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A grim end to an awful week for Newcastle United, as a first-half header from ex-Mag Andros Townsend handed Luton Town a 1-0 win and our SIXTH defeat in our last seven away games.
With Man Utd losing to West Ham in the early kick-off and Aston Villa dropping points to Sheffield United on Friday night, this was a huge chance to boost our top-four hopes and respond to recent defeats in the cup and Europe.
Sadly, we were off it in all departments and continue to come up well short on the road, managing just two shots on target all afternoon. Luton had been competitive in every home game this season, running Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal close at Kenilworth Road, but it’s quite damning that this was their first home game of the season.
Our away form simply has to improve, even if fatigue, injuries and the hectic schedule have been contributing factors in recent months. We are a completely different side at St James’ Park, even when the above issues continue to be a factor. We weren’t just off it technically today, we lacked intensity, physicality and were slower to second balls than a hungry Luton side who seemed to want it more.
The result sees us slip to 7th in the table after West Ham’s victory earlier in the day, falling seven points behind Spurs; who moved above Man City and into fourth with a 2-1 win over Everton.
Howe made three changes from Tuesday’s cup defeat at Chelsea, where Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn replace Emil Krafth, Sven Botman and Tino Livramento.
We made a really poor start and were second best in every before we finally settled around the 15-minute mark. Miley had a big chance blocked from Longstaff’s cut-back and Wilson saw his point-blank header stopped from six-yards out after Gordon whipped in a brilliant ball from the left. It was a superb save, but he had to score.
Then, just as we were starting to settle, a Luton corner was flicked on at the front post and headed home at the back post by former Mag Andros…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/12/23/luton-1-0-newcastle-worrying-away-form-continues-at-the-end-of-awful-week/
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2023-12-23 17:02:28
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