It looked destined for penalties on Tuesday night until Christian Atsu played a pass to Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing. The Frenchman did the rest as he cut inside and skipped past three Oxford defenders before unleashing a blazing bolt into the top corner.
Allan immediately ran to the away section filled with Newcastle fans who were in a frenzy of joy. Our talisman had saved our FA Cup fate with a moment of brilliance.
Saint-Maximin spoke after the match and was very appreciative of not only his teammates but the away support.
Matthew Raisbeck, with BBC Newcastle has tweeted some of those comments Allan made after his dramatic winner.
Saint-Maximin: “I’m really happy to score this important goal. I have to say thanks to my partners because they gave me a great ball to score. I know it’s an important game, and we have to keep going and do everything for the fans and win the next game.” #NUFC
— Matthew Raisbeck (@raisbeck10) February 4, 2020
Saint-Maximin: “The fans give me everything. I have to give back. That’s why, when I scored, I go directly to the fans. I know it’s important for the fans to win this game.” #NUFC
— Matthew Raisbeck (@raisbeck10) February 4, 2020
Allan has a special relationship with the Newcastle fans, and it’s great that he seems to really click with this fanbase.
This was an important game in more ways than one. First, the win gets Newcastle to the final sixteen of the FA Cup for the first time since 2006 when we reached the final eight.
It also gives Bruce and the lads a bit of a reprieve from the poor performances over the last couple of weeks. While they made it hard on themselves, they ultimately got the job done on Tuesday night.
Who Was The Man Of The Match In Win At Oxford?
- Sean Longstaff (32%, 854 )
- A. Saint-Maximin (31%, 822 )
- Jamaal Lascelles (14%, 373 )
- Miguel Almiron (10%, 274 )
- Nabil Bentaleb (4%, 95 )
- Joelinton (3%, 78 )
- Matty Longstaff (3%, 69 )
- Karl Darlow (1%, 29 )
- Matt Ritchie (1%, 16 )
- DeAndre Yedlin (1%, 14 )
- Ciaran Clark (0%, 9 )
- Christian Atsu (0%, 9 )
- Florian Lejeune (0%, 6 )
- Isaac Hayden (0%, 5 )
- Fabian Schar (0%, 4 )
Total Voters: 2,657
77 comments so far
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 5, 2020 at 8:57 AM
Comment #41It wasn’t bad luck we conceded in injury time but poor choices by Bruce – to not kill the game off 2nd half when we had something like 75% possession is poor judgement – Oxford looked down and out and we should have finished them off instead of trying to contain them … At least he brought on atsu and asm who actually made the difference and played forwards
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Comment #42Well what a cup tie very entertaining game for the neutral I would imagine!
A few things from the game:
Bruce has been talking bollocks in the press about us not being able to keep possession etc when everyone could see 3 in midfield would solve the problem as we always get outnumbered in the middle… credit for finally changing it but jeezo its not rocket science!
The Longstaffs and Bentaleb have the right amount of energy to make a middle 3 work bit more difficult with Shelvey in there who will leave gaps everywhere as they need to cover a lot of ground to allow the wingbacks to push up!
Which brings me to the next thing Richie and Yedlin!? I think our play should improve significantly once Rose and Valentino are in the wingback positions! Yedlin has pace but is terrible on the ball and Richie can’t beat a man so either crosses it in too early or passes it back which ruined a lot of good moves last night where we really could have hemmed them in!
Lejuene is a worry though he just doesn’t look comfortable on the left side of a 3 man defence hes probably better as a sweeper or a CB in a 4231
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:13 AM
Comment #43West Brom are top of the Champo, but haven’t been in good form in the League lately, shipping points to the likes of Stoke, Barnsley, Wigan and Charlton, all threatened with relegation.
That said, they have kept a good group of premier league players together and will be looking to give us a game.
I think them pushing forward will suit us better than if they sat back and defended, which we always struggle to break down and hove done for years.
Of course, one way to beat this issue is to fire shots in from outside the box, something we’ve been shy of doing this season and something we were far more willing to try yesterday.
With Lazaro and Rose in for Ritchie and Yedlin and a new (if we keep it, which I think we will) formation, I think we’ll see better play in the League and can hopefully carry that forward into the Cup too.
