Newcastle are back after an unplanned weeks absence to take on West Brom. Both teams come into this game after playing Crystal Palace previously with two very different results. Newcastle seeing victory against Palace in a 2-0 victory. Whilst WBA saw themselves effectively battered at home 1-5 against the Eagles.
Karl Darlow continued between the sticks with a 4-4-2 line up. The defense ahead of Darlow consisted of Krafth at Right Back, Hayden and Clarke as the Center backs and Jamal Lewis filling the left-back role. In midfield, Almiron started on the right with Shelvey and Sean Longstaff in the centre of the midfield. Matt Ritchie sloted in, in a presumably a box to box left midfield role. Upfront we had the potential full-time partnership of Callum Wilson and Joelinton. Although after today's performance Dwight Gayle might have disrupted that partnership.
Newcastle started the game quickly when Miguel Almiron bagged his first goal of the season. Straight from the West Brom kick, Branislav Ivanovic lost possession allowing Callum Wilson to break away. The ball was picked up by Joelinton who played a delicious ball through to an unmarked Miggy Almiron who tidily slotted the ball into the bottom corner of Johnston's goal.
After the first goal, West Brom set out to press the Toon, but they couldn't get a good shot on target. Despite pressure from the Baggies, it was Newcastle and Joelinton who came closest to staining the scoresheet once more when he broke into the box, turned a sliding defender and shot towards the bottom corner forcing a good stop from Sam Johnston.
There were ugly scenes towards the end of the first half with Darnel Furlong attempting to throw Jamal Lewis to the ground, unsuccessfully to Jamal's credit. Both players received a booking as Lewis reacted aggressively. But it was Furlong who was laughing in the second half when the ball was crossed in by Phillips, there seemed to be no danger until out of nowhere Furlong got on to the end of the cross to score a sublime volley into the bottom corner. There was almost certainly nothing Karl Darlow could do to save the shot however Jamal Lewis should have done better as he waited for the ball to come to him to volley it away instead of proactively getting to the ball to win a header.
The goal must have woken up the mags and Steve Bruce as he brought on Dwight Gayle and Jacob Murphy for Jamal Lewis and Emil Krafth respectively. These were inspiring substitutions as the pair linked up nicely when Murphy played an early cross in from deep inside the Newcastle half. Despite being surrounded by the Albion defence, Gayle rose up well to get his head onto the ball which beat the keeper, hit the crossbar and landed in the back of the net 2-1 to the Toon.
West Brom could not find the form they started the second half with as they tried to press Newcastle to no avail. With six minutes added on towards the end of the second half Wilson took the ball into the corner to run down the clock. Eventually, West Brom got the ball down the other end but it unsuccessful. The referee blew for full time.
Final Score Newcastle United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion.
Howay the Lads.
Sam West.
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