Newcastle United’s 4-3 victory over Leeds United on Wednesday night at St. James’ Park was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Harvey Barnes’ last-gasp winner providing an unforgettable climax for the fans. Eddie Howe’s side showed incredible resilience, coming back from deficits of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 to secure all three points.
It was a thrilling display of determination, but beneath the excitement, there were serious concerns about some individual performances that could have cost the Magpies dearly.
The most glaring example was centre-back Malick Thiaw, whose performance in the first half bordered on catastrophic. Even with the late injury to Fabian Schar, Thiaw’s display exposed serious defensive frailties that cannot be overlooked.
According to Sofascore, Thiaw lost all six of his duels in the opening 45 minutes and failed to register a single tackle or interception. His lack of presence allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to dominate, enabling the first goal when Thiaw slipped in midfield and allowed the ball to reach Brenden Aaronson, who finished with ease.
Later in the half, Thiaw’s arm left him guilty of conceding a penalty, which Calvert-Lewin converted to make it 2-1. Given these errors, it’s clear Howe must reconsider Thiaw’s place in the starting eleven.
However, Thiaw is far from the only Newcastle player under scrutiny. Nick Pope, returning from injury to reclaim his spot in goal, had a difficult evening that raises questions about his reliability between the sticks.
While the first two Leeds goals were largely unavoidable Aaronson scoring from range and Calvert-Lewin converting the penalty Pope’s second-half performance left a lot to be desired. During the game, commentator Don Goodman noted that Pope “was all over the place” as he failed to claim a ball cleanly, leaving James Justin free to head towards an empty goal, only for the effort to crash against the crossbar.
Shortly after, Pope remained rooted to his line as Aaronson scored from distance, leaving the goal exposed and further compounding his already shaky performance.
Pope’s statistics for the season highlight the concern. Over 15 Premier League appearances, his save percentage sits at 73%, with goals prevented at -0.37, indicating he has conceded more than expected based on xG.
He has committed two errors leading to shots or goals, one of which came against Leeds, while his passing accuracy is only 58%. In comparison, Aaron Ramsdale, who has played seven matches since joining on loan from Southampton, has yet to make a single error leading to a goal. These numbers suggest that Pope is currently not performing at the level required for a club competing at the top of the Premier League.
The implications for Newcastle are clear. Both Thiaw and Pope demonstrated performances that were “all over the place” and jeopardized the team’s chances. Howe now faces the task of re-evaluating his starting lineup.
Thiaw must be considered for the bench, at least until he demonstrates greater reliability and defensive composure. Likewise, Pope should be rested in favour of Ramsdale, who has shown he can handle pressure situations and maintain consistency in goal.
Giving Ramsdale a chance in the upcoming FA Cup tie against Bournemouth could provide a pathway to establish him as the first-choice keeper for the League Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City.
While Newcastle’s comeback against Leeds was thrilling and secured three vital points, it also served as a stark reminder of the risks posed by underperforming key players. The victory should not mask the flaws exposed by Thiaw and Pope, both of whom were major weak points in the match.
For Howe to sustain the momentum and continue challenging in multiple competitions, tough decisions must be made. Benchings are not punishments but necessary steps to protect the team’s overall performance and ensure that reliability and quality are present in every position on the field.
The Magpies can celebrate a dramatic win, but the underlying message is clear: consistent mistakes from central figures cannot continue. Both Thiaw and Pope need to be replaced in the starting lineup until they regain form and composure.
Newcastle’s future results, particularly against top opposition, will depend on Howe making these difficult but necessary adjustments, ensuring that the team maintains defensive solidity and capitalizes on attacking opportunities without being undermined by preventable errors.
Player Performance Snapshot: Newcastle vs Leeds
| Player | Minutes Played | Key Stats | Performance Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malick Thiaw | 45 | Duels lost: 6/6, Tackles: 0, Interceptions: 0, Conceded penalty | Should be benched due to first-half disaster |
| Nick Pope | 90 | Save %: 73%, Goals prevented: -0.37, Errors leading to shot/goal: 2 | Inconsistent, failed to command box, bench Ramsdale |
| Harvey Barnes | 90 | Goals: 1, Assists: 0, Key passes: 2 | Match-winner, decisive in last-minute comeback |
| Joelinton | 90 | Goals: 1, Aerial duels won: 3/5 | Solid contribution, key header equaliser |
| Bruno Guimaraes | 90 | Goals: 1 (penalty), Pass accuracy: 88% | Calm under pressure, scored crucial equaliser |
Newcastle’s victory demonstrated their resilience and fight, but Howe must act decisively to remove unreliable performers from the starting eleven. Thiaw and Pope’s struggles were far too costly and, unless addressed, could threaten Newcastle’s ambitions for the rest of the season.
