The more things change at Newcastle United, the more they stay the same. Steve McClaren’s “evolution” on Tyneside is now more than two months old yet the Magpies’ defensive deficiencies and ill-discipline are not even close to being resolved.
After gifting goals to both Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew – both former long-term NUFC targets – McClaren’s men went down 2-0 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Newcastle have now conceded 194 Barclays Premier League goals since the start of the 2012-13 season, more than any other side in the division – and until those problems are resolved, they will not move forward under McClaren.
Following their capitulation in south Wales – when Daryl Janmaat received the Magpies’ fifth red card in 12 games after 41 minutes – Newcastle have now lost their last seven Premier League away matches, scoring just once in the process, and they haven’t won on any ground aside from St James’ Park since they beat Hull City 3-0 in January.
What’s more, Swansea have now taken 20 Premier League points off Newcastle, more than against any other side, while Papiss Cisse remains the only Newcastle player ever to score at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League
With Steve McClaren having named an unchanged starting line-up for the game, captain Fabrico Coloccini made his 250th appearance for the Magpies at the Liberty, while Tim Krul started a Premier League match for the 150th time. Siem de Jong, however, failed to even take a seat on the bench after suffering a shin injury, the severity of which was unconfirmed. Bizarrely, before the game NUFC tweeted that the Magpies would be wearing their “peacoat navy and bright plasma” away kit, a frankly absurd description.
Once the game began, unsurprisingly it was the home side on the front foot from the off. Swansea bombarded the Magpies box for the entirety of the first couple of minutes, passing the ball around nicely, before Jonjo Shelvey’s effort was calmly caught by Tim Krul.
Then, after seven minutes, Andre Ayew cut inside and teed up Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose strike from the edge of the box was saved by a grateful Krul.
And, just two minutes later, Newcastle were behind. Shelvey, who was magnificent from the get go, slotted an excellent through-ball that dissected the Magpies’ back four and, with Coloccini having failed to follow his man, Gomis ghosted in behind, stayed onside and rounded Krul before slotting home. It was a magnificent ball from Shelvey to fashion the opportunity, and a brilliant 21-pass move from Swansea, but it was abysmal defending from the visitors.
The Magpies simply did not turn up in the opening quarter of an hour – and it took until the 15th minute for their first shot on target to arrive, when Papiss Cisse released Gabriel Obertan down te left, who cut inside and fizzed a low shot goalwards which Lukasz Fabianski did well to tip wide for a corner.
In all honesty, the game hit a bit of a lull in the middle period of the first-half. Mike Jones persistently blew for fouls, meaning neither side could really get into their rhythm, especially once the visitors finally woke up after their nightmare opening 15 minutes. Janmaat’s first booking arrived after he stupidly came through the back of Jefferson Montero when the Ecuadorian was going nowhere inside his own half.
Then came the moment that proved not everything has yet changed at NUFC. Janmaat, who had already been booked and persistently burned by Montero, pulled the Ecuadorian back in the 41st minute and received his second yellow card. For the second time in three away games, the Dutchman had been sent-off – and this time it was for a ridiculous foul in the Swansea half, when there was absolutely no danger.
And Montero almost made things even worse for the visitors just moments later as he jinked in from the left past replacement right-back Vurnon Anita and powered a low right-footed shot off Krul’s post. For the second match in a row, the winger was proving to be unplayable.
At half-time, Steven Taylor was brought on – replacing Moussa Sissoko, who worryingly pulled up holding his groin at the end of the first 45 – and the Geordie took his place at centre-half, with Chancel Mbemba moving across to right-back.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, it was Swansea who came out for the second-half looking the better side – and Sigurdsson curled a magnificent left-footed effort from outside the area which dipped and crashed off the underside of the bar, only for Krul to gratefully grab on to it afterwards.
And that was merely a warning for the visitors – as long-term NUFC target Ayew popped up with his inevitable goal. Once again it was Montero who did the damage, magnificently beating Mbemba down the left before playing a delicious cross for his Ghanaian teammate, who powered a header home after out-jumping Coloccini.
Strangely, McClaren responded by taking off Cisse and bringing on Rolando Aarons, playing the winger as a loan striker.
But it made little difference, as Swansea continued to dominate. Montero again broke down the left and teed up Ayew once more, but this time his free header was directed wide.
In truth, the Magpies were awful, and paid the price for losing Janmaat so early. The visitors were grateful when Montero was replaced in the 77th minute, but by then the damage had been done. There was still time for Aleksandar Mitrovic to come on and get booked within a minute of arriving on to the pitch, several seconds more than it took him on his debut…
McClaren has much to ponder going forward – particularly because his side barely registered a shot on target past the half-hour mark – and he must look to improve their discipline, as well as their defence. If he doesn’t do that quickly, then NUFC could be in for another tough, tough campaign…
With Steve McClaren having named an unchanged starting line-up for the game, captain Fabrico Coloccini made his 250th appearance for the Magpies at the Liberty, while Tim Krul started a Premier League match for the 150th time. Siem de Jong, however, failed to even take a seat on the bench after suffering a shin injury, the severity of which was unconfirmed. Bizarrely, before the game NUFC tweeted that the Magpies would be wearing their “peacoat navy and bright plasma” away kit, a frankly absurd description.
