TF Player Ratings - Newcastle Utd 3-0 Aston Villa
Boxing Day 2024
Martin Dúbravka - 7. Played his part today with a good low save from Digne’s free kick. He looks more confident than last year and looked more comfortable on the ball than Pope did before his injury. I suppose it helps when we are winning and doing so handsomely, but a player derided at times last time he saw the light of day has slotted in very well indeed.
Kieran Trippier - 7. I'm of the dwindling contingent that thinks we are a better side with Trippier in it than not and after saying that for a while, he didn't make me look a complete idiot on his return to the side. He looked comfortable on the ball and defensively worked with Schär and Burn to really make the man advantage count. He even let the former take a first half free kick. That was one of the few things he got wrong all afternoon. Hopefully the injury is not as serious as it looked. He was also booked for you completists out there.
Fabian Schär - 7. Another eventful day for Schär. Forced a save from Martinez with a free kick before being almost instantly fouled by Dhuran whose sending off gave us a massive advantage we never ever looked like losing. (I haven't seen it but Burn was straight over. A sure fire sign of skullduggery). Almost scored an own goal but it was a goal saving clearance in itself with Watkins lurking. Apart from that he looked untroubled.
Dan Burn - 9. I thought Burn was magnificent today. Ok, Villa were blunted with the sending off, but Burn never missed a tackle or header and certainly never lost a pass. Sometimes there's massive elegance in simplicity and I'm not seeing many other English centre backs oozing confidence like Burn is right now. A far cry from a year ago, eh?
Lewis Hall - 8. Another game goes by when the general mutterings of people at the match go with something like “Hall was canny today again”. Consistency has always been the stick to beat Hall with but that's long gone as he's revelled in these four victories. Today he looked good going forward but also did a lot of dirty work for Gordon which didn't go unnoticed. Or at least it shouldn't have.
Sandro Tonali - 8. Tonali’s upward trajectory of the last couple of months was summed up by his role in the opening goal today. He didn't give Villa a second, won the ball back and set us on our way. Tonali is one of those players who looks spectacular but is happy to do the dirty work and after a few loose first half passes, he seemed to hitch his shorts even higher, give himself a shake and the result was him being one of the best on the pitch again.
Joelinton - 8. The intensity is back. The Joelinton of a month ago was a mixed bag. Generally, if he hasn't got the busting runs, physicality, and the ability to drag us up the pitch, it doesn't leave an awful lot else. Today though, from the off he looked on it and the rest over the last week looked to really help him, as he was still going at the end and capped a brilliant performance with a sweet as a nut goal. Shoot they cried. Shoot he did. Back to his best.
Bruno Guimarães - 8. Another player back to his best. Look beyond the histrionics and the fact remains that if Bruno plays well, Newcastle will duly follow. He kept the ball, was always probing, and this was shown up by an audacious lob to try and put Isak in. This doesn't happen when Bruno gets involved with silliness. I'm not quite sure what he could have done for the disallowed goal but I was a long way away and it was a rare frustrating footnote in a very good midfield display.
Jacob Murphy - 7. After a quiet first half in which he helped ten men Villa out with a strange defensive header as we attacked with gusto, as he often does, he came alive in the second half as he darted behind loads of times. Set up Isak for yet another assist, but hit the bar when it looked easier to score, and passed to Isak when the goal was gaping. He went off not long after, but it's hard to argue against what he's bringing to the team right now. Barnes isn't doing what he does at either end of the pitch.
Anthony Gordon - 7. What a goal in the second minute which got Villa by the throat almost immediately from the kick off. It was typical Gordon and it was a minor disappointment that he didn't do it a bit more against someone who was yellow carded early on and definitely walking a tightrope, but generally Vila were scared stiff of him. Another ‘big’ player who is right back in form again and will be licking his lips at the thought of Old Trafford on Monday.
Alexander Isak - 7. The goals continue to flow for Isak who, although didn't have a field day like he did on Saturday, probably could have gone away with the match ball again on another day. A nice little finish killed the game from Murphy's cross and he had a goal disallowed while also being twice denied by Martinez. It wasn't classic Isak but even when it's not, he's far too much for a side bedraggled by its own indiscipline to handle.
SUBSTITUTES
Harvey Barnes, for Gordon 78 minutes - 5. Brought a bit of freshness but I can't remember much standing out.
Matt Targett, for Trippier 78 minutes - 6. Yes, the lesser spotted Matt Targett. His first appearance in a calendar year (If you are going on the Ethiopian calendar which I swear by) and he came with a massive pair of boots which Noddy Holder might wear and he did ok. A couple of big challenges to give Howe a nudge if Trippier isn't right for Monday.
Joe Willock, for Murphy 78 minutes - 5. Had a few touches but nothing spectacular.
William Osula, for Isak 90 minutes. I didn't realise he came on to be honest but he did.
Lewis Miley, for Guimarães 90 minutes. Some very nice touches involving Tonali. Looks massive, and if he can learn off Tonali we continue to have a player on our hands.
Scott Robson
