Newcastle United have what money can’t buy | OneFootball

Newcastle United picked up what could prove to be their biggest Premier League win of the season on Sunday.

It was a strange watch.

Newcastle United fans seeing their team explode out of the blocks and dominate the first half, when they could and should have been more than one goal up at the break.

However, this then followed by a very different 45 minutes, where the 10 men of Chelsea dominated possession and territory.

An uncomfortable watch, until that huge tension balloon was at last popped in the 90th minute with Bruno topping off an excellent captain’s performance with that second goal.

Eddie Howe said after the match:

“It was anxious in the second half, that was an interesting 45 minutes. We played really well in the first half, we were electric, but a mixture of things – the psychology of the game, the scoreline, 10 v 11 – it made it a difficult second half.  I thought Chelsea did really well but we hung in there.”

I agree with all of that from our leader.

For me, it is one of those games where afterwards you can analyse it better, than when caught up in the moment at the match.

Newcastle United in that second half didn’t look after the ball well enough, whilst Chelsea did.

Those 45 minutes were a tough watch, Chelsea endlessly playing the ball back and forward in the Newcastle United half of the pitch BUT not in the United penalty area, with very rare exceptions.

As a fan, especially a Newcastle United fan, you will always fear the worst due to the scars of the past. Games your team have been in control of and end up not winning.

In reality though, Chelsea created next to nothing, despite having the ball for what felt like 44 of the 45 second half minutes.

Newcastle United under Eddie Howe have something that money can’t buy, they have such character, such a work ethic, such discipline.

It doesn’t mean that they will win every match but what it does mean is that very rarely do we see Newcastle United crumble. Even in games where for large parts of the match, NUFC are having to dig in, when not able to dominate, Eddie Howe’s players are so well coached, so well drilled and so committed, the opposition so often run into a brick wall.

Chelsea worked a couple of half chances but the excellent Nick Pope was more than equal to them.

By the way, whilst so many Newcastle United fans have a downer about our number one because he is supposedly so much of a liability with his feet (Yet how many goals have NUFC ever conceded due to this???), just how good is Nick Pope in so many other areas of his game, his sweeping behind the defence is outstanding, his bravery in coming for crosses to help his team out is as brave as they come, whilst his distribution with his hands is so often exemplary.

Look at this brilliant footage highlighted by @NUFCThreatLevel of that crucial opening goal on Sunday, have a look at where it all starts from, the move for that Tonali goal. An extraordinary throw out from Pope that sets Tino in so much space that he has the time to release Gordon and set in motion the eventual goal.

Back to my main point though.

On Sunday, for all our nerves at the time, when you look back and analyse it in the cold light of day, it was an incredibly disciplined defensive performance from United in that second half. Whilst they struggled to keep hold of possession themselves, the Newcastle players worked themselves into the ground to make sure Chelsea didn’t score.

The thing is, this has been the story of the season.

Once Newcastle United are ahead, they hardly ever let the opposition back into the game.

Indeed, United are easily the best Premier League team this season when it comes to not losing points from a winning position.

Champions Liverpool have dropped thirteen points from winning positions in the Premier League, Newcastle United only seven.

These came in three games:

Crystal Palace 1 Newcastle 1

Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

Newcastle 1 Fulham 2

That is it.

Newcastle 2 Chelsea o was just the latest of many many Premier League matches where once United got the lead, they were keeping those points.

Actually, the previous match before Sunday also summed up United’s great character and commitment, when it comes to never giving in.

Newcastle United are also one of the leading Premier League clubs when it comes to coming back after going behind in PL matches, that late late point at Brighton making it 19 points now recovered from losing positions:

Bournemouth 1 Newcastle 1

Wolves 1 Newcastle 2

Newcastle 1 Man City 1

Forest 1 Newcastle 3

Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

Spurs 1 Newcastle 2

Newcastle 4 Forest 3