The combined Premier League scoring record of Joselu and Ayoze Perez does not make for pretty reading for Newcastle.
Tomer Hemed of Brighton and Hove Albion scores their first goal past Robert Elliot of Newcastle United.
For the third time in six matches so far this season, Newcastle United failed to score in the Premier League as they lost 1-0 to fellow newly promoted side Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend.
The Magpies have managed six goals since returning to the top tier of English football, which in fairness is a total only bettered by the top six, Arsenal and Leicester City.
Joselu of Newcastle reacts after missing a chance during the Premier League match against Stoke City.
Once again manager Rafa Benitez started with new signing Joselu and Ayoze Perez as his attack at the Amex Stadium, with the latter in behind in what appears to be the Spaniard’s preferred forward line.
The problem is, when looking at the duo’s combined record in the division the statistics don’t make for very reassuring reading; especially when Newcastle look set to be relying on them for goals until the January transfer window at least.
Joe Hart of West Ham United saves from Ayoze Perez of Newcastle United.
In 101 Premier League matches between them, Joselu has scored five times in 26 appearances, while Perez has found the back of the net on 13 occasions in 75 outings. It is a tally that makes for fewer than one goal in five games from the pair – hardly resounding evidence that they are the men to lead the line this term.
Luckily Benitez is an assured tactician and is defensively sound – with the North East side conceding just five goals so far in 2017/18 – but whether that will be enough to counter the lack of end product from his all Spanish attack remains to be seen.
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