Newcastle are back at St James Park to face a depleted Southampton side who lost 9-0 to Manchester United. It seems Bruce may have been listening to the fans as he seemed to have played a 4-2-3-1 formation, keeping Darlow in goal. In the flat back four were Manquillo, Hayden, Schar and Lewis. Shelvey was the captain being partnered in the CDM role by Hendrick, with the loan signing Joe Willock playing just ahead in Attacking Mid. Either side of Willock were Miggy Almiron and Starting for the first time since November Allan Saint-Maximin. Of course, ahead of the attacking three was Calum Wilson.
Southampton gets the game underway but it is a good start for the Geordies. In the 9th minute Wilson has the ball in the back of the net when Shelvey plays the ball through, Wilson clear of the defence slots it in the net but the linesman raises the flag for offside, still 0-0. But just seven minutes later United keep up the pressure when a long ball is played up to ASM, who takes a perfect touch to beat Stephenson, Maxi plays the ball accrosd and Willock is there to meet it. Goal from the new boy, what a debut. Willock just slot it past the keeper. 1-0.
But in the 24th minute the first of four disastrous events occured when Manquillo went down injured, from a challenge he made, he goes off and Krafth comes on. Then Adams slips Ings in who has an effort saved by the legs of Darlow. Newcastle held there lead. And then just one minute later United didn't just hold on, they went further ahead with Saint-Maximin on the left who played it into Almiron. Almiron had the shot which came off Bednarek who appears to score another own goal for the second time in two consecutive games. However, it was later ruled that Almiron had been awarded the goal. 2-0.
Four minutes later, the Mags were on the back foot when Minamino charged into the box on the left hand side, Minamino recieved and took the ball away from Hayden who was wrong footed, The Japanese International blasted the shot into the roof of the net, nothing Darlow could do. 2-1.
In the 32nd minute saw number two of four disasters for United, Calum Wilson went down with an hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Joelinton who played for the first time since his lockdown related indiscretion. And in the 44th minute Southampton played a well worked free kick on the left hand side, with the Toon players hovering over the six yard box, James Ward-Prowes played the ball accross on the floor to Bertrand who struck it over the bar. Newcastle hold on again. And again straight after holding on United increase their lead from a mistake by McCarthy who played the ball to an off balanced Bertrand. Almiron pounced on the loose ball and got in on goal, with the goal gapping Almiron sloted the ball into the bottom corner. 3-1. And half Time.
Straight into the second half and Shelvey misses a fantastic opportunity to potentially kill the game. Willock drilled the ball in from the right hand side and Shelvey tries to cushion it in with his left foot but the water soaked ball slips off his boot and away from the goal. But just as Southampton hold on themselves, they went and reduced the deficit when Hayden brought down Che Adams thirty yards from goal. Up stepped James Ward-Prowes (The modern day Beckham) and did what JWP does. Curls it into the top corner past Karl Darlow, fantastic free kick. 3-2.
The 49th minute brought number three of four of the disasters. Hendrick picked up is second yellow after tugging on the shirt of Minamino, was it worth a yellow card? I'm not sure. But Newcastle were down to ten. Six minutes later Southampton attacked on the right hand side with Ward-Prowes who crossed it in for Vesterguard who had his header saved by Darlow. Still 3-2. Although it looked to have changed in the 63rd minute when Redmond on the right side cut the ball back to Ings who had a shot, curling away from goal the ball rebounded off the post and into the greatful arms of Karl Darlow. Lucky escape. Two minutes later brought part two of the great escape when Danny Ings's shot was rebounded to Adams who puts it into the back of the net. But the lineman became the provider of Geordie relief as he rose his flag.
Are you ready for the conclusion of the disaster saga. It started with a United free kick at the edge of the area, Schar stepped up to take it and hit it into the wall. Schar then followed it up and challenged for the ball, the ball was cleared away leaving behind Fabian Schar clutching his knee in agony. The stretcher came on to take him off as he was replaced by nobody due to two other injuries and a tactical change when Dummet came on for Saint-Maximin earlier in the half. Brucy's boys had shrunk to nine.
The words "hold on" have been said a lot in this article, and that's what United had to do. And in the 89th minute, we held out breaths. Ward-Prowse sent the ball into the box which was met by Darlow who clawed it as far as Ings who had the shot, blocked on the line by Hayden. Newcastle won the ball back and went up to the other end for the long awaited final whistle. Full Time Newcastle United 3-2 Southampton.
One hundred minutes of football (including the added time) felt like a lifetime. But this is the fight and determination we needed to see. With that mentality we will not go down. Keep the faith. Today was a great result under tough circumstances. The players showed the character we longed to see. Bring on Chelsea.
By Sam West
Howay the Lads.
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