a free kick but Newcastle were back on the attack quickly. Willock ran away from Basham and opted to take a shot but it was straight at Ramsdale.
United then had their best effort of the game as McGoldrick made it with a jinking run and tried a long range shot that beat Dubravka but it glanced off the top of the bar and over. It was a really good effort.
After this United had a good spell of possession, they managed to somehow go backwards after several minutes of sideways and backwards pass with no crosses or penetration at all. United seemed pretty clueless how to create anything of note but at least had a spell of possession.
Carroll came on for Willock as he was unable to continue as a few players went down injured. Dubravka had to have a spell of treatment but like Ramsdale was able to carry on. United tried to find space down the right but Bogle’s final ball was poor and Basham could not find any space. Egan went up front for a period and Newcastle nearly broke with United having so many men forward.
The game went into 5 minutes of stoppage time and McGoldrick tried to move forward for a chance but the striker probably went the wrong way but the ball was played back to Norwood but his woeful finish summed up his diabolical showing and United’s lack of intent.
Dubravka needed more treatment before United brought on Femi Seriki for Bogle for a glimpse of Premier League life but there was little incident of note other than Ramsdale trying to dribble around Gayle. A late free kick for United after McGoldrick’s run was whipped over but a foul was given before the ball looped up onto the top of the bar. The final whistle came after more treatment for a Newcastle man in an awful contest.
United – After such a huge improvement Sunday, we sadly could not build on it at all. We started ok tonight and had 10 minutes of ok play and some decent moves and one good chance when McGoldrick had to do better. After this it went downhill. They took over and Saint Maximim and Willock were running at us and were too fast and strong. We looked so weak and did not tackle (just fouled or hacked at players) and looked a sorry state as they seemed to be Maximum able to cut us open. Saint Maximim was just too good for us and we could not keep up with him by fair means. What was concerning was as well as the space in midfield and the runners that were never stopped, they also won countless headed balls coming into the box. We could not get close to them or decided to just sit off. We were like we have been so many times this season and were almost inviting pressure by sitting so deep. We could not get up the pitch and no one moved into space when we had it. We were stationery both on and off the ball. I thought Fleck and Norwood were pathetic and so weak in all aspects of the play. We did not seem to want to get close to them but the times we had the ball no one took responsibility. I felt sorry for Jebbison who could not get in the game but was miles off the rest of the team as they could not support him and him and McGoldrick had to come deeper as the midfield would not link or run with the ball.
Ramsdale kept us in it with some superb saves but they were always going to score with more sloppy defending or inability to stop the crosses/headers coming to the fore. After they did score, I felt second half we might try and have a go but it never happened. Newcastle were not as dominant but still had chances and ran at us with the same powerful and quick front players Saint Maximim and Willock just too skilled and quick for our players. We simply could not keep up. McGoldrick had one decent effort but we had no sustained pressure and not sure we tested the keeper at all really (one Egan header). They had their momentum disrupted with a few injuries and the game sort of just drifted out. We looked really committed and tried hard in all aspects of the game but tonight I felt the players looked so half arsed in everything we did. We were sloppy in the basics (control and passing) and defensively we were vulnerable all game.
Second half there was some improvements in we actually got up the field and at least had more of the ball but there was little penetration at all. McGoldrick tried to make things happen but not sure we really looked like scoring outside of this. There was never any conviction to anything we did. They actually sat back but we still never had a concerted spell of pressure at all. I think we could have played all week and still not scored. Individually and collectively, we were great I felt Sunday but tonight it was more like that we have seen all season. I did feel more positive even after one game but tonight reminded us we have so many questions. The midfield is ponderous with no creativity or goal threat and cannot tackle, press or run. The defence gets run through, cannot stop crosses and then does not compete when they come in. Up front we do not have a reliable goal threat or anything close to the likes of Willock or Saint Maximim. The only real positive once again was Ramsdale.
We have had more talk of Jokanovic this week and rumours it may be heading nearer but still no definitive news and it seems we will finish the season without a manager and the players then will go away and thus the first time they will meet him will be the first day of pre season training. There is so much to do for whoever comes in and we have so many players who are just miles off it with confidence, form and fitness. It is going to be a lot of work to do in a short time for us to hit the ground running. Alas, we have one game left to finish this dreadful season in which we are now assured to finish dead last. I won’t be there Sunday. Fair play to those going. A combination of the cost, my wife’s health, it being a sanitised atmosphere and the fact it is a complete and utter dead rubber means it is not for me. Tonight, I was back to being bored by a lifeless, timid United side against a side that were not great but at least had players that excited or showed skill. Just hope the team can give the fans something to enjoy before the summer as it will be 3 months before we see them again – hopefully the bulk of us will be back in August but that still remains to be seen.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 8/10 – Routine save early from Almiron. Then a superb save from the Shelvey header and of course seemed to injure himself and struggled on. A few routine saves and then nother fantastic save from Willock, even if he was offside. He was single handily keeping them out but had no chance on the goal and was furious. Made a good block on the angle as Saint Maximim got away again from our weak and slow defence. He did not make any other mistakes and his handling and overall play was sound. Made some more routine saves and then tried to dribble round Gayle – probably sick of the rest of them not trying to take responsibility! Just been horribly exposed this season. The rest of the players should be embarrassed how much he has to do.
