2 months ago
As precocious arsenic Friday greeting Eddie Howe talked astir immoderate results having “bigger consequences than others”. This was astir decidedly 1 of them.
In completing a Premier League double against Newcastle, Régis Le Bris’s promoted Sunderland surely consigned Howe and his players to 1 of their astir chastening afternoon’s astatine St James’ Park.
Coming 4 days aft their dissection successful Barcelona and astatine nan hands of a earnestly under-strength Sunderland it is nary exaggeration to opportunity that 1 of Le Bris’s biggest triumphs of an outstanding play represented a disaster for Howe.
“Welcome to nan region’s capital,” declared a banner successful nan Gallowgate End but it did not return excessively agelong until Luke O’Nien’s sojourn to Tyneside took a move for nan worst.
When O’Nien, operating astatine centre-half successful spot of nan hamstrung Dan Ballard, attempted to play retired from nan back, he succeeded simply successful passing consecutive to Nick Woltemade.
The Germany striker, deployed, erstwhile again, successful midfield here, responded by nudging nan shot to Anthony Gordon whose eventual changeable near Le Bris’s 2nd prime goalkeeper, Melker Ellborg, pinch nary dream of a save.
With only 9 minutes connected nan timepiece mediocre O’Nien had aforesaid destructed but, creditably, he and Sunderland galvanised themselves impressively. When Granit Xhaka’s walk bisected Howe’s backline Aaron Ramsdale did very good to extremity Chemsdine Talbi’s swerving changeable disconnected it’s apparently inexorable people towards nan apical corner.
If that was a good save, Ellborg, had, barroom picking nan shot retired of his net, comparatively small to do. Given that 2 of Le Bris’s first prime defenders – nan precocious injured Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo – were judged only fresh capable for nan bench, nan visitors were coping pinch Howe’s onslaught amazingly well.
Although Anthony Elanga directed a decent chance into nan broadside netting, a Newcastle XI missing nan injured Sandro Tonali’s midfield value still looked possibly a small traumatised by nan memories of past Wednesday night’s 7-2 Champions League thrashing astatine Barcelona.
Sven Botman and Dan Burn surely looked a somewhat tense successful nan look of Brian Brobbey’s physicality and expertise to clasp nan shot up – moreover if Botman felt sufficiently assured to beforehand and nonstop a header against nan woodwork astatine nan extremity of a tight opening half shaded by Newcastle.
Early successful nan 2nd play Botman was forced disconnected pinch a caput wounded and replaced by Malick Thiaw. By now Sunderland were improving and Chris Rigg, a boyhood Newcastle fan, forced Ramsdale into a decent save.
Then, aft pouncing connected nan fallout from Xhaka’s resultant corner, Ramsdale’s unconvincing punch and Trai Hume’s ensuing half volley, Talbi equalised, stabbing location from adjacent range. Hume, incidentally, had done good against Elanga successful his little preferred left-back role.
When Ramsdale was forced to parry a consequent changeable from Noah Sadiki, Newcastle fans grew tense but Sunderland were starting to tyre and Howe’s squad had a extremity disallowed aft Jacob Murphy blocked Ellborg up of Thiaw heading a area home.
The infinitesimal had arrived for Le Bris to refresh his broadside and nan show of Enzo Le Fee removing his tracksuit apical encouraged nan Sunderland fans perched precocious successful nan Leazes End. Le Fee’s convalescence from wounded had kept him connected nan chair for astir of nan lucifer but now he stepped disconnected it to create nan victor for nan fantabulous Brobbey.
When Le Fee surged to nan byline and trim nan shot backmost for nan erstwhile Ajax striker, Brobbey was initially denied by Ramsdale but he made nary correction from nan rebound. Once nan last whistle blew and Le Bris had shaken Eddie Howe’s manus Le Fee and Brobbey were nan first and 2nd players Sunderland’s head hurried to hug.
