Newcastle United climbed above Stoke City and into 13th place in the Premier League after a 1-0 win at the Bet365 Stadium on New Year’s Day.
A disappointing draw at home to Brighton ended 2017 on a low, A but Ayoze Perez’s second half strike lifted the spirits at a crucial time for the Toon Army.
Here are four talking points as a much-changed Magpies side won a second-straight top flight game for the first time since November 2014.
1.Rafa Benitez’s rotation made a positive difference for Newcastle
Seeing Newcastle change their approach has been one of the more regular fixtures in the festive period; Rafa Benitez is a fan of rotation at the best of times. If the victory over West Ham just over a week ago proved anything, it was that judging the Magpies’ line-up before kick off could be premature and unhelpful. A very strange looking side went on to win 3-2 at the London Stadium.
Without ex-Stoke striker Joselu or Dwight Gayle, Newcastle’s two top scorers who were both on the bench, it wasn’t easy to follow Benitez’s approach. Regular starter in behind the striker, Perez, looked as though he would lead the line. It took many by surprise to see Christian Atsu, starting alongside fellow wingers Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie, join him up front, including Mark Hughes’ side. Stoke surrendered the early impetus and allowed Newcastle to push on; they appeared to struggle with the lack of height in attack from the visitors, who found pockets of space from the start. Once Stoke began to get a foothold, Newcastle maintained a presence on the counter attack through the presence of Atsu, Murphy and DeAndre Yedlin at fullback.
2. The visitors’ lack of punch is a growing concern
On Saturday, against Brighton, creating chances was the problem. The Seagulls sat deep, welcoming a point, and Newcastle simply create anything in front of their defence. New Year, new problem at the Bet365 Stadium; Atsu was able to get through a couple of times and should have put his side ahead at least once. But as unpredictable as the Ghanaian can be, he has only netted seven times for Newcastle and it told.
It was Ciaran Clark, though, who was the guiltiest party. Matt Ritchie, who has been strong with his set pieces all season, whipped in another great ball, which Perez flicked on. Three yards out, and unmarked in front of goal, Clark leaned back too far and somehow lifted the ball over the bar. Against West Ham, Newcastle won the game because they scored goals at crucial times in the game; their first half dominance warranted a lead that they weren’t able to take. Stoke were there to be beaten, and would have been a much easier afternoon had they put them to the sword early on.
3. Stoke fans have lost their intensity
Ever since the Potters were promoted in 2008, their home ground has been a real fortress. It all started because a hostile atmosphere from the Stoke fans complimented Tony Pulis’ direct approach, but that seems to have disappeared. Even the Premier League’s biggest clubs struggled in Staffordshire, but that fear factor has disappeared in recent years and even more so this season.
It is understandable, given their predicament they find themselves in sitting just two points above the relegation zone, but Newcastle’s early pressure easily unsettled them and that gave the visitors confidence. Stoke boss Hughes is incredibly unpopular with fans and, even though they had won two of their last three home games, the sense of worry in the crowd set the tone for this one. Surely Mark Hughes’ days in the Potteries are numbered; the former Manchester City boss doesn’t seem able galvanise the team or the supporters. It could be a really long winter for a club that have established themselves as a staple top-flight outfit over the past ten years.
4. Hughes’ changes didn’t work
If there was any proof needed that Hughes is struggling at Stoke, it was that his star man Xherdan Shaqiri was dragged off before the hour to boos from the home fans. Stoke rested the likes of the Swiss playmaker, Eric Choupo-Moting and Peter Crouch during the 5-0 loss at Chelsea at the weekend in preparation for this game, but they didn’t enough. Besides a curling effort from Choupo-Moting and some let pressure which came through Crouch, they were far to easy to contain for a Newcastle defence that has now conceded just one goal in their last three games.
Shaqiri’s hero’s welcome upon his arrival from Bayern Munich feels a long time ago now. Stoke have real problems, with a trip to Hughes’ former club Manchester United on the horizon after the FA Cup break.
