Newcastle played in their orange away strips at Rochdale. Bruce kept with three at the back. Emil Krafth played on the right side of the back three with Isaac Hayden on the left. Christian Atsu was in at left wing-back.
From the start, Newcastle were on the front foot with plenty of possession. Christian Atsu and DeAndre Yedlin played very high up the pitch. However, they created very few chances to test Rochdale goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the early stages.
That all changed in the 17th minute. Christian Atsu again beat his man down the left and found Miguel Almiron in the box. Almiron fired it past the keeper for his second goal as a Magpie. It was a well-deserved lead for the Magpies.
The opener from Miggy! ????? #NUFC pic.twitter.com/QHOvJIPpUp
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 4, 2020
Five minutes later it should have two. Joelinton took an interception from Muto and drove through the Rochdale midfield. He cut to his left in the box but his left-footed shot went wide.
With Atsu skinning Tyler Magloire down the left, they made a change and brought on 17-year-old Luke Matheson at right back in the 30th minute.
In the 39th minute, it was Yedlin this time who played a ball back to Muto in the box who couldn’t beat the keeper. It was another opportunity that Newcastle didn’t take.
Newcastle have dominated this game but just can’t finish their chances. We hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us in the second half.
188 comments so far
Mag :P
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:25 PM
Comment #1Player I’ve been most impressed with is krafth on this right side of the back 3.
I get that we usually don’t have much possession in the league but his passing has been brilliant. Starting attack after attack.
Pleasant to watch this I must say. Just wish we could have this kind of confidence in a premier league game and see what happens.
Mindshaft
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:26 PM
Comment #2The trouble is that neither muto nor Linton are natural strikers and therefore never run into the correct spaces – atsu and yedlin are creating chance after chance for them to no avail – might be worth sticking Sorenson on for Linton – be good to give him a run out in a game we are totally dominating
beefman13
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:27 PM
Comment #3More like Crotchdale, look like a Sunday league team.
SwissSte
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:27 PM
Comment #4I kinda feel sorry for Joelinton and Muto, but soon enough they’re gonna be consigned to the same category as Rivière, Doumbia, Slimani, Xisco, and other duds.
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:29 PM
Comment #5Mag P , Krafth certainly looks tidy and very relaxed on the ball. Maybe Nickson has found a player for cheap? Obviously lower opposition but he has a bit about him. Yedlin doing well on wing
Zele
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:30 PM
Comment #6We have to score a second as Rochdale against all the odds could score.
I would replace Muto with Sorensen. Give the lad an opportunity to show what he has got as Muto doesn’t seem to be doing too much.
Lindisfarne
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:30 PM
Comment #7Who is it that nufc fans are calling a w@nker?
Nufc-83
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:31 PM
Comment #8Mindshaft I agree with you completely.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:32 PM
Comment #9Decent half good goal lot more movement all over the pitch. Hope we don’t pay for missed chances
But- why oh why do we play unessessary passes across our back four – nearly got caught out again
Do we not learn from the three previous games – ARGHH
Jib
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
Comment #10Robby Savage
DaveD1000
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
Comment #11Robbie Savage
Bambams
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
Comment #12Lindisfarne
I thought it was Gordon Strachan….
But I am not 100% sure
Lindisfarne
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
Comment #13Save Almiron legs and swap him first, Sorensen upfront may give Muto / Joelinton an opportunity to score. Niether have shown the ability to get in at the front post.
DaveD1000
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
Comment #14squinchers
Bambams
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:34 PM
Comment #15Savage got it earlier….but I am sure I heard Strachan’s name later in the half
Nufc-83
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:34 PM
Comment #16Not sure why we keep signing players like Joel or Muto who are not natural goal scorers when we are in desperate need for such a player. Maybe Rafa thought Muto would play in a dirk kuyt role but that’s not really possible playing 5 at the back.
Unused Substitute
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:34 PM
Comment #17Like us in the EPL, Rochdale is keeping things narrow and our wing play is running with tails up for a change. But we’re still losing tackles and unable to score. Not impressed.
Zele
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:35 PM
Comment #18Charlie,
Any premiership team watching this match and having seen our last one will know that they can pressurise our back line including our keeper into mistakes.
c-dog
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:35 PM
Comment #19Joelinton
Lindisfarne
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:36 PM
Comment #20🙂
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:42 PM
Comment #21miggy down!!
TomaKaThor
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:43 PM
Comment #22Get Almiron off before he gets injured
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:43 PM
Comment #23Muto off injured
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:44 PM
Comment #24Ki on
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:44 PM
Comment #25Miggy has a nasty whipped cross on him
Pottsclock
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:45 PM
Comment #26WHy Ki? Strange choice, it’s not like we don’t have total control of the midfield. Could have put Sorenson on
DaveD1000
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:46 PM
Comment #27am liking miggy on corners and free kicks
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:46 PM
Comment #28Toon easing off badly now 🙁
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:47 PM
Comment #29great save dubravk. this is poor now
Pottsclock
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:47 PM
Comment #30Already they’re pushing up because we only have only player up front
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:49 PM
Comment #31jeez Ki doesnt exactly break his arse
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM
Comment #32rochdale hit post
Toon Tang
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM
Comment #33They’re getting nearer and nearer now
Pottsclock
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM
Comment #34Bad substitution and the effects are clear to all
Munster Mag
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:51 PM
Comment #35miggy down again, get him off
TomaKaThor
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:51 PM
Comment #36This is more like the Newcastle we know, showing the opposition they have every chance
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:52 PM
Comment #37S Longstaff consistently shows he’s too slow in the heed to ever be a top player. Gets caught on the ball way too often.
Pottsclock
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:52 PM
Comment #38Joelinton isolated and outnumbered
TomaKaThor
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:53 PM
Comment #39Going back to how we usually, isolated striker
TomaKaThor
Jan 4, 2020 at 1:54 PM
Comment #40Usually play*