Newcastle United’s European qualification hopes were dealt a major setback on Wednesday night
Despite the tight 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday, Newcastle’s performance against the hosts throughout the season indicated they had the upper hand to secure a victory.
Eddie Howe’s team now finds itself reliant on the results of other teams to secure a top-six finish in the Premier League after their recent draw with Brighton.
The match at Old Trafford represented a significant opportunity for Newcastle, who had defeated Manchester United twice already this season. However, they faltered at a crucial moment.
Considering the challenges faced by Erik ten Hag’s team this season, Newcastle might have seized the chance to exert more dominance at the Theatre of Dreams.
The team created several scoring opportunities, with Alexander Isak nearly making the mark, yet there was a visible lack of confidence in their advance. Although Anthony Gordon scored an impressive goal, he was unfortunate not to earn a penalty earlier in the game, and overall, Newcastle’s finishing and calm were notably lacking.
The less said about their defensive efforts, the better.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane expressed his disappointment with the performance.
Roy Keane Aims ‘Cocky’ Dig At Newcastle vs Manchester United
During his commentary at Old Trafford, Keane pointed out that Newcastle were being overly elaborate in their approach, taking excessive touches and complicating their play towards the hosts’ goal.
“[They] almost got too cocky with themselves and think they’re a better team than what they are,” he remarked to Sky Sports during the half-time break.
Speaking after the match, Keane further commented: “We talked about Newcastle performing well and their mentality, but their track record here is poor.
“So perhaps they’re not as tough as they believe…”
Newcastle’s Season Could End With a Whimper
Their performance was lackluster against Brighton on Saturday, and they seemed to lack conviction in Wednesday night’s game.
With their inconsistent away record this season (achieving only five victories on the road), it’s challenging to confidently predict a win at Brentford on the final day.
Failing to secure that victory would mean the season ends on a disappointing note.