After five minutes of last weekend’s clash with Manchester United, Newcastle found themselves in the perfect position.
They were facing opponents with rock-bottom confidence after two weeks to stew on a 6-1 loss and had a 1-0 lead.
What’s more, it had been given to them by a freak own goal which could have led their visitors to think it’s going to be another one of those nights.
Newcastle could have pushed on, putting a brittle defence under pressure and hammering home their advantage – but they didn’t.
Steve Bruce’s side sat back and let United rebuild their confidence, surrendering the initiative and eventually losing 4-1.
Newcastle travel to Wolves this weekend, who are coming into the match on the back of successive 1-0 wins.
So what can Bruce do to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s meek collapse? We’ve got three ideas.
Shake up the selection
The likes of Joelinton and Jeff Hendrick are hard workers, but Bruce has Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron in reserve.
The pace and skill of that pair would lift Newcastle’s attack, which looked overly reliant on Allan Saint-Maximin last weekend.
Wolves are an adept defensive side coming off the back of two clean sheets and Bruce needs to give them something to think about.
Manchester United came into last weekend with a defence low on confidence but didn’t have too much to think about. That needs to change at Wolves.
Stop the shots
Sitting deep and soaking up pressure can work and in actual fact, Wolves are good at controlling a game that way under Nuno Espirito Santo.
But Newcastle have allowed 86 shots on their goal in five league games, which is simply not sustainable.
It relies on the goalkeeper having an outstanding game every week, and even then, the opposition will still get enough chance to win a game.
Newcastle are too passive when they sit deep; it’s simply not working.
Increase the belief
Captain Jamaal Lascelles told the club’s official website this is the strongest Newcastle team he’s played in.
The problem is, they’re not playing like it. The approach is like a team who are down to the bare bones, clinging on for results and losing them late on.
Newcastle had a good transfer window. They don’t have to play with this fear they’re currently showing.
The defensive approach seems to be manifesting itself as a lack of belief. Nobody is saying go all-out attack but there’s a better balance to be struck.
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