Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has indicated he is prepared to scrap this season’s game plan at a moment’s notice if circumstances require. Moments after Fulham equalized through Sasa Lukic at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, the manager instructed a group of substitutes to warm up and several key players faced the axe.
Even goalscorer Jacob Murphy and impressive youngster Lewis Miley, both of whom had excellent performances, were not given additional time to rectify their problems in the second period. England international Anthony Gordon was also sent off in the closing stages after Howe opted for a new leg.
To be fair, Howe’s series of bold decisions paid off on a crisp autumn afternoon on Tyneside as Newcastle beat Fulham 2-1.
“I thought their appearances made a big difference. I was really happy with the last 25 minutes. We were a dominant team so I was hoping we would take that chance and thankfully Bruno did it,” Howe said after the shocking contributions of William Osula and Anthony Elanga in Bruno Guimarães’ decisive strike.
Howe also believed Guimarães’ late winner could change the tone ahead of this week’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham.
He added: “Yes, I think so. We’ve seen time and time again that when you score a goal late, it doesn’t just affect the game you win, it affects us as well. It’s the atmosphere and the attitude when you’re in that position again, and it makes you even more confident that you’ve found a winner. It has a huge ripple effect.”
“Just like we had to fight back when we conceded a goal late on, we have to fight against the habits that have formed. Breaking them is really important.”
Why Nick Waltemaid’s situation is more than a joke
Banks, who was a last-minute substitute for Tony Harrington, was sent off the field after being jeered at half-time.
The Germany international has not been given the treatment he deserves in the early stages of his Premier League career, although Voltemade’s imposing 6ft 6in stature appears to have worked against him by match officials and he has been relentlessly treated.
Pro Game Match Officials Limited has promised to crack down on shirt-pulling, but keep in mind that officials seem to believe Waltemaid’s imposing physique means he should be able to withstand even more rough treatment from his markers.
Current instructions to Premier League referees are to be wary of “extreme behavior” such as “dragging players onto the field in a manner that is not typical of football”.
While minor disputes have been brushed aside, the treatment Waltemade is receiving seems to be dismissed as inconsequential.
It started early in the season when Woltemade was denied a clear penalty in a 0-0 stalemate against Bournemouth on the south coast.
However, this issue has become a deep-rooted problem, and no match official in the division has yet taken a firm stance on the issue. Against Fulham, Woltemade found himself having his shirt pulled courtesy of Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey, with Banks taking no action.
With the glaring loophole in the rulebook revealed for Newcastle, the jeers that rang out at half-time seemed warranted.
Woltemade was not the only victim, as Harvey Barnes also had his shirt pulled back during the second period, but the blatant inconsistency caused some supporters to react furiously and the crowd’s dissatisfaction only increased.
Fabian Schaal leaves a huge legacy
The former Switzerland international is aware that Malick Thiaw is currently one of the most impressive defenders in both the Premier League and Europe as a whole, so he had no choice but to bide his time and not miss out on his chance.
But when Sven Botman endured a painful moment against the Cottage and had to be sent off, the path was paved for a breakthrough that could have eluded Schar during Saturday’s game.
This appearance marked his 200th Premier League appearance for Newcastle and Eddie Howe expressed his delight at his contribution.
After the match, he confessed: “Ever since I’ve been here, he’s always been around.
“Obviously, this season the challenges have become even bigger with the form of Marik and Sven and Dan. It’s not easy for all the defenders to step up and play in our group.”
“I’m happy with how he’s playing and it’ll do him a world of good.”
