Thanks to Scott Robson with the Plater ratings after tonight’s cup win at St James’ Park
Newcastle United 1 Bournemouth 0,
20/Dec/22, KO: 19:45, St James’ Park, League Cup Round 4, Att: 51,579.
Nick Pope- 7
Completely redundant in the first half but was called upon in the second half a little bit more. Good save low to his right was followed by a great save in the last few minutes.
You would have expected him to save both, but as ever, when Pope is called upon he saves shots without any fuss whatsoever.
Kieran Trippier-8
My man of the match. Great cross for the winner which was gagging to be put in and as ever , he drags us up the pitch when we need dragging up and he drags us back when we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Raced 40 yards in the second half to shut out a Bournemouth counter after his own corner was cleared.
Trippier reminded me tonight just how invaluable he is to any chance of anything good this season.
Dan Burn-7
Didn’t look comfortable going forward but did everything he had to at the back.
After gifting possession away around the hour mark he had a frank discussion with Howe in a break of play.
Hardly Keegan Vs Beresford and it actually settled Burn for the rest of the game.
Sven Botman-7
Unflappable once more.
Bournemouth played a lot in front of him and looked quite tidy at times but never looked like getting behind Botman and they won’t be the last.
Quite an easy night for him in all honesty
Fabian Schar-7
Quite a culture shock from Qatar I suppose and his obligatory injury scare happened early tonight.
Sprayed a magnificent cross field pass which released Trippier in the first half which made my night.
Sean Longstaff -7
Neat and tidy again but not a massive influence on the game. I thought his best passage of play was late on when we seemed to strangely to get the jitters.
Longstaff got us around the pitch and did nothing wrong in my book.
Bruno Guimarães-7
Had a quiet-ish night and certainly didn’t dominate possession as per normal, but for Bruno to do what he did tonight on the back of just coming back from a World cup and all the disappointment and pressure of a failed Brazilian campaign, he did well.
A surprise to see him start, but Howe was rewarded by our hero doing as much as anyone did to see us through.
Joe Willock-6
Tried hard enough but not his night tonight.
Wanted the extra touch and wanted to go inside most of the time and Willock is far better when he’s direct.
Not that type of game really. Didn’t make the hour mark before being subbed
Miguel Almiron-7
Anything less than two goals and two assists will be a markdown for Almiron, but like Willock , the lack of intensity from either side meant the direct players were edged out and no, it wasn’t Miggy’s night and was subbed with 15 minutes left, but even after all this he was still our most dangerous player just by being there.
Callum Wilson- 7
Probably would have scored the winner if his ex team mate hadn’t put it in his own net and was unlucky with the offside goal and the header just after.
Reminded me of the first half of the Villa game but this time didn’t get the goal right on half time which settled him.
Eventually got subbed but again after the World Cup shenanigans (or lack of) this was a satisfactory comeback.
Joelinton-7
Another 90 minutes full of busy but not his best night in black and white.
A far cry from Rochdale away though and still one of our best players on the night.
Bigger and better tests to come in the next few weeks.
Subs
St Maximin for Willock 57 minutes -6
Got the crowd up but didn’t have much of an end product.
A great player to bring on at that stage but not doing enough in these cameo appearances to break into this team.
Murphy for Almiron 76 minutes –6
One fine cross which just nearly brought a second own goal but nothing startling
Wood for Wilson 76 minutes -5
Didn’t really hold up as good as he could have
Bournemouth fans -9
Although they probably had as many fans tonight that went to Blyth Spartans in 2008 (not many) this was a right ball ache to get to and fair play to the hundred or so in attendance.
St James was frustratingly quiet at times tonight, certainly not the bearpit we had all expected. The game was pretty dull to be fair but everyone from players to fans looked to be thinking of either Santy or Leicester away.
Scott Robson
