Newcastle United have lost to 1-0 to Fulham in their season opener at Craven Cottage.
The Magpies put in a lacklustre performance as they struggled to create many clear-cut chances against a very organised Fulham side.
Here are five things we learned from the encounter:
1. Newcastle United will not walk this league
Most already know this, but if you didn’t, then here you go. The Championship is a tough league that takes no prisoners, and if you’re poor on any particular day, teams will make you pay. Newcastle had one of those days and were punished for it. So, all that talk of walking the league and going the whole season unbeaten can be dismissed. That being said, the Magpies still have 45 chances to put it right.
2. Newcastle still cannot defend set-pieces
In pre-season, every goal we conceded came from a set-piece, and this was the case once again. The only goal of the match came from a corner in which Matt Smith was left totally free in the box to head home. Set-piece defending is our biggest weakness at the minute, there’s no doubt about that. Rafa will now work tirelessly on the training ground to make sure this changes, and fast.
3. Newcastle desperately need a winger
The fact that Anita was made to play on the wing shows how desperate we are for a wide man. There are only two players in the squad who can be classified as wingers (Ritchie and Aarons), and that is a major concern – especially because one of the two in Aarons has struggled mightily with injury these last few seasons. If one of them picks up an injury/gets suspended, we’ll have to play someone out wide who doesn’t normally play there.
At least one winger needs to be brought in before the transfer window shuts, and a quality one at that.
4. Diame and Mitrovic will dramatically improve this team
It was made clear that a front two of Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle would struggle mightily in the Championship. Perez was pushed off the ball far too often and Gayle struggled to get involved in the match. That is why, when Mitro’s suspension ends, I would drop both and play Mitro up top with Diame right behind him. The two will be able to bully Championship defences and would give our attack some much-needed physicality. It may be harsh to drop Perez and Gayle after just one game, but a change needs to be made if we’re going to be successful in the Championship.
5. Isaac Hayden looks a shrewd piece of business by Rafa
The most impressive of our summer signings was arguably our least talked about one in Hayden. The former Arsenal man was very tidy on the ball and made some timely challenges to stop Fulham from breaking. He did fizzle out of the game towards the end, but his performance will be one of the very few positives Rafa can take away from the match. The £2.5m paid for him looks to be a bargain at the minute.