Is this the time that the Bruce Bandwagon starts to roll for real?
simon376
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:17 AM
Comment #44We can rely on Gayle to get at least 1 past West Brom
c-dog
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:18 AM
Comment #45Robleenio
Will be a tough game. I think the pace of ASM and Almiron will hurt them.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:25 AM
Comment #46@Robleenio
I think the new formation worked a treat I suppose the only thing would be one of Joelinton, ASM or Almiron would need to be benched? Unless we played Almiron as the no 10 in the middle 3 with Joel and ASM as the 2 up front?
Quite liked Sean as the advanced midfielder he was playing some lovely little passes and he was blocking their playmaker from getting into the game which is something we lack in the league
B&W blood
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:26 AM
Comment #47The formation looked better last night, the problem is do you have to choose between miggy and asm for 2nd striker role.
Or could miggy play the role sean l played last night in that formation
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:26 AM
Comment #48@skysports_bryan
NEWCASTLE: Premier League CEO asked if in talks with potential Saudi owners – “It’s a hypothetical situation. I can’t say anything which adds to the speculation this might be happening or, indeed, might not be happening.”
Well, you’d think he would be able to flat out deny it if there was nothing going on. Which doesn’t suggest that there is, indeed, anything of note going on, but it does suggest that there is something.
Last time out with BZG, there were numerous reports ‘originating’ from the PL that they hadn’t received paperwork etc, this is not that.
I’m not going to hang my hat on it, but it’s something to keep in the back of the mind.
geordietom
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:29 AM
Comment #49Dont know if you read this from big Al made me laugh …
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alan-shearer-takes-dig-mike-17690801
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:30 AM
Comment #50simon, c-dog, if we have Gayle, ASM and Almiron on the field, that pace would hurt most teams, so hopefully you’re both right.
Such a shame Gayle was injured just as we were about to test that theory. Mind, Joelinton showed some pace last night when scoring – he seems to be quick when up to speed, just not with an initial burst of acceleration.
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:31 AM
Comment #51Charnley probably doesn’t know anything – if negotiation is happening it’ll be done by Ashley’s trusted negotiators
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:33 AM
Comment #52Geordietom – haha , that made me chuckle when shearer said it on BBC iPlayer coverage – clearly knows a lot more that’s going on behind the scenes with Bruce being one of his best mates
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:36 AM
Comment #53Bruce is working under the same conditions as Rafa , despite being seen as a yes man his recent comments have an underlying theme that he wants more say in incomings / outgoings etc – he’s possibly just going about it in a different manner to Rafa
#cans ( formerly known as Mindshaft )
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:39 AM
Comment #54Just to be clear , I think Bruce is a very underwhelming choice of manager and is average – however I don’t think he’s a yes man but playing a canny game with getting his way rather than getting the fans inside and taking Ashley on which clearly didn’t work.
If we win ( I know it’s a gigantic if ) a cup , Bruce will be our most successful manager since the 60s …
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:41 AM
Comment #55Do you have to choose between Miggy and ASM? Well, probably, but using ASM as a 60-minute sub for Almiron or Longstaff to run at tiring defenders and do what he did last night is probably not a bad tactic, either…..
I know he’s everyone’s favourite player at the moment, including me, but it’s worth considering if that’s the best way to set up.
Would he be happy with that kind of role or would he sulk is another interesting question.
I think a lot depends on what kind of productivity we get from Danny Rose on the left – if he can create chances, then we depend on ASM a bit less.
Interesting that we seem to have options, however.
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Comment #56#cans, that quote is from the Premier League CEO, not Charnley.
Jib
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #57Interesting timing
The lads away for a bit so there’s no need for Charnley
to return north.
Could he be at the lawyers for the next few days
He’s the CEO of NUFC so will have to be involved in any sale
bettyswallocks
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #58Relieved to get the win last night as I was convinced it was going to penalties with the inevitable loss.
We should all take this FA cup seriously now, especially the club, although to be fair to Bruce it appears that he is. This is our only realistic opportunity to be competitive, as opposed to making the numbers up and surviving, so in my opinion it needs to be given full priority.
