Newcastle Utd polished off a professional performance at the home of their deadly rivals Sunderland and in doing so moved on into the fourth round of the FA cup for the first timer under the tenure of head coach Eddie Howe.
Much had been made on Wearside in the build-up to this game about how home advantage coupled with Newcastle’s abysmal form since the draw was made would be a leveller for the black cats. However, the gulf in class between the two sides was evident from the first minute as Howe’s team went about their business.
Quicker in passing, slicker in transition and overall possessing too much quality across the park, Newcastle dazzled while Sunderland’s spark failed to ignite.
Despite the advantage of knowing that Newcastle plays a high pressing game with a tempo to match, Sunderland were incapable of producing any combative answer as Bruno, Joelinton and Longstaff took command of the midfield and in doing so provided Isak, Almiron and Gordon with all the ammunition needed to torture the Wearsiders back line.
And on the odd occasion that Sunderland did get possession in the opposition half they were quickly snuffed out by a combination of Schar, Botman and Burn, while Trippier occupied most of the game in an offensive role rather than as a full back.
Three could easily have been five if the referee had the courage of his convictions and penalised first Ballard for wrestling down and Isak as he bore down on goal and then Hume for pulling back Gordon and in doing so almost ripping his shirt from his back.
On both occasions referee Pawson waved protests away and with no VAR to fall back on, proved that premier league referee’s really do rely on VAR to make the big decisions.
And on another day Newcastle could have been out of sight before the luckless Ballard put into his own net if Sean Longstaff had brought along his shooting boots.
Longstaff also failed to put away a headed chance which was gathered by Patterson in the Sunderland goal before Ballard’s shin connected with the ball and fired it into the net past Patterson with Isak primed to do just that!
Meanwhile at the other end, Dubravka was very much a passenger as the hosts went in at half time having failed to register a single effort on target.
Whatever Sunderland coach Michael Beale said at half time was still being absorbed by Sunderland’s Pierre Ekwah as his lethargic hesitancy was cashed in on by the ever-dangerous Miguel Almiron who took the ball off him in the home sides penalty area before slipping a pass to Isak, who tapped home from eight yards to double the lead in the 46th minute.
The away end commenced their celebrations and only a brief five minutes midway through the second half made them reassess their chants about a Wembley weekend next May when Pritchard first called Dubravka into action to divert his goal bound shot and then watch as the same player clipped the top of his cross bar. Although, to be fair to Dubravka, he did have it covered!
By now, Newcastle’s control of the game was complete, as Bruno continued to dominate the centre of the park despite the loss of his fellow Brazilian as Joelinton was removed from the proceedings on 47minutes with what looked like a thigh problem. Miley joined the fray alongside Bruno and Longstaff and didn’t look out of place as he slotted in and Newcastle kept up the momentum.
The third goal came on 89 minutes courtesy of Isak from the penalty spot after Gordon was brought down in the area by Ballard with referee Pawson compounding his day by finally waving the yellow card in the defender’s direction.
Howe made four late substitutes, bringing on Tino Livramento, Paul Dummett, Jamaal Lascelles, and Matt Ritchie as they ran down the clock before the full squad were able to celebrate in front of the 6,000 travelling fans at the final whistle as the home fans flocked for the stadium exits.
Speaking after the game Howe agreed with the statement posed by one of the assembled press that his team had delivered a professional job, Howe said: “Yes, very much that, I thought. We handled the early stages of the game really well today. We always knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere, a big occasion, but in those early stages of the game, we took control of the ball, we drew the sting out of the match and performed really well.”
"We always knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere, a big occasion, but in those early stages of the game, we took control of the ball, we drew the sting out of the match and performed really well. “I thought physically today, there was a big change in our performance. The rest we've had in between the last game, I think, served us well.
"Energy levels looked at their maximum. That's been the hallmark of us for a long period of time and not through lack of effort from the players, but obviously that extra gear was missing from our performance in recent weeks.”
This was Newcastle getting back to their best and if some say they barely got out of second gear then who are we to argue.
As for Sunderland, what was surprising was the lack of intensity in Sunderland's play despite the atmosphere. They failed in every department to make any impression on a Newcastle side who looked bigger and stronger as well as the superior team, be it from a physical or footballing perspective. At times their most senior players lost their heads as frustration in their own ability took hold.
And from a supporter perspective you cannot go into such a tie simply shouting about six in a row; particularly when you have not met your opponents in any competition for eight years and in that time have seen your side relegated twice and been out of topflight football for the entirety of that period.
Bragging rights need supported by more than history and, this Sunderland team are a million miles away from premier league quality.
