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Steve Bruce has been reading Carlo Ancelotti’s autobiography, Silent Leadership, and reports that it is worthy of the kind of five-star review his own team deserved after derailing Everton’s brilliant start to the season.
In fact, the Newcastle United coach was suspected of having been inspired by his bedtime book because, with the exception of Robin Olsen’s debut, Ancelotti’s side, certainly a surrogate, was definitely second best, as succumbed to two goals from Callum Wilson.
With Seamus Coleman injured and Lucas Digne and Richarlison suspended, Ancelotti was forced to reorganize. It involved the selection of five natural central midfielders in a solid-looking visiting starting XI with little pace and width.
That set also lacked Jordan Pickford, the England goalkeeper who was demoted to the bench. The Everton coach disagreed with those who said Pickford had been knocked out and instead claimed he was, for just one game, “rested.”
The former Sunderland goalkeeper will have been disappointed not to face a Newcastle side he has always loved to undo. His junk seat on the sidelines gave him a rather dull view of a decidedly low-octane first half.
If he featured an experimental 4-2-3-1 Everton formation in which Ancelotti had apparently instructed Fabian Delph to switch between a midfielder role and substitute cameos on the left back whenever Niels Nkounkou tried, usually sadly, to compensate. the lack of wide advancing from the left of the defense.
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Olsen, Pickford’s replacement, initially had little to do in his Premier League debut. It had been more than 30 minutes before the Swedish goalkeeper, on loan from Roma, was called to arms after Newcastle cleverly counterattacked from an Everton corner and Miguel Almirón and Wilson cleverly combined to create a shooting opportunity for Allan. Saint-Maximin. Suddenly, Olsen needed to show his mettle, but, up to the challenge, he advanced from his line, stretched out and, oozing competition, saved the Frenchman’s attempted sinking. Maybe Pickford has some serious competition at the club level, as well as international, after all?
Bruce seemed considerably happier than Ancelotti and, at halftime, he had reason to believe that Newcastle’s return to a renewed version of 3-5-2 had provided his team with the kind of stability they so badly needed that they seemed capable of serving. also as a counterattack. trampoline.
This rare optimistic mood was symbolized by the stunning rainbow that appeared in the second half, arcing over Gallowgate End in the wake of a rain shower. Appropriately his arrival coincided with Wilson giving Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot after the scorer’s stumble to André Gomes’ clumsy challenge. Wilson had evidently avoided being distracted by escalating a long-running feud with Yerry Mina in the preamble to the penalty that resulted in the forward’s warning.
When Sean Longstaff subsequently picked up Wilson’s crafty pass, swung sharply and shot low, Newcastle looked ready to double his lead, but Olsen saved brilliantly.
However, the goalkeeper did not respond to Wilson, as the forward eluded his reach for the second time in the 84th minute. This time, Jamal Lewis’ long pass released Ryan Fraser, in place of Saint-Maximin and, with the winger Scotsman having dodged Mina’s attempted challenge, all that was left was for his elevated center to deflect Mina who was pedaling backward and heading home from close range. in second place by well-positioned Wilson.
Although Dominic Calvert-Lewis reduced the deficit in stoppage time after receiving a toe off a deflected cross from Alex Iwobi, Newcastle were worthy of the winners.
