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Sky Sports grade Newcastle United on their performance against Southampton and ominous warning for next 2 Saturdays

5 years ago
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Sky Sports have looked at the performances of all the Premier League clubs at the weekend.

The broadcaster giving a grade for each team’s display and a write-up on the performance.

Despite drawing without having a single shot on target, Newcastle United have been rated as a C-.

Sky Sports declaring ‘While this inauspicious draw hardly set pulses racing for the thousands of Newcastle supporters who made the long trip south, the manner of the defensive performance certainly provides shoots of recovery for Rafa Benitez’s side.’

However, it comes with the warning that the attacking threat from Newcastle was ‘non-existent’ on Saturday.

It hardly takes a genius to work out where the potential route out of trouble is most likely to be, if it happens.

Newcastle’s three points have came in goalless away draws against fellow strugglers. Keeping the defensive tightness and then somehow adding goals from somewhere, could/would be the answer.

Easier said than done, as things look at the minute in the attacking  department.

Newcastle United (C-):

“While this inauspicious draw hardly set pulses racing for the thousands of Newcastle supporters who made the long trip south, the manner of the defensive performance certainly provides shoots of recovery for Rafa Benitez’s side.

“They rode their luck at times and were grateful to more misfiring from Southampton, but Benitez highlighted the positive of a clean sheet away from home which took his side off the foot of the Premier League table.

“The side’s attacking threat was non-existent, however, with Yoshinori Muto and Ayoze Perez looking desperately lightweight.

“Resolute defending is Benitez’s speciality, but the more technically gifted among his limited resources need to do a lot more if they are to pull away from danger.”

It is ominous as well when you look at the next two matches.

Watford and Bournemouth were both awarded an A grade after they each hammered one of the struggling teams, Watford 3-0 at home to Huddersfield and the same scoreline for Bournemouth at Fulham.

They both won at St James Park last season and are currently top seven in the Premier League, added to that they are team blessed with a lot of attacking pace which is what Newcastle simply do not have.

Home matches are obviously where Newcastle need to pick up the majority of their points but these will be tough.

Watford – A:

“Watford put in a dominant performance and were fully deserving of their 3-0 victory over Huddersfield.

“David Wagner’s side found it incredibly difficult to contain Watford’s fluid forward line who were particularly effective on the counter-attack.

“As Javi Gracia noted after the match, Watford could have finished the game off earlier on with some good chances going begging, but overall Gracia should still be delighted with what he saw from his exciting team that was without Troy Deeney.”

Bournemouth – A:

“Looked slick going forward and more than comfortable at the back as they eased past Fulham and proved why they are sixth in the league. Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and David Brooks looked dangerous as Fulham were unable to cope with them.

Sky Sports grades on Premier League performances this past weekend (although they have ignored the Leicester v West Ham game due to the tragedy that followed the match):

(A) Watford, Chelsea, Bournemouth

(A-) Man Utd

(B+) Brighton

(B) Liverpool, Crystal Palace

(B-) Wolves

(C+) Everton

(C) Arsenal, Southampton, Burnley, Newcastle United, Cardiff

(D) Fulham

(E) Huddersfield

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