Four points from Chelsea and Newcastle has to be viewed as a good return, the performances have been good this week but three big games coming up over the next ten days against Burnley, Norwich and Watford which will probably have the final say in our destiny. Sunday’s marks:
Fabianski 6 – yet again no chance with either goal nor a requirement to pull off any worldies
Fredericks 7 – credit where it’s due, after some recent shaky performances this was solid and gave Newcastle little room down his wing
Diop 7 – some important headers away and distribution was better than of late
Ogbonna 6.5 – generally did well but got ball watching for the home side’s opener, as ever some well-timed tackles
Cresswell 6.5 – got forward more this match and despite some tests down his wing did reasonably well
Soucek 7 – got forward well in this game, becoming an increasingly important part of this team, a well taken goal and on another day may have had two
Rice 7.5 – another hard running all energy performance, always looking to get the ball forward, header against bar created our second
Lanzini 5.5 – never really got going, lost possession cheaply a number of times
Fornals 6 – did well to assist in opening goal and plenty of yards covered, but culpable for hanging back for the home side’s second half equaliser and playing them well onside
Bowen 6.5 – drifted in and out the match but decent delivery for opening goal, unlucky with shot late in first half, and well taken corners including the one for our second goal
Antonio 6 – cannot be blamed for looking a tad tired after Wednesday night’s efforts, took his goal ever so well
Subs:
Noble (for Lanzini, 57 mins) 6 – a couple of time slowed down our movement going forward otherwise calmly kept things ticking over
Yarmolenko (for Fornals, 75 mins) 6.5 – worked hard up and down the right wing and unlucky with a sweet strike straight at the keeper
Written by : Jonathan Lee