Newcastle United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 in the EFL Cup third round at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.
Newcastle United’s Yoan Gouffran celebrates with teammates after he scores his sides second goal
Newcastle United advanced to the last-16 of the EFL Cup with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The result comes just days after Wolves beat the Magpies by the same scoreline in the Championship, following an own goal from Chancel Mbemba and a second half strike from Helder Costa.
But both sides made eight changes from Saturday’s match, as two quickfire goals from Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran in the first half saw United progress without much trouble.
Here are five things we learned from the match:
1. Yoan Gouffran is hosting his own goal of the month contest
The French winger has been a revelation for Newcastle so far this season. When he volleyed in Jonjo Shelvey’s corner in the 2-0 win over Derby County earlier in the month, many fans wouldn’t have expected him to score another goal of such quality all season – let alone just a matter of weeks later. The 30-year-old’s weak footed flying effort to hammer in Ritchie’s cross was at least as good as his effort at iPro Stadium.
The fact that Gouffran has scored two world class goals already this season, and we’re still in September, is something that would have been very hard to believe back in July.
Newcastle United’s Yoan Gouffran (L) scores his sides second goal
2. Matt Ritchie is magic
What a signing Matt Ritchie is proving to be – less than 10 games into his Newcastle career and the Scottish international is already a fan favourite. And with performances like he showed against Wolves on Tuesday evening, it’s easy to see why.
Pretty much everything positive the Magpies did going forward involved Ritchie in some way, and the 27-year-old was rewarded with a well taken goal and assist. He’s quickly proving to be Rafa Benitez’s most valuable player.
Ritchie gives Newcastle that edge and bit of class that has often been lacking in the past and in the Championship. He will surely be a massive asset.
Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie celebrates after he scores his sides first goal
3. United’s excellent support continues in the cup
Newcastle’s victory was played in front of almost 35,000 fans at St. James’ Park, an impressive figure given the context of the match.
For an EFL Cup third round match between two second tier sides to attract such a gate is commendable, particularly given the fact that the sides played each other just days before.
The 34,735 official attendance even surpasses that of every other Championship side’s average in the league so far this season.
St. James’ Park may be the highest capacity stadium in the division, but the fact that Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers and Brighton v Reading – the only two other all Championship ties on Tuesday – both failed to break the 10,000 barrier, just goes to show how excellent Newcastle’s figures actually were.
Newcastle United fans
4. Where was this performance on Saturday?
Newcastle are unlikely to go all the way and win the EFL Cup this season, so it’s fair to say fans would have probably preferred to beat Wolves in the league.
The Magpies did get their revenge, but their woeful performance over the weekend was made even worse by the fact that they had beaten QPR 6-0 at Loftus Road earlier in the week – and had won the previous six in a row (five of which were without conceding a goal).
Wolves’ Helder Costa (2nd from the L) celebrates with team mates after he scores their second goal
5. How did the new boys get on?
Rafa Benitez handed debuts to summer signings Achraf Lazaar and Daryl Murphy, while DeAndre Yedlin started his first match in black and white.
Yedlin has already bagged his first Newcastle goal, and he was arguably the pick of the three with a positive and energetic display at right-back.
33-year-old striker Murphy led the line reasonably well in the first half, with some good hold up player – but he became increasingly ineffective as the game wore on. He does, however, offer the Magpies experience and some added competition in attack – which can only be a positive thing.
Moroccan left-back Lazaar saw plenty of the ball and had some neat touches, but he was often wasteful in possession and his delivery was lacking.
Newcastle United’s Deandre Yedlin (L) in action with Wolves’ Joe Mason
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