Newcastle United have a much-needed break from the Premier League when they face West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round of the FA Cup this evening. The Magpies have failed to find the back of the net in their previous four matches in the top-flight, as they edge towards the threat of relegation with just ten games of the season remaining. Only six places separate the two clubs who will meet at the Hawthorns, and in order to overcome the Championship leaders, Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce will have to make some changes in attacking areas in hope of progression to the next round.
Allan Saint-Maximin was the hero of the last round, producing extra-time heroics to overcome League One Oxford United after a replay. To avoid another unwanted 90 minutes, as with the replay against Rochdale in round three, Bruce should keep the French forward in the side. However, Miguel Almiron could make way for Matt Ritchie on the left channel, in an attempt to get the best out of Joelinton. Scottish winger Ritchie has played the most average crosses of any player in the Newcastle United squad, 1.3 per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.
Taking this into consideration, only Sebastien Haller has won more aerial duels in the English top-flight (198), than Joelinton’s 150. Moving Ritchie into his favoured advanced role could lead to more crossing scenarios which Bruce previously identified as an area to improve; saying of the Brazilian striker: “We now have to find a way of getting him in the box for crosses”.
So far, the Magpies have averaged 16 crosses per game with five percent effectivity, as per WhoScored, but if they can increase the accuracy and frequency of those deliveries and make sure the Brazilian is there to meet crosses it could be a fruitful source of goals.
Ultimately Newcastle need to find an alternative method of getting goals considering they are the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side, who have found the back of the net a meagre 24 times in 28 appearances throughout the 2019/20 campaign. Their four-game barren run has only exacerbated those statistics, and something must change against West Brom to avoid a repeat of both previous rounds which were settled by a replay.
