well we like to do it the hard way, don't we?
Ratings:
Ruddy - 6: a couple of excellent saves, but should have done better for the loopy header, and spilled it a couple of times once into a fortunately offside and off target Cisse. Some horrible clearance kicking. Dominant with crosses in the first half, but struggled with positioning with Mitrovic on as he became nervous with his CBs
Wisdom - 6: solid defensively, but I don't really think he offers that much. Also Newcastle found space on his side in the second half
Klose - 7: fantastic, dominant first half. Brilliant finish. Some exceptional interceptions too. Deserves the praise he's getting. However, it might be controversial to say, but I thought he struggled against Mitrovic and Cisse, not that he was given much support by Bennett and started to lose his head. Still put himself in some excellent positions and blocks though
Olsson - 8: is this a new player? Defensively looking much better with Klose inside him and going forward he suddenly looks exceptional. Wonderful finish for the goal. Occasionally caught out of position and let Townsend inside a couple of times dangerously, but actually did well to keep the overpriced player quiet.
O'Neil - 8/4: I can't give this guy a proper rating. It was like two different players. Wonderful, all action first half. Headless, brainless second half. Giving the ball away. Very unlucky with the penalty, but frankly if it was going to be anyone it would have been him.
Howson - 7: wonderful first half, quieter in the second half, but put in a typically solid and reliable performance. Mr dependable.
Brady - 7: dangerous going forward and his set piece delivery was back to its best (although corners were a little wayward). Worked hard defensively too.
Jarvis - 6: worked hard defensively, which I suppose is what we needs, but I have to say I felt he was missing for large stretches of the game and rightly substituted.
Naismith - 7: much, much improved from this man. Very hard working, this is what we expected when we paid £8m for him. I hope he puts in as much effort when we play tougher teams. I would say he lacked a bit of composure in front of goal, but generally excellent particularly in his understanding with Mbokani.
Mbokani - 8: I can't quite give him a 9, because he could have had a hat trick if only he'd stayed onside/finished in the first half when Darlow put in a good save.
Redmond - 6: didn't offer as much as I was hoping.
Hoolahan - 6: not enough time to really make an impact, but played a role in our threat going forward even when heads could have dropped.
Jerome - 5: cameo but offered a bit of energy.
MOTM Mbokani comfortably.
Alex Neil - 7: this is a tough one. It's difficult to give him less than a seven for engineering a win, he set up and motivated well, but I can't help feeling his substitutions, which should have been reactive to Benitez's earlier ones, ended up giving us a mountain to climb (which fortunately we managed), but he'll he could have made it a lot easier for us to breathe...
Ratings:
Ruddy - 6: a couple of excellent saves, but should have done better for the loopy header, and spilled it a couple of times once into a fortunately offside and off target Cisse. Some horrible clearance kicking. Dominant with crosses in the first half, but struggled with positioning with Mitrovic on as he became nervous with his CBs
Wisdom - 6: solid defensively, but I don't really think he offers that much. Also Newcastle found space on his side in the second half
Klose - 7: fantastic, dominant first half. Brilliant finish. Some exceptional interceptions too. Deserves the praise he's getting. However, it might be controversial to say, but I thought he struggled against Mitrovic and Cisse, not that he was given much support by Bennett and started to lose his head. Still put himself in some excellent positions and blocks though
Olsson - 8: is this a new player? Defensively looking much better with Klose inside him and going forward he suddenly looks exceptional. Wonderful finish for the goal. Occasionally caught out of position and let Townsend inside a couple of times dangerously, but actually did well to keep the overpriced player quiet.
O'Neil - 8/4: I can't give this guy a proper rating. It was like two different players. Wonderful, all action first half. Headless, brainless second half. Giving the ball away. Very unlucky with the penalty, but frankly if it was going to be anyone it would have been him.
Howson - 7: wonderful first half, quieter in the second half, but put in a typically solid and reliable performance. Mr dependable.
Brady - 7: dangerous going forward and his set piece delivery was back to its best (although corners were a little wayward). Worked hard defensively too.
Jarvis - 6: worked hard defensively, which I suppose is what we needs, but I have to say I felt he was missing for large stretches of the game and rightly substituted.
Naismith - 7: much, much improved from this man. Very hard working, this is what we expected when we paid £8m for him. I hope he puts in as much effort when we play tougher teams. I would say he lacked a bit of composure in front of goal, but generally excellent particularly in his understanding with Mbokani.
Mbokani - 8: I can't quite give him a 9, because he could have had a hat trick if only he'd stayed onside/finished in the first half when Darlow put in a good save.
Redmond - 6: didn't offer as much as I was hoping.
Hoolahan - 6: not enough time to really make an impact, but played a role in our threat going forward even when heads could have dropped.
Jerome - 5: cameo but offered a bit of energy.
MOTM Mbokani comfortably.
Alex Neil - 7: this is a tough one. It's difficult to give him less than a seven for engineering a win, he set up and motivated well, but I can't help feeling his substitutions, which should have been reactive to Benitez's earlier ones, ended up giving us a mountain to climb (which fortunately we managed), but he'll he could have made it a lot easier for us to breathe...
