Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles believes that the Magpies have found it hard to deal with counter attacking teams so far this season.
Last season under Rafa Benitez in the Premier League, the Magpies tried to counter attack teams in order to win matches but Lascelles believes that this campaign, the roles have been reversed as teams (like Wolves) come to St James’ Park to sit back and absorb pressure. The 22 year old believes it is up to them to cope with these teams much better. He told the Evening Chronicle:
“We have to work on how we cope with (teams sitting back). Last season it was more that we’d sit back and we’d look to counter teams. It’s completely different now, teams will respect us as a team, as a club and as players. It’s down to us to change our style of play.”
Such tactics may not be employed by Norwich City tonight however. The Canaries are sitting second in the table on 20 points and have promotion ambitions of their own. They are a possession based side who like to play out from the back under Alex Neil. As left back Paul Dummett said yesterday, this has a six pointer written all over it. Lose and the Magpies go seven points behind the Canaries, win and they are within one point, just three off the leaders Huddersfield.