Once the game began, unsurprisingly it was the home side on the front foot from the off. Swansea bombarded the Magpies box for the entirety of the first couple of minutes, passing the ball around nicely, before Jonjo Shelvey’s effort was calmly caught by Tim Krul.
Then, after seven minutes, Andre Ayew cut inside and teed up Gylfi Sigurdsson, whose strike from the edge of the box was saved by a grateful Krul.
And, just two minutes later, Newcastle were behind. Shelvey, who was magnificent from the get go, slotted an excellent through-ball that dissected the Magpies’ back four and, with Coloccini having failed to follow his man, Gomis ghosted in behind, stayed onside and rounded Krul before slotting home. It was a magnificent ball from Shelvey to fashion the opportunity, and a brilliant 21-pass move from Swansea, but it was abysmal defending from the visitors.
The Magpies simply did not turn up in the opening quarter of an hour – and it took until the 15th minute for their first shot on target to arrive, when Papiss Cisse released Gabriel Obertan down te left, who cut inside and fizzed a low shot goalwards which Lukasz Fabianski did well to tip wide for a corner.
In all honesty, the game hit a bit of a lull in the middle period of the first-half. Mike Jones persistently blew for fouls, meaning neither side could really get into their rhythm, especially once the visitors finally woke up after their nightmare opening 15 minutes. Janmaat’s first booking arrived after he stupidly came through the back of Jefferson Montero when the Ecuadorian was going nowhere inside his own half.
Then came the moment that proved not everything has yet changed at NUFC. Janmaat, who had already been booked and persistently burned by Montero, pulled the Ecuadorian back in the 41st minute and received his second yellow card. For the second time in three away games, the Dutchman had been sent-off – and this time it was for a ridiculous foul in the Swansea half, when there was absolutely no danger.
And Montero almost made things even worse for the visitors just moments later as he jinked in from the left past replacement right-back Vurnon Anita and powered a low right-footed shot off Krul’s post. For the second match in a row, the winger was proving to be unplayable.
At half-time, Steven Taylor was brought on – replacing Moussa Sissoko, who worryingly pulled up holding his groin at the end of the first 45 – and the Geordie took his place at centre-half, with Chancel Mbemba moving across to right-back.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, it was Swansea who came out for the second-half looking the better side – and Sigurdsson curled a magnificent left-footed effort from outside the area which dipped and crashed off the underside of the bar, only for Krul to gratefully grab on to it afterwards.
And that was merely a warning for the visitors – as long-term NUFC target Ayew popped up with his inevitable goal. Once again it was Montero who did the damage, magnificently beating Mbemba down the left before playing a delicious cross for his Ghanaian teammate, who powered a header home after out-jumping Coloccini.
Strangely, McClaren responded by taking off Cisse and bringing on Rolando Aarons, playing the winger as a loan striker.
But it made little difference, as Swansea continued to dominate. Montero again broke down the left and teed up Ayew once more, but this time his free header was directed wide.
In truth, the Magpies were awful, and paid the price for losing Janmaat so early. The visitors were grateful when Montero was replaced in the 77th minute, but by then the damage had been done. There was still time for Aleksandar Mitrovic to come on and get booked within a minute of arriving on to the pitch, several seconds more than it took him on his debut…
McClaren has much to ponder going forward – particularly because his side barely registered a shot on target past the half-hour mark – and he must look to improve their discipline, as well as their defence. If he doesn’t do that quickly, then NUFC could be in for another tough, tough campaign…
Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Shelvey; Sigurdsson (Britton 86), Ayew (Dyer 71), Montero (Routledge 77); Gomis
Subs Not Used: Nordfeldt, Eder, Rangel, Bartley
Goals: Gomis (9), Ayew (52)
Booked: Ayew, Naughton
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Taylor 46), Wijnaldum, Obertan (Mitrovic 82); Cisse (Aarons 54)
Subs Not Used: Darlow, Williamson, Tiote, Perez, Mitrovic
Booked: Mitrovic
Sent-Off: Janmaat (Double Yellow)
Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 20,678
Subs Not Used: Nordfeldt, Eder, Rangel, Bartley
Goals: Gomis (9), Ayew (52)
Booked: Ayew, Naughton
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Taylor 46), Wijnaldum, Obertan (Mitrovic 82); Cisse (Aarons 54)
Subs Not Used: Darlow, Williamson, Tiote, Perez, Mitrovic
Booked: Mitrovic
Sent-Off: Janmaat (Double Yellow)
Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 20,678
Hello, my name is Godwin Brain. I'm an ICT Analyst, blogger, web-designer and a writer. 
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