Newcastle United relegation worry as £51m transfer rebel triggers loud St James’ Park boos
Newcastle United failed to rescue a point as Aston Villa edged out a 1-0 win at St James’ Park.
Another day, another dismal Newcastle United defeat. Here are your five key takeaways after the Magpies lost 1-0 to Aston Villa at St James’ Park.
Relegation worry?
As Jaissle lumped Dan Burn on as a striker for the final few minutes, he desperately searched for the ultimate rescue job. But moments later, another R word would soon be on Newcastle fans’ lips when the referee blew the full-time whistle.
Could they go down this season? Or is it far too soon to become concerned? From front to back, just as they were against Coventry City, the Magpies were terrible.
In truth, this article could have been a cut-and-paste from Monday night’s horror show. Newcastle are a distinctly average team - a world away from the side that lifted the Carabao Cup 18 months ago.
As expected, loud boos echoed around the ground at full-time. Transition is the buzzword for the season but performances like that will not go without criticism for much longer.
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Johan Manzambi haunts Newcastle United
He was always going to score, wasn’t he? A player who Newcastle chased earlier this year only to face another brutal hijack.
There was no shock around St James’ Park when Manzambi headed home on 36 minutes. In fact, to most inside the ground, it was expected.
A ghost from Newcastle’s failure to secure European football came back to haunt them. Manzambi would have made a huge difference to this team.
MFP needs a breather
They are the same age and cost similar fees but, unlike Manzambi, Matias Fernandez-Pardo failed to turn up. Jaissle listened to the noise and shifted the Belgian out wide following a wasteful game against Coventry.
He lasted just 55 minutes before his number came up on the touchline. It would be harsh to criticise Fernandez-Pardo too harshly as he adjusts to English football.
However, a spell out of the team could do him the world of good. The youngster has looked off the pace since coming into the team.
Sven Botman controversy
The St James’ Park crowd held a collective breath when Botman lunged into a tackle on Nicolas Jackson. VAR paused the game but refused to intervene as referee Jarred Gillett brandished a yellow card.
During the half-time break, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp furiously claimed Botman should have been sent off. From the press box, it looked like a meaty, old-school challenge straight out of the 1980s playbook.
Was it a red? Not in our book. But in the modern imitation of the sport, Botman can count himself a touch fortunate.
Fresh Blaydon Races unveiled
Supporters have been torn on social media this week after the club announced a fresh twist on the Blaydon Races. The tweak - which brings the song back to its slower folk roots - is part of a wider rebrand at St James’ Park.
While a staple of the Newcastle fan hymn since the 1955 FA Cup final, the club are keen to establish an official anthem. Local artist Hector Gannet performed a spine-chilling live rendition before kick-off, with a Wor Flags display across the East Stand reading: “Away we went alang Collingwood Street, that’s on the way to Blaydon.”
It will be interesting to see if anyone has changed their mind after hearing the new version live. A few in the press box certainly did!
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