Toothless forwards cost United again
Wringing goals out of his forwards has been a chore for Benitez this season, with Ayoze Perez the top scorer this season with seven despite operating in the number 10 role.
Dwight Gayle’s struggle to find the net this season has been well-documented and after a five-game drought he was replaced by Islam Slimani up front at Everton, the on-loan forward making a deserved first start for Newcastle following two excellent substitute cameos.
And while the Algerian worked hard, provided an aerial presence and adroitly linked up play, he never actually registered a shot on goal or was presented with a chance to score by his team-mates and was replaced by Gayle just after the hour.
Last season’s top scorer should have equalised for United with his first touch, volleying over from six-yards after Jamaal Lascelles had nodded on Jonjo Shelvey’s scorer, much to the frustration of his manager. He was also inches away from scoring in injury time when but didn’t attack Jacob Murphy’s cross aggressively enough, allowing Seamus Coleman to head the ball clear off his own goal-line
It’s these sort of missed chances that can and have cost Newcastle points this season resulting in their flirtation with relegation, though Gayle is not the only culprit. Fortunately for Benitez the rest of his side have contributed goals and papered over an enormous crack that he will hopefully fix in the summer.
