3 Positives and 3 Negatives from Newcastle 0 Brighton 0

Saturday finished Newcastle 0 Brighton 0.

The visitors dominating the opening 75 minutes as Steve Bruce set his team out in a very negative formation, defending so deep.

The late introduction of Allan Saint-Maximin at last got Newcastle onto the front foot to an extent, whilst Andy Carroll’s introduction received the biggest cheer of the day.

The Editor asked me beforehand to write about 3 positives and 3 negatives from the game. Here goes…

POSITIVES

Andy Carroll

The striker doing 10 minutes without getting injured.

Not conceding

Although at times it looked imminent!

Allan Saint-Maximin

Definitely going to be a crowd pleaser when fully fit.

NEGATIVES

Javier Manquillo

Had a really good game.

So why is that a negative?

If Manquillo is top performer it does not say much for the rest!

Jonjo Shelvey

Rarely have I seen a player look so disinterested after about 10 minutes.

Once it was clear he was not going to be given the time and space he needs!

Attendance

Looked a few less than the published figure.

Boycotters will see it as a positive but the gaps in the seats is noticeably alarming.

Stats from BBC Sport:

Newcastle 0 Brighton 0 – Saturday 21  September 5.30pm

Goals:

 

Possession was Brighton 71% Newcastle 29%

Total shots were Brighton 16 Newcastle 11

Shots on target were Brighton 3 Newcastle 4

Corners were Brighton 3 Newcastle 5

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Newcastle team v Brighton:

Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar (Fernandez 80), Lascelles, Dummett, Willems (Carroll 82), Hayden, Shelvey (Ki 73), Atsu, Almiron (Saint-Maximin 73), Joelinton

Unused Subs

Darlow, Muto, Krafth, Fernandez

Crowd: 43,360 (Looked less than 40,000 actually inside SJP (1,500 Brighton))

(Match ratings and comments on all NUFC players after Newcastle 0 Brighton 0 – Read HERE)

(Brighton boss gutted his team didn’t win – Read HERE)

(Watch official match highlights HERE)

(Steve Bruce reacts to the performance and result – read HERE)

(Read instant NUFC fan/writer reaction to the game HERE)