And as for Wearside, they will now enter a period of self-flagellation, awash with accusation and counter accusation as the inquest into “Bar-gate” gets under way.
Howay the Lads!
Much had been made on Wearside in the build-up to this game about how home advantage coupled with Newcastle’s abysmal form since the draw was made would be a leveller for the black cats. However, the gulf in class between the two sides was evident from the first minute as Howe’s team went about their business.
Quicker in passing, slicker in transition and overall possessing too much quality across the park, Newcastle dazzled while Sunderland’s spark failed to ignite.
Despite the advantage of knowing that Newcastle plays a high pressing game with a tempo to match, Sunderland were incapable of producing any combative answer as Bruno, Joelinton and Longstaff took command of the midfield and in doing so provided Isak, Almiron and Gordon with all the ammunition needed to torture the Wearsiders back line.
And on the odd occasion that Sunderland did get possession in the opposition half they were quickly snuffed out by a combination of Schar, Botman and Burn, while Trippier occupied most of the game in an offensive role rather than as a full back.
Three could easily have been five if the referee had the courage of his convictions and penalised first Ballard for wrestling down and Isak as he bore down on goal and then Hume for pulling back Gordon and in doing so almost ripping his shirt from his back.
On both occasions referee Pawson waved protests away and with no VAR to fall back on, proved that premier league referee’s really do rely on VAR to make the big decisions.
And on another day Newcastle could have been out of sight before the luckless Ballard put into his own net if Sean Longstaff had brought along his shooting boots.
Longstaff also failed to put away a headed chance which was gathered by Patterson in the Sunderland goal before Ballard’s shin connected with the ball and fired it into the net past Patterson with Isak primed to do just that!
Meanwhile at the other end, Dubravka was very much a passenger as the hosts went in at half time having failed to register a single effort on target.
Whatever Sunderland coach Michael Beale said at half time was still being absorbed by Sunderland’s Pierre Ekwah as his lethargic hesitancy was cashed in on by the ever-dangerous Miguel Almiron who took the ball off him in the home sides penalty area before slipping a pass to Isak, who tapped home from eight yards to double the lead in the 46th minute.
The away end commenced their celebrations and only a brief five minutes midway through the second half made them reassess their chants about a Wembley weekend next May when Pritchard first called Dubravka into action to divert his goal bound shot and then watch as the same player clipped the top of his cross bar. Although, to be fair to Dubravka, he did have it covered!
By now, Newcastle’s control of the game was complete, as Bruno continued to dominate the centre of the park despite the loss of his fellow Brazilian as Joelinton was removed from the proceedings on 47minutes with what looked like a thigh problem. Miley joined the fray alongside Bruno and Longstaff and didn’t look out of place as he slotted in and Newcastle kept up the momentum.
The third goal came on 89 minutes courtesy of Isak from the penalty spot after Gordon was brought down in the area by Ballard with referee Pawson compounding his day by finally waving the yellow card in the defender’s direction.
Howe made four late substitutes, bringing on Tino Livramento, Paul Dummett, Jamaal Lascelles, and Matt Ritchie as they ran down the clock before the full squad were able to celebrate in front of the 6,000 travelling fans at the final whistle as the home fans flocked for the stadium exits.
Speaking after the game Howe agreed with the statement posed by one of the assembled press that his team had delivered a professional job, Howe said: “Yes, very much that, I thought. We handled the early stages of the game really well today. We always knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere, a big occasion, but in those early stages of the game, we took control of the ball, we drew the sting out of the match and performed really well.”
"We always knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere, a big occasion, but in those early stages of the game, we took control of the ball, we drew the sting out of the match and performed really well. “I thought physically today, there was a big change in our performance. The rest we've had in between the last game, I think, served us well.
"Energy levels looked at their maximum. That's been the hallmark of us for a long period of time and not through lack of effort from the players, but obviously that extra gear was missing from our performance in recent weeks.”
This was Newcastle getting back to their best and if some say they barely got out of second gear then who are we to argue.
As for Sunderland, what was surprising was the lack of intensity in Sunderland's play despite the atmosphere. They failed in every department to make any impression on a Newcastle side who looked bigger and stronger as well as the superior team, be it from a physical or footballing perspective. At times their most senior players lost their heads as frustration in their own ability took hold.
And from a supporter perspective you cannot go into such a tie simply shouting about six in a row; particularly when you have not met your opponents in any competition for eight years and in that time have seen your side relegated twice and been out of topflight football for the entirety of that period.
Bragging rights need supported by more than history and, this Sunderland team are a million miles away from premier league quality.
And as for Wearside, they will now enter a period of self-flagellation, awash with accusation and counter accusation as the inquest into “Bar-gate” gets under way.
Howay the Lads!
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