Paul Scholes thinks Diogo Dalot ‘needed help’ when coming up against Allan Saint-Maximin during Newcastle United’s 2-0 win over Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
The Manchester United legend was critical of winger Antony for not helping out his right-back because of the issues Allan Saint-Maximin was causing on the flanks.
When the Frenchman is on song, then many teams from across the land are going to struggle to stop him in his stride, even if he doesn’t know what he is going to do half of the time.
That was the case against Manchester United, with Saint-Maximin supplying the assist for Newcastle’s opener, which was headed home by Joe Willock.
In the end, he was subbed off by Eddie Howe just after the hour mark, with Antony, 23, also making way after a poor showing from the big-money Brazil signing.
Paul Scholes suggested that if Saint-Maximin had a left foot to his armoury, then he thinks he would be a much better player, as he told Premier League Productions (02/04/23 at 5:25 pm).
“Dalot needs help,” said Scholes. “He has been isolated one v one so many times. I just think if Saint-Maximin could get a left foot, then it would be a totally different story.
“But you expect Antony to be the one coming out for his fullback. He’s not even inside. With the three or four pieces we have shown there, he’s blocking back from the halfway line. He has to do more than that, especially away from home.
After FT: “I can’t say Antony didn’t try. He just never runs back. But he has always been like that.”
NEWCASTLE LEAPFROG MAN UNITED
Those were three big points from Newcastle and it resulted in them leapfrogging Manchester United into third spot in the Premier League table.
The duo have played the same number of games (27), but it’s the goal difference from Eddie Howe’s defensively-strong side that is separating the two.
With a +22 goal difference for Newcastle and just +4 for Erik ten Hag’s men, then you know that’s not going to change this season, so if they do finish level on points at the end of the campaign, then that will prove to be crucial.
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