Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
A festive run to recollect for Newcastle United as we made it 4 wins on the spin in emphatic trend in opposition to Aston Villa.
An Anthony Gordon roller inside 90 seconds and Joelinton thumper within the ninetieth minute got here both aspect of yet one more objective for Alexander Isak as Villa performed many of the match with 10 males.
It was a managed, medical and fashionable efficiency and a consequence that sends us above Villa and Man Metropolis, six away from Spurs and as much as fifth, capping off an ideal finish to 2024 at St James’ Park in league and cup.
Tonali was excellent as soon as once more in that deeper position – he sweeps up all the things and is so slick in possession – Bruno continued to excel in that No.8 position, Trippier was a continuing calm head at right-back and each centre-backs handled all the things, with Burn specifically getting his foot or head to something that got here near Dubravka’s field, making it only one objective conceded in our final 4.
Joelinton additionally deserves enormous reward. He was at it from the off to arrange Gordon’s opener and rounded off a dominant show with a stunner of his personal. Gordon was vigorous at each ends and Murphy’s newest help means solely Salah and Saka have extra within the league this season!
Howe made two modifications, seeing Joelinton and Kieran Trippier are available for Joe Willock and Tino Livramento; who was absent from the squad by means of sickness.
The primary half began with a bang and beautiful end from Gordon, who was launched by Joelinton earlier than reducing in from the left and curling a magnificence previous Martinez and into the far nook.
Villa had a interval of strain in a decent first 45 stuffed with fouls and an interesting midfield battle, however Emery’s plan to get again into it was detailed by Duran, who noticed for a stamp on Schar half an hour in. The final time Villa beat us at St James’ was method again in 2005 the place Bowyer and Dyer had that notorious scrap, but it surely was the away aspect who had been lacking a person right here with an hour to play!
After that got here a flurry of possibilities as we seemed to capitalise on our man benefit. Following Joelinton’s disallowed objective the place Isak couldn’t fairly hold the ball in play, a world class save from Martinez stopped Tonali from making it 2-0 after sensible work from Bruno.
To this point so good in a primary half that noticed Gordon and Corridor mix nicely at each ends, Tonali sweep up beautifully and Joelinton make his presence felt in opposition to a tricky Villa midfield who had all of it to do within the remaining 45.
Trippier’s composure and know-how was noticeable and each centre-backs had been profitable their duels, however had Watkins to consider as Emery made a half time change. Isak and Murphy had been quiet so far, though they’d be hoping for house to take advantage of if and when 10-man Villa pushed for a method again into it…they usually bought precisely that.
After a managed begin to the second half, Murphy and Isak mixed to make it 2-0. Bruno’s intelligent ball set Murphy in behind down the proper and he delivered his sixth help of the season to arrange a faucet in for Isak, who nearly made it 3-0 earlier than VAR disallowed our second of the match.
Trippier was a category act, particularly within the second half, and he confirmed his defensive instincts to chop out what may’ve been a giant again submit probability for Watkins. He began so many assaults down the proper, confirmed actual composure all through and all the time appeared to do the proper factor with minimal fuss.
Three modifications then adopted as Barnes, Willock Targett got here on for Murphy, Gordon and Trippier, who clearly couldn’t proceed. With Tino sick, hopefully it was simply cramp.
Bruno thought he’d made it 3-0 however VAR made it a hat-trick of disallowed objective after the ball rebounded in off his arm. Nevertheless, one other Brazilian was to not be denied afterward, as Joelinton hammered in a magnificence from 18 yards after an terrible Onana giveaway.
Isak and Bruno got here off with a couple of minutes to go, giving Osula and Miley some minutes within the closing levels as we “Ole’d” our solution to a cushty 3-0 win.
Subsequent up, Man Utd away on Monday in our remaining recreation of 2024 earlier than a visit to Spurs every week on Saturday.
NUFC XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Corridor; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Subs: Vlachodimos, Barnes, Willock, Osula, Kelly, Targett, Almiron, Miley, Longstaff.
