'Really struggled' - Alan Shearer spots key Matthias Jaissle tactic as Newcastle United bounce back

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has identified one key tactical move that helped the Magpies claim a narrow home win against Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

Matthias Jaissle’s returned to St James Park for the first time since they slumped to a poor defeat at Leeds United on Monday - and they produced a positive reaction to that loss by taking a two-goal lead inside the opening seven minutes of what would become a nervy contest at Gallowgate.

Harvey Barnes was the chief tormentor as the winger provided an assist for Joe Willock to open the scoring before repeating that trick by setting up Lewis Hall to double the lead just minutes later. However, after producing the best 45 minutes of Jaissle’s reign, the Magpies were second best in the second-half and had to hold on to claim the points after substitute Mohamed Ali Cho gave the visitors some hope of securing a draw.

Shearer pointed to United’s ability to take advantage the space they were provided by Hull’s wing-backs as decisive in the win and described goalscorer Hall as ‘absolutely outstanding’.

Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, the Magpies legend said: “I thought Newcastle, particularly in the first-half, found a way that Hull really struggled to copy with. What I mean is moving their three centre halves around, particularly when the wing-backs Giles and Coyle were prepared to go up front - and how they did that was Barnes went inside, Hall gave the width. They did that really well. Newcastle needed to get that out of their system after what happened on Monday.

“I think they’ve been really comfortable, Hull, in what they’ve been doing because the three centre-halves are fine when that is the case. The second goal, they keep the press on but when they win the ball, it’s four versus three, the centre-halves are isolated because of the position of the wing-backs.

“Lewis Hall was absolutely outstanding today, he’s started the season really well and he gets the goal that he deserved. They’re always asking the questions and Hull haven’t been asked too many this season. In the first-half, where the first-half was won for Newcastle, that’s where they did the damage.”

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