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Match of The Day commentator can’t believe how many empty seats there were at Newcastle United

4 years ago
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Guy Mowbray was the Match of The Day commentator handed the game at St James Park on Saturday.

Ahead of Newcastle v Brighton the Match of The Day man said:

‘A match to remind us how quickly things change. Just 11 months ago this fixture pitched Rafa Benitez against Chris Hughton, with much local goodwill given to both – until Brighton went home with the points. Judgement on their replacements might be reserved, but it’s maybe worth noting that Newcastle have one more point now than after TEN games last year – despite having already faced three of the ‘big six’.

‘Different clubs, different league, different pressures now – particularly for Bruce to get his first home win. Quickly.’

After the goalless draw, as much of the talk was about the massive number of empty seats, as it was about the dismal and negative display from Newcastle United.

Guy Mowbray commentating on Newcastle 0 Brighton 0 for Match of The Day:

“Forty three thousand three hundred and sixty has been given as the official attendance today.

“I wonder if they have counted quite a few season ticket holders who haven’t come?

“I have certainly never seen quite so many seats empty here.

“There is that constant talk of fan boycotts against Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club.

“Maybe this is the day when it has started to have some effect.”

Credit to the Match of The Day for pointing this out, though of course there were a serious number of empty seats for the Arsenal and Watford games as well.

Estimates of those inside St James Park for those two matches were roughly 44,000/45,000 for the Arsenal one and 42,000 for Watford.

However, yesterday there was clearly less than 40,000 inside the stadium for this Brighton match.

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)

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