Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace at the weekend, meaning they have now won just one of their past nine Premier League matches. Steve Bruce’s side are plummeting towards the drop at just the wrong moment of the season, but one of the squad member’s heroic performances give the Magpies a shot at surviving in the Premier League. Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent has heaped praise on goalkeeper Martin Dubravka who pulled off a string of outstanding saves at Selhurst Park.
What did he say?
Speaking to Football Insider, Bent said: “He was making some world-class saves, some absolutely brilliant, brilliant saves but it’s not enough at times.”
The ex-England poacher added: “The goalkeeper can only do so much, he can make save after save, it’s very rare that you can make all these saves and you don’t concede. If you keep giving the opposition the opportunity to score, they will take one. It’s a positive he’s playing so well, but now other people have got to step up.”
Magpies overly reliant on dogged defence
After yet another scoreless performance at the weekend, Newcastle’s tenth of the season and third in succession, Bruce’s side have been left as the Premier League’s lowest scorers on 24 goals. They have been incredibly reliant on goalkeeper Dubravka’s heroic performances, as the 24 cap Slovakian international has kept the opposition out on seven occasions this season. He has been helped by having a five-man backline in front of him, which included North East Football Writers’ Player of the Year for 2019, Fabian Schar. The Magpies’ defence have been resolute at the back but also incredibly productive in attack this term providing 12 of Newcastle’s Premier League goals, half of their overall total, as per WhoScored.
Meanwhile, the forward line have been embarrassingly unproductive in front of goal, with the regular starting trio of Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin combining for just four top-flight strikes. The disparity in goalscoring contribution epitomises the extent to which Newcastle have relied upon their defence to win games and Dubravka to earn them points they simply have not deserved at times.
