Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Newcastle United fell to a devastating 1-2 defeat by the hands of Brighton on Sunday as they exited the FA Cup on the fifth rd stage. United misplaced because the dearth of high quality backup within the squad was horribly uncovered by a aspect that have been ably assisted by the referee on a day when all the pieces appeared to go unsuitable.
Alexander Isak opened the scoring from the penalty spot earlier than Yankuba Minteh equalised simply earlier than half time. Danny Welbeck scored the winner late in further time.
Listed below are our 5 key takeaways from the sport:
1. Whole headloss
Sunday was one of many worst video games of soccer I’ve ever watched. United have been horrible, Brighton have been terrible and the officiating was abysmal. There was no high quality to be discovered as passes have been continuously misplaced, the standard of probabilities created barely registered on the xG scale, and ref couldn’t inform a foul from his ****gap. And to high all of it off, Anthony Gordon could’ve managed to get us knocked out of two cups on the identical day with an act of utter petulance.
Willock missed a wonderful probability to win the sport by going to go the ball along with his eyes closed. The sport was error strewn within the excessive with Tonali and Schar enduring particular person performances to overlook. However what’s worrying within the excessive is that groups now seem to have a blueprint to beat us at SJP at will, as we’ve now misplaced to Brighton, Fulham, and Bournemouth in three out of the final 4 house video games.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this down about Newcastle United and this whole headloss has come at precisely the unsuitable time within the season.
2. Groundhog Day
Newcastle’s squad has main technical deficiencies, as everyone knows, in all probability not even on the identical stage as Sunday’s opponents. However what’s deeply, deeply regarding in regards to the squad on the minute is its mentality, or the entire lack of. It was Groundhog Day because the group fell into acquainted failing patterns of play, because the terribly imbalanced aspect struggled to interrupt Brighton down within the second half and additional time.
Brighton have been completely happy to let Jacob Murphy have the ball as they knew he wouldn’t threaten. Schar gave the ball away time and again attempting Hollywood passes out from the again (one thing he has carried out on a number of events this 12 months). Gordon appears like he’s been came upon. Tonali has dropped back-to-back poor performances. Wilson was horrible once more (and he’s greater than seemingly completed as a footballer at this stage). Targett and Barnes have been nameless, with the latter’s lack of influence a giant fear now he could also be wanted for our subsequent three video games
And to high all of it off, Eddie Howe is beginning to repeat the identical errors in group choice and tactical setup which have hindered us in drops of kind during the last three seasons too.
Actually, it’s like this membership is cursed. We get so near reaching one thing that we will nearly attain out and contact it, however we’re again in peril of fall painfully quick…once more.
3. Accidents including up
At simply the unsuitable time within the season United seem like succumbing to accidents after we had mercifully been comparatively damage free in 2024/25. Lewis Corridor could possibly be out for some time after it was revealed he must see a specialist for an ankle damage, which is a large fear.
Sven Botman is struggling to recuperate from a persistent knee damage. Isak felt a tightness and needed to be subbed off. Trippier has a possible again damage. Joelinton isn’t 100% match and Livramento was actually scuffling with cramp late within the recreation.
What made the Tino cramp state of affairs much more galling was the truth that if you go to further time within the FA Cup you get an additional sub. Why didn’t Krafth come on to switch him, when Tino was clearly struggling? After which in fact it’s Tino who’s deepest enjoying Welbeck onside for Brighton’s winner. It was an utter shambles.
Throw in Gordon’s three recreation ban (it gained’t get overturned on enchantment, belief me) and we seem like going into the Carabao Cup last with the squad decimated by damage, a key participant suspended, and the mentality shot.
4. One other Anthony Taylor stinker
The usual of refereeing on this nation is completely in the bathroom. Taylor had no management over that recreation, allowed gamesmanship to reign supreme and fell for all of the ****housery each single time.
The blatant van Hecke foul on midway within the second half was one of many clearest yellow playing cards I’ve ever seen, and he simply ignored it. He fell for play appearing each time, let freekicks and thrown ins be taken from actually anyplace, and did not award apparent freekicks time and again.
He was scared to make choices and was over reliant on the know-how. It was a frankly stunning show of officiating, and mark my phrases, if Taylor referees the cup last we’ll lose.
5. Is the season in peril of utterly unravelling?
It definitely felt prefer it on the last whistle and it’ll really feel prefer it till United get a good lead to a recreation of soccer once more. Every thing across the aspect feels lacklustre and up to date performances threaten to see all of the onerous work chucked away because the temper actually begins to bitter on Tyneside.
Sunday was a horrible reminder of the kind of luck and high quality that has been round St. James’ for generations now. I really feel so deflated, as apparently issues can by no means be easy for United. It was additionally dispiriting simply how poor the ambiance was contained in the stadium.
A flat feeling on the finish of the sport is truthful and it was clear simply how down, despondent and offended yesterday’s occasions left so many within the crowd as they trudged out of the stadium, however it was quiet for a lot of the 120 minutes and felt nothing like a match the place a spot within the final eight of the FA Cup was on the road. It’s a regarding development and has to vary, whichever stadium we find yourself in.
Again to issues on the pitch, if our worst fears are confirmed and Corridor’s damage is long run, in tandem with Gordon’s suspension, then the lefthand aspect will likely be threadbare for the cup last and past. I suppose that can make it all of the sweeter if we do win the Carabao Cup, however it appears like a hell of a mountain to climb from right here.
HWTL
