Eddie Howe’s Mags were, rightly, lambasted for their abject attacking performance against Crystal Palace on the 30 November, which resulted in a full 90 minutes with just a single shot on goal and only 12 touches in the opposition box.
To make matters worse, Palace were deeply ensconced within the bottom three at the time, and not playing well, though they have since moved out of the drop zone.
‘It was a strange game,’ said the gaffer that afternoon. ‘We didn’t have any goalmouth action…’ and that was putting it lightly as he, justifiably, caught flack for a strange post-match interview, and the incredibly poor attacking performance.
Fans reacted with a banner in the East Stand before the Liverpool game imploring the Newcastle players to ‘get into them’ and since then Eddie Howe’s side have done just that notching 83 total shots in the four games since, bringing two wins, a draw and a defeat:
* 3-3 vs Liverpool
* 2-4 vs Brentford
* 4-0 vs Leicester
* 3-1 vs Brentford
United’s 12 goals in the last four games have come from 25 efforts on target, a conversion rate of nigh on 50%.
Jacob Murphy has notched two goals and two assists, Bruno Guimaraes has three assists and a goal, and Tonali has grabbed two goals too. Decent numbers from lads who haven’t been chipping in as much as of late, reducing the squad’s reliance on Isak and Gordon too.
In what was a strange situation, considering last season’s record smashing goalscoring feats, it’s been gratifying to see the lads rediscover some of that form over the last four outings.
A mix of Howe finding solutions (the settled midfield three of Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton, and the balance of playing Gordon on the left and Murphy on the right) combined with rediscovering our fluidity in passing and moving ball quicker, has seen the net ripple on a more consistent basis and has brought some key results, and more importantly, some good performances too.
On an individual level I imagine the poor attacking displays against Palace, and the second half against West Ham at St James’ Park, hurt the attackers as the likes of Gordon and Isak endured slow starts to this campaign.
Perhaps it’s too easy to simply say they are finishing far better now than four games ago but what is clear is that the players and management have worked on getting the more peripheral players involved in the build-up, creation and finishing of chances.
This in turn has presented our quality attacking players with more opportunities, which they have taken on the main, but has significantly reduced the pressure on them as others have started to chip in with goals from all over the pitch.
Ipswich today presents an excellent opportunity to extend the run further, as they will certainly allow us a few efforts on goal as they have done all season long.
HWTL!