What a ride!

Classic first half domination with nothing to show for it. Djenepo even manages to miss from about 6 inches.

Then a goal from a really excellent Saint Maximin.

Ralph made a sub and it worked. The Redmond haters aren't going to like it but he came on, did the business. Created a chance, Mo finished it off.

Newcastle stick with the plan, loads at the back Saint Maximin running everywhere. We fly up the pitch, get caught in the break at 90.

Then at the death AA through on goal, VAR then goes our way and JWP slits it home and shushes the crowd.

I thought the ref should have penalised Schar and Almeiron they just fouled Livramento all day long, without any sanction.

Salisu, Livramento and Ely were all excellent.

We still don't seem to know how to play against a team that sits deep. We really should have had something to show for the first 45 minutes. Too many weak shots, hit and hopes or trying one touch too many. Some lovely passing and moving tho, so hopefully things will improve when everyone gets used to each other.

COYR!

7

It looked like good ol' Saints, loosing in the last minute of a match they had dominated. The stats will tell you that Saints dominated! Unfortunately Newcastle's 2 only good footballers, Saint-Maximain and his fellow striker, scored a goal each, and when Saint-Max scored in the 90'th minute I truly thought - based on 41½ years of experience being a Saints fan - that the match was lost. Bot NO. Nathan Redmond who had a GOOD impact as a substitute with basically 2 assists, put in a great through-ball , 3 minutes into injury time , to Adam A., who was CLEARLY fouled when trying to put the ball into the net. The ref. somehow didn't see it, but thanks to VAR the stone wall penalty was given, and JWP hammered the penalty low into the keepers right corner. A solid, professional penalty by a top quality player.
MY stand out players were Salisu, Livramento, JWP, Elyounouissi, KWP, A. Armstrong AND substitute Nathan Redmond. Elyounoussi scored his first PL goal to 1-1 from a great cross from Redmond and generally played well. He showed so much more than what we have seen from Walcott in the first couple of matches. He worked on the flank, searched towards the middle on the right times and was good in link-up play. It took ages, I now, but clearly he has now become a better player, and he looks like he can actually handle the tempo of the PL. I salute Ralph for giving him a starting place in the team. (He earned it on wednesday evening in Wales :) )
Djenepo should have scored 2 in the first half. Very unlucky is the best way I can describe it.

All in all a satisfying result - conceding to 2-1 in the final minute of normal time. Going into the international break with a 2-1 defeat would have felt AWFUL.

2-2! :-D <3

9

p.s.
@SaintPaulVW
Excellent report. For the record: Both Schar and Almeiron actually both got booked for kicking Livramento, but the cameras didn't cover neither Schars nor Almeirons booking very well..

2

Positives - didn't lose. Bad news, 3 games in 6 goals conceded which is about average based on last season. Majority of the possession but a last gasp equaliser against a weak average team. Groundhog Day FC.

I wish Ralph would play the best players in their primary position, particularly in winnable games rather than this foolhardy attempt force the team to play total football. Leave the clever tinkering once the points are on the board.

Pleasure and enjoyment have been missing from watching saints on the whole replaced by frustration and despair. Admittedly I've now moved on to the macabre humour staged laced with very low expectations.

-3

Positives - didn't lose. Bad news, 3 games in 6 goals conceded which is about average based on last season. Majority of the possession but a last gasp equaliser against a weak average team. Groundhog Day FC.

I wish Ralph would play the best players in their primary position, particularly in winnable games rather than this foolhardy attempt force the team to play total football. Leave the clever tinkering once the points are on the board.

Pleasure and enjoyment have been missing from watching saints on the whole replaced by frustration and despair. Admittedly I've now moved on to the macabre humour staged laced with very low expectations.

-3

Positives - didn't lose. Bad news, 3 games in 6 goals conceded which is about average based on last season. Majority of the possession but a last gasp equaliser against a weak average team. Groundhog Day FC.

I wish Ralph would play the best players in their primary position, particularly in winnable games rather than this foolhardy attempt force the team to play total football. Leave the clever tinkering once the points are on the board.

Pleasure and enjoyment have been missing from watching saints on the whole replaced by frustration and despair. Admittedly I've now moved on to the macabre humour staged laced with very low expectations.

-3

Redmond Djenepo pass the bloody ball for Christ's sake.
Start Broja.
Don't start Adams.
Play KWP in front of Tino.
Play Pernaud LB.
Play Forster
Romeu is shot get rid.
Prowsey couldn't get the ball above toe height, cost us a goal with woeful tackling and missed an easy chance and jogged his way to 100k. Bloody joke!

-12

KriSaint - Thank you for the correction. At least there was some justice!

1

If any further proof were needed that I would knows absolutely nothing about football this match report is it.

1

I would, ????????????

2