Bogle 4/10 – Well forward to begin with and got one good cross in but defensively showed his weaknesses as he let man run off him and did not get close enough on the cross when Shelvey made the headed effort. On the goal really slow to react and whilst others may also have done better, he has to be mindful of runners and put a body on him. Not sure we saw him getting forward or causing many issues at all. He did get up the field a bit more as the game went on but not sure he made great decisions when he had it. Defensively he continued to struggle with players running at him or basic marking.
Stevens 4/10 – Did a few ok bits and found himself well forward on the McGoldrick chance but then they started to cause him a few problems and he got completely beat by Saint Maximim and pulled him down for a yellow card. No idea where he was on the cross for the goal when it was right down his side. He got skinned a few other times from Saint Maximim but so did a few other defenders. Not sure we saw much of him attacking wise 2nd half and when he got into their half would not use his right foot so was easy to read what he was going to do. His crosses were poor with looped deliveries that did not cause them problems. Did better Sunday but tonight his standards dropped again.
Basham 3.5/10 – Early roving run down the right but struggled when Saint Maximim ran at him and is an opponent he has struggled with. His headed clearances were a bit loopy as we could not clear the ball at times. I felt that we did not win blocks/clearances and they had so much space running at the three centre backs. Did have one run and won a free kick but mostly struggled with the pace and power coming at him mainly from Saint Maximim. One moment second half he did well and came away and then just gave it straight to them. He tried to make some runs but quality wise on the ball he did not really get into the final third and cause issues.
Egan 3/10 – We were not really dominating aerially and I was concerned they won quite a few headers from set plays. He was also grappling too much with Joelinton rather than focusing on the ball. His lack of domination continued as they continued to win all the balls/aerial stuff. On the goal twice he was very timid in the build up and as it came over was nowhere to be seen and seemed to get under it. This notion he is a dominant centre half I think has been punctured somewhat this season as we are soft as s**t in the defence and so many set plays/headed goals. Saint Maximim then just shrugged him off easily in another run. Had one header from the corner but it was weak. He looked like he was so sluggish when players ran at him and could not keep up.
Robinson 4.5/10 – Steady to start with defensively and tried to get up the field. He used the ball ok when he did have but showed his lack of strength and pace in both defensive and attacking sides of the game. Wretched clearance in the build up to the goal that saw us not get out. He does make mistakes in games as we saw earlier in the season. Outside of this I felt he was one of our steadier defenders and at least did not get run through and kept to his position but the whole defence struggled tonight.
Norwood 1.5/10 – Started the game with a few ok passes but then just kicked one out under no pressure. Then gave it away again and they broke and had a shot blocked. Gave it away again and Willock took it off him and Norwood dragged him down for another cynical booking. Just did not get on it or affect the game and when he did he lost it. When he had it after the poor passes, the then started to play safe and go backwards or just tried aimless crosses. Not sure I recall many passes when he moved it forward and found a pink shirt. Horrible shot miles off 2nd half and not sure he did many things right at all. Continued with awful passes and never moved us up the field. It is like a hot potato with him as he is so slow and knows he cannot take too many touches or he loses it. Awful shot right at the end sums up his night. Goodman said he is technically very good but not sure he is as his crossing, passing and shooting this season have been technically inept. Just did a lot of pointing. Hopeless on and off the ball.
Fleck 3/10 – Had a few bits of ok play but so slow to do things and sluggish on and off the ball. Him and Norwood had got back to old standards at the weekend but they were not quite up to it tonight and they ceded too much possession and let players run off them or through them too much. The midfield offered no protected to the defence (as poor as they were) and when they got on it lost it or just played it sideways or backwards. Him and Norwood made no attempt to step out or get us up the pitch. He was barely in the game 2nd half. Tried to link a bit but most of the game I just barely noticed him and had no positive impact on things at all.
Osborn 5/10 – Lively to begin with seemed to be involved in some our early attacks linking well with a number of players. Popped up in good positions. Kept working hard and plugging away but we saw very little of the ball other than a 5-10 minutes spell early on in the game. After that he ran around but never any quality to hurt them and then on the goal, he was ball watching as the ball went inside and he was nowhere. Kept plugging away and I thought it was harsh for him to go off.
McGoldrick 6/10 – Game of two halves really as he was terrible to begin with but then was our best outfield player second half. After being great Saturday, he was awful to start today with a poor miss when well placed. His touch and passing was a bit all over the place and then he had another chance he ballooned over. Just did not stick to him and he seemed to make poor choices. Few bits of ok play, like in the free kick he helped win and then blazed wide. However, I felt second half he did improve hugely and got on the ball, was brave and tried to make things happen. Had our best effort that hit the bar. He kept going and never hid (like Osborn) and is the only one who tried to penetrate at all and run with it.
