Eddie Howe proposed that his team’s renewed focus on patience aided in Newcastle’s victory over Sunderland, the first since 2011.
According to the speaker, Newcastle achieved a delicate balance between being patient and attempting to score, resulting in a 3-0 win against Stadium of Light with two goals from Alexander Isak. This win broke their streak of seven losses in eight games.
“Perhaps we have not always been in perfect equilibrium lately. However, we effectively managed the beginning of the game and the situation. We diffused the intensity. Our goal was to avoid a fast-paced game and instead maintain control. Victory held significant importance for us.”
Newcastle made changes to their usual aggressive style and focused on controlling the midfield with Bruno Guimarães. As a result, Michael Beale’s fifth game as Sunderland’s manager ended in a disappointing loss for his young team.
Thus, the recent Tyne-Wear derby was a much-needed positive experience for Howe, as it marked the first one since 2016. He stated, “We found joy in the event. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for us, just another typical day considering we have played in high-profile matches like the Champions League and Premier League this season. The ambiance was not too different from playing in Milan or Paris Saint-Germain.”
“The victory holds significant significance. This matchup holds great importance and the main focus is that our confidence has been restored. It has been a difficult period for us, with injuries posing a major issue, but we appear to be physically stronger. We were able to tap into an additional level of performance. Not only did we secure the win, but we also maintained a clean sheet.”
Howe singled out Kieran Trippier, who has been struggling at right-back, for special praise, along with Guimarães and Miguel Almirón. “Kieran was excellent,” he said. “He showed his experience. He made good decisions.”
The Sunderland manager, Michael Beale, remained calm about the situation. He admitted, “To be frank, there was a noticeable difference between the two teams. We attempted to bridge the gap, but we were unable to do so in the 90 minutes.”
“In the first half, our defense was adequate, but our overall performance lacked quality. At halftime, we discussed being more aggressive and moving up the field, but unfortunately, we started the second half off on the wrong foot by giving up a second goal. We essentially sabotaged ourselves.”
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“Newcastle emerged victorious against PSG this season, gaining valuable exposure and experience at a higher level of football. Their expertise and knowledge proved to be the deciding factor, as there is a significant gap between playing in the Championship and the Premier League.”
The ex-coach of the Rangers balanced his letdown with a feeling of hope for the future of the second division’s most youthful team. “It’s a terrible feeling at the moment, but it’s comforting to know that we have 20 more games in the Championship and we can be just as hopeful as anyone about making it into the playoffs,” he stated. “I believe our players are capable of performing better than they did today.”
Our goal is to provide young players with the chance to improve and flourish, but this model is not a simple one and requires effort. While our youth is not a disadvantage in the Championship, we were unable to bridge the financial and experience gap with Newcastle.
Source: theguardian.com
