Newcastle United defeated yet again as toothless attack rears its ugly head against Aston Villa
Where do we even start? How many more toothless attacking performances do we have to endure before Eddie Howe changes the tactics?
Newcastle United started today's game full of intent, with Sandro Tonali unfortunate not to put the Magpies into the lead after just 40 seconds.
The Italian, who hasn't scored all season, looked certain to break his duck in the first minute, jinking through the Aston Villa defence before aiming a shot beyond the diving Emi Martinez, who, despite going the wrong way, somehow managed to get a foot to the ball and prevent the goal.
Unfortunately for Newcastle, that's where the good stuff ended for a good while, with Newcastle not amassing another shot in the first half an hour. In that time, Aston Villa had already taken the lead thanks to a wonder strike from Emi Buendia on 19 minutes.
If Newcastle knew how to attack, they'd be a canny team wouldn't they?
It was end-to-end stuff at the start of the second half, and indeed for much of the second period of the game, but poor passing in the final third by both sides was the story of the day.
Newcastle opted to try playing the crossing game today, which made no sense at all given that Nick Woltemade was on the bench and Yoane Wissa is teeny tiny. Lewis Miley, in particular, played some quality balls into the box, but there was never anybody there to attack them.
Crossing from Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon was absolutely horrendous, and on 88 minutes, Aston Villa showed Newcastle how it's done as Ollie Watkins burst into the box to meet an inch-perfect cross to make it 2-0. We've been out around town pinning up "Missing" posters for our defence, so hopefully we'll get some news on that later.
Lewis Miley was brilliant for Newcastle again today
As poor as Newcastle were today, I can't in good conscience get through this report without asking whether referee Jarred Gillett left his whistle in Australia. The Aussie ref gave absolutely nothing. Players were being felled left and right, and he was happy to let play run on.
In his defence, he was doing it for both sides, but at times it felt like he was just taking the wee wee. I'll probably feel differently about the ref tomorrow when the mist lifts, but he was really grinding my gears today.
I can't not mention just how much I cannot stand Emi Martinez. The sh**house's sh**house.
To round off with a positive, Lewis Miley was absolutely outstanding today. He can hold his head up high, but he's probably the only one. Joelinton was doing well on his 250th appearance before he had to withdraw just after half-time. Fingers crossed he's ok.