Jebbison 3/10 – After an impressive game Sunday, he was not in the game really. Had a few tidy touches in the game but overall not much involvement. I barely noticed him first half at all. He is a really young lad so of course he is learning the game. Bit better 2nd half but again not much impact. I am not sure his performance was any worse than many of our front men have put in though (so many anonymous showings from experienced players). Thought he maybe should have been took off – not his fault but just not in it as the way the rest of the team played. Maybe he needed to get involved a bit more but it was hard for him starved of it and he did not even have many balls to chase.
Subs –
Brewster 3/10 – A poor cross and then a shot from miles out deflected wide. One moment he had it he just failed to kick it and fell over. It looked like he had never played football before at this moment. He get it and tries to shoot whenever he has it and seems so anxious. Just looks like someone who has no confidence at all. Needs to relax a bit.
Seriki – Nice to see him come on as has done so well in the u23’s this season and been a scoring threat and set up a number of goals. Fast and quite strong. He will be one who would think needs a loan spell (like some of the other youngsters) next season.
Manager Heckingbottom 2/10 – Totally different to Sunday. We played great, competing, defending well, battling/pressing and got up the field and had an attacking threat. Tonight, we looked slow, lackadaisical and were run all over when they attacked us. We could not keep up with their front men and did not get out or up the pitch (probably worried about their pace). We did not commit men forward at all, as again probably worried about the pace but we had to try and do more. I felt we needed to change things tactically and personnel but did not. The only way we got back into the game was due to Newcastle sitting off and losing their key performers to injury. He must be frustrated that we struggled so much after doing so well before. Sadly, tonight was more in keeping with how we have been both individually and collectively all season and I was disinterested. Why did he not give the young lads a go off the bench – too late for Seriki to make an impact? There was no urgency or tempo and he needed to change that with the tactics or personnel. It was dire to watch today. Newcastle are not a great side but were better than us by a fair way I felt.
Newcastle - Steve Bruce has had a lot of criticism the last few years but they have stayed up comfortably both seasons. At times they still may not have been the best to watch but it is not like he has had a fortune to spend or has a particularly deep squad. He may not be a fashionable choice but he normally does quite a good job wherever he goes really.
Saint Maximim is a real talent and makes things happen. We do not have a player close to him in ability or what he can do. He worries defenders. They have a fair few solid pros also but clearly they are inconsistent and not sure they have a regular go to goal scorer although Willock has done really well.
They of course will want Ashley out and feel that as a huge club they should be doing much better but the evidence of history (in a similar way to our cross city rivals) is that they actually have not achieve much or finished that high (aside from the Keegan days) for a very long time. They have not won anything at all. Of course, they are a big club with a lot of fans but they would need a significant amount of investment to get close to the top 5-6. They aren’t even really that close to teams like Leicester really.
Still you do sense if they got owners in who did invest it could be a really powerful side when you look at sides like Leicester and Wolves who have had that kind of investment. Bruce will remain and rightly so despite the criticism he receives and will hope the off-field stuff is sorted.
Opponent Man of the Match – Saint Maximim. Miles better than every other player and on a different level to our sloths. He has caused us problems every time he plays against us. He does to others too. Fast, tricky, strong, goal threat. A joy to watch and we have no one close to him in our side. He is a different league (literally now) to our players. Watching Egan, Stevens and Basham trying to stop him was a bit embarrassing. Willock was the next best player on the pitch. He was always looking to create or make things happen and clearly can score goals as he is showing. The rest of the side were competent but did not need to do much really. The wing backs both put decent crosses in. Not sure we put one good cross in all night.
Opponent Weak link – Almiron just kept looking for free kicks and did not stay on his feet. I felt the defence was also there to be got at but we never threatened really at all.
Referee/Officials – Robert Jones. Rightly booked a few of ours for cynical fouls, Stevens and Norwood. Think we could have had more yellow cards as we kept chopping people down. Almiron was constantly looking for things though to counter that. I am not sure we got much given although the Basham one maybe was a bit soft when Shelvey made a tackle I suppose. Then the game limped on literally with injuries aplenty and after no play for about 10 minutes of the 2nd half and a number of subs, played 5 minutes. This was stopped for 3 mins and he then only played about 2 after this. Think he had seen enough too.
Coverage – Usual cliches about both teams. This time they talked about fans being back too but not sure either commentator particularly added anything that was insightful. Ian Crocker was trying to hype up the game more than it deserved with a very loud and over the top reactions to quite insignificant moments. Goodman (rent a cliché) just said obvious stuff all night. ‘Sums up their season’ or ‘Big summer’ or ‘Fine margins’ or ‘Not scoring goals’. To think he get paid to spout utter obvious nonsense.
