Newcastle United 4 v Leicester City 0
Premier League -St. James Park – 14th December 2024
Post Match Analysis by Colin Murrant
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation.
Main talk pre-match was the exclusion of Buonanotte from the starting eleven. The Brighton loanee could not play against his parent club last Sunday but Mavididi’s cameo, in the comeback draw against the Seagulls, earned him a place in the team. With both Soumare (suspension) and Ndidi (injury) missing from the squad, Skipp and Choudhury were picked to start in midfield in what appeared to be a team lacking much creativity: perhaps El Khannouss apart. As expected, Pope was absent from the Newcastle squad, in his place Eddie Howe had opted for the experience of Dubravka in goal.
As it turned out, Howe could have played without a goalkeeper, such was the difference between the two teams. Make no mistake, The Toon were up for this, they seemed to win every duel, were faster, stronger than City. The concerns about the midfield were well founded and, on the flanks, we were cut to threads: our two full backs are the worst pairing I have seen in the Premier League. If there is any consolation in these shambles, it is that RVN now knows what his priorities are in the January transfer window: that list will hopefully include three defenders. If the defence was appalling then Skipp and Choudhury were as bad, Skipp appears to have little body strength and is slow, how we paid £20m for him I will never know. Choudhury’s passing so poor that he was eventually replaced and Coady moved into midfield.
Ironically, City started reasonably well and had an early chance to put the Newcastle backline under pressure. Murphy fouled Mavididi on the left, but the cross from Kristiansen was easily cleared. City’s high press was working and Schar had to stretch to intercept a low cross by El Khannouss with Vardy waiting to pounce. From that point on though, it was all Newcastle.
The first scare was a run from Gordon who, leaving defenders in his wake, shot from the edge of the box and brought an excellent save from Hermansen who tipped the ball over for a corner. The resultant corner gave Burn a chance, but his header was over the bar.
Isak had a run at the City defence, he is fouled by Skipp but lays the ball off for Murphy whose tame shot is fielded by Hermansen. The referee, having allowed play to continue and led to the shot, inexplicably brings the ball back, and awards Newcastle a free kick; in the process, booking Skipp.
Hall and Gordon were starting to run riot down City’s right and Newcastle were missing chances galore. When the goal came however, it was a corner on Newcastle’s right. Gordon received the ball and broke into the box before laying it back to the edge of the area. There was Murphy to score with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner: a move straight off the training ground. This was on the half hour. City had a spell of control as they passed the ball around without progressing, until a poor pass from Choudhury set Newcastle on the way: Izak was put in on goal but, with only the keeper to beat, he rolled the ball wide.
As half-time drew near, City did have a spell around the Newcastle box, moving the ball backwards and forwards: plenty of passes and at least six opportunities to get the ball into the danger area, but nothing came of it.
City fan’s spirits were further deflated when Hermansen was replaced after the break by Ward. Within 5 minutes, Ward had touched the ball twice, both times to pick the ball out of the back of the net, as City’s defence was non-existent. No blame attached to Ward when, on 47 minutes, a free kick about 25 yards out was sent to the far post, Hall unmarked heads the ball back across goal over two other Newcastle players to find a third, Guimares, who has a simple header. First two goals coming from set pieces. Three minutes later and another Hall cross from the left finds Isak on his own at the far post who has no trouble heading into the gaping net.
Murphy again nearly scores as Isak sets him up, his shot brings a good save out of Ward, but the referee decides on a goal-kick. Still, Newcastle and Murphy are only denied a few minutes as, on the hour, Isak cuts in from City’s right to find Murphy in oceans of space, Murphy shoots through Ward’s legs and City are trounced. Howe, with a League Cup quarter final on Wednesday, decides to take some of his star players off, and Newcastle seem to take the foot off the gas: whilst still seeing the game out comfortably and having all the chances.
To illustrate City’s defensive woes, Kristiansen instead of heading the ball clear, hesitates and lets it bounce, and has two chances to clear the ball before being out-muscled by Tonali. The defender then has to make a last second lunge at the ball to get it away for a corner.
This was as bad a defeat as any Cooper managed. However, RVN now has seen the magnitude of the defensive problems. He has a transfer window and over half a season to sort this problem out. Soumare will be back next week but who partners him, and will he be the same without Ndidi?
It is so annoying that Winks was reported as partying in Denmark when most supporters would have expected him to be getting treatment on his injury. RVN has a lot on his hands, and I believe he is a strong enough character and a true professional who will sort the mess out.
RVN later said that Mads Hermansen had sustained a groin injury: City fans will be praying the keeper is fit for next Sunday against Wolves.
Newcastle United: Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali; Gordon, Murphy, Isak. Subs: Vlachodimos, Trippier, Kelly, Targett, Barnes, Willock, Longstaff, Osula, Almiron.
Leicester City: Hermansen; Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Choudhury, Skipp; McAteer, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy. Subs: Ward, Thomas, Faes, Okoli, Cartwright, Buonanotte, Ayew, De Cordova-Reid, Daka.
Match Officials: Referee, Thomas Bramall: Video Assistant Referee, Jarred Gillett