Opinion Newcastle’s tunnel ‘anger’ as Southampton star Ben Brereton Diaz’s reaction backfires. Newcastle United were fired up after Southampton star Ben Brereton Diaz’s theatrics.Wor Flags return for Newcastle’s first game. Wor Flags, as always, set the tone before a ball was even kicked. Underneath a huge surfer depicting Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak looking at the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies, there was a banner in the Gallowgate that read: “We still have wild dreams.”
If Newcastle United are to one day realise those grand ambitions, the Magpies will require further reinforcements and much better performances, but they will also need spirit. Eddie Howe’s team certainly had that in abundance at St James’ Park on Saturday.
In fact, this 1-0 win against Southampton felt like a throwback to the early days of this new era. When Newcastle were fighting for their lives and clinging on against Burnley, and Geordies were whistling their side over the line. They did so again in the final stages of this hard-fought victory, which was anything but comfortable, after Fabian Schar was sent off after just 28 minutes.
77% possession, 19 shots and 12 corners were the kind of numbers you would now expect Newcastle to command against a newly-promoted outfit. Only it was Southampton who dominated against 10 men at St James’ on Saturday.
Newcastle, in truth, were struggling to fire against Southampton even with a full complement of players, but the hosts’ task was complicated further when Schar was red carded for a clash that left Ben Brereton Diaz theatrically holding his face on the turf. Yet the hosts pulled together and Joelinton scored what proved to be a winning goal right before half-time. Should that have even come as a surprise?
Yes, Newcastle’s need for further ‘difference makers’ is clear before the window shuts, but these players know each other inside out and are willing to go to the well for one another. As Joelinton put it: “The team showed great character to fight for each other and stay together.”
This was a timely display of that heart on the opening day after Newcastle found themselves in a position they rarely have been under Howe: down to 10 men. Remarkably, only five players in black and white had previously been red carded in all competitions under Howe.
However, Howe and his staff have long prepared the group for such scenarios over the years and the red card was going to have one of two effects; it would either galvanise the players and crowd and spur them on or the perceived injustice would anger them to such an extent that it worked against them.
It ended up being the former. If anything Diaz’s theatrics backfired; St James’ was reignited after previously being silenced by fearless Southampton, who popped the ball around so effortlessly even when Newcastle had 11 men. Chants of ‘Cheerio!’ from Southampton fans up in the gods towards Schar were quickly drowned out by cries of ‘You’re not fit to referee!‘ from Geordies.