DaveD1000
Feb 5, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #59https://twitter.com/Amysday1/status/1224798259048275980
geordietom
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #60the takeover’s still on …
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Comment #61Did anyone notice Bruce and Schar having a little “moment” on the touchline ?
Bruce kind of chucked the ball at Schar and said something and Fabian didn’t look impressed think it was in extra time or just before full time
Bills Son Is Back
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #62I think last nights formation with Sean further forward and Bentaleb starting to show what he’s made of will give Bruce plenty of food for thought in the break.
As others have pointed out Jo looked a different player (I know against a L1 team) with players around him and showed that if he gets a ball down the channel – instead of hoofed up to him – he can show a turn of speed, strength and ability to finish.
It will be interesting to see the line up and formation against Arsenal.
IrishRob
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #63Last night showed the difference between Dubs and Darlow, Dubs would have saved both those shots. Hes not a bad keeper to have on the bench but let’s not keep Dubs just for the final ; )
Lindisfarne
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #64Would agree on Maximin being an excellent impact sub, similar to how Troure(?) has been used at Wolves. He really had the bit between his teeth for the goal last night, to make up for the previous times that fizzled out. It really shows his commitment and his ability to dig deep.
Markaccus
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #65I know that prem opponents are tougher, but I don’t see why we can’t play last nights system in future games. Joelinton seemed a little more effective with a forward partner. No reason why muggy and max can’t play in the same side. One of them can play in support of Joe, the other can play in an AM role. They could even swap. It leaves room for 2 more cautious MFs, which in turn allows the fbs to get forward a bit more. Of course I may be looking at it too simplistically, and I know of at least one blogger who’ll have a pop, but it’s got to have some value?
Markaccus
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #66*miggy
Lindisfarne
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:22 AM
Comment #67I hope this is a turning point for Bruce and the team continue to improve in this new formation.
Jib
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:27 AM
Comment #68I think last night was Bruce showing the team the way forward
formation-wise , however I think defensive caution will be the
mantra , until PL safety is guaranteed.
Pottsclock
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Comment #69I think we can say that whoever exposed themselves when the winning goal was scored only had a small part in the celebrations
hibbit
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Comment #70Markaccus
last nights system would be even more effective with the 2 new wing backs on the pitch, Richie and Yeldin were the weak link last night,
lochinvar
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:36 AM
Comment #71Class from the Oxford tannoy announcer at the end of the match acknowledging the near 1,800 away fans and wishing Newcastle good luck in the next round of the cup and for the rest of the season.
Their next home game is against the mackems……can someone Twitter Oxford FC our support for them in that game, they deserve it for their sterling efforts last night and it has to be said two great goals.
When asked if the result was robbery Inspector Lewis (aka Nev) said that there was no case to answer.
hibbit
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:36 AM
Comment #72lets just see if we’ve turned the corner against Arsenal be fore we all get carried away with last nights win,
B&W blood
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:39 AM
Comment #73I think the 5 3 2 will be much better going forward than 5 2 3 as all season the wingbacks have been on top of the left and right forwards with only one player in the box.
With 5 3 2 the wingbacks are left to provide the width giving us 3 players in the area of the box
IrishRob
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:40 AM
Comment #74Richie and Yedlin were awful. The two weakest players in the team by far. The difference even a substandard Rose is gonna make, really makes me excited. Same with Laz on the right but I get the feeling its gonna take time for him to settle in.
Jib
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:42 AM
Comment #75I haven’t noticed one post that shows anyone getting carried away
RobLeenio
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:45 AM
Comment #76When Rafa switched to a back 3 with wing backs it was suggested by some on here that he had no choice due to injuries during a specific match (Wolves away?)
Anyway, although the team went from strength to strength and turned their form around, some always said it was down to more luck than judgement. Others lauded Rafa’s tactical brilliance, where others said that while it had been driven by necessity, Rafa had made it work very well.
It’ll be interesting to see how folks on here react should Bruce retain last night’s tactical tweak and it proves successful in the Premier League.
Jib
Feb 5, 2020 at 10:45 AM
Comment #77Yedlin reminds me of Gabriel Obertan , he’s better than the Frenchman
but of a similar clueless ilk.