Saved by Isak: Howe must axe 5/10 Newcastle star who won just 25% duels vs Brighton

Newcastle United’s Champions League aspirations suffered a minor setback on the South Coast as Alexander Isak’s late penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw against Brighton, though the performance raised questions about several key players ahead of their crucial run-in.

The Swedish striker’s ice-cool conversion from the spot – Newcastle’s third awarded penalty of the afternoon after two VAR overturns – maintained his remarkable scoring form while papering over cracks in an otherwise disjointed team display.

Isak’s clinical finish marked his 27th goal across all competitions this season, with 23 coming in the Premier League – the highest tally by a Newcastle player since Alan Shearer’s 22-goal campaign two decades ago. Yet the statistics reveal a surprisingly quiet afternoon for the talismanic forward in open play:

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Isak’s Key StatsBrighton (A)
Minutes Played90
Goals1 (pen)
Shots2
Accurate Passes20
Duels Won3/7

While Isak’s penalty prowess saved Newcastle from defeat, Jacob Murphy’s anonymous performance epitomized their attacking struggles. The winger’s alarming drop in form was quantified by a statistical breakdown that makes grim reading for Magpies supporters:

Murphy’s PerformanceStats
Minutes Played56
Shots1
Accurate Passes17/22 (77%)
Successful Crosses0/2
Successful Dribbles1/2
Duels Won1/4

Eddie Howe acted decisively by hooking Murphy before the hour mark, with substitute Anthony Gordon immediately injecting more threat – winning four duels and earning one of Newcastle’s overturned penalties during his cameo.

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The contrast between Murphy’s passive display and Gordon’s impact suggests the starting lineup may need reshuffling for Chelsea’s visit to St James’ Park.

Kieran Trippier’s uncharacteristically sloppy distribution (15 possessions lost) and Joe Willock’s ineffectiveness in advanced areas (17 accurate passes) compounded Newcastle’s creative struggles.

These individual dips in form arrived at an inopportune moment, with the race for European qualification entering its decisive phase.

Howe will take solace in Isak’s relentless scoring touch and the team’s resilience to twice respond to VAR penalty reversals before finally converting their third opportunity.

However, the performance highlighted concerning trends – Newcastle have now won just two of their last seven away league games, with their reliance on Isak’s brilliance becoming increasingly pronounced.

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As the Magpies prepare for season-defining fixtures against Chelsea and Everton, Howe faces tactical dilemmas about how to revitalize his wide attackers while maintaining defensive solidity.

The return of Harvey Barnes provides one solution, but Newcastle’s Champions League ambitions may hinge on rediscovering the attacking fluency that characterized their early-season form.

This hard-earned point keeps Newcastle in the top-five conversation, though the performance served as a reality check about the improvements required to secure elite European football. With Isak continuing to shoulder the goalscoring burden, the coming weeks will test whether his teammates can elevate their performances to match their talisman’s standards.