Bohemian FC 0-6 Newcastle United
Newcastle United got their pre season off to a winning start with a 6-0 victory against Dublin side Bohemian FC.
STARTING XI: Sels (Darlow, 45), Sterry (Janmaat, 45), Anita (Wijnaldum, 69), Mbemba (Hayden, 45), Lascelles (Gamez, 76), Saivet (Tiote, 76), Colback (Shelvey, 45), Ritchie (Thauvin, 45), Gouffran (Perez, 49), Aarons (Dummett, 61), Mirtovic (Gayle, 45)
Jamaal Lascelles was given the honour of captaining an NUFC side that would leave new boys Gamez, Hayden and Gayle on the bench sitting next to some of our other ‘big hitters’.
Bohemian FC were certainly taking the game seriously as after an early shot from Ritchie was blocked they would hit the target from a free kick which Sels would take comfortably.
Newcastle, playing in their new white away kit, would dominate possession in the first half with Aarons in particular always looking to run at the Bohs defence and looking dangerous throughout. Much is hoped, maybe expected, from this young lad this season. Mitrovic (wearing 45 again) would also start well getting a couple of early sighters at goal, one from a neat one-two with Gouffran and another from a Ritchie free-kick.
The breakthrough would come from new man Matt Ritchie however. Mitro would find himself out wide with space to run into, but instead of firing a cross into the area his delayed pass would find Ritchie arriving late into the box. One smart turn and one fantastic hit would see the ball beautifully curled into the Bohemian FC keepers top right corner, giving the keeper absolutely no chance at all. A quite spectacular finish.
Whilst Aarons would continue to be a thorn in the side of the Irish the second goal would be created and finished by Mitro. Having been felled in the box our big Serb would step up himself, and although the penalty would look almost mishit it would find the bottom left corner with the keeper going the wrong way. 2-0 Newcastle then at the break.
Rafa would make six changes at the break with debuts for new boys Gayle and Hayden and a recall for Thauvin. Gayle replacing Mitrovic who looked to have picked up an injury just before half time and Hayden dropping in at centre half for Mbemba.
The Mags would start brightly in the second half with a great early run form Thauvin ending in a block from Supple in the Bohemian goal, only for Gayle to hit the upright with a thunderous shot on 49 minutes. Que another sub for Newcastle with Perez on for Gouf.
The Spaniard would almost make an instant impact after being brilliantly denied by Supple, but his defiance would not last and the previously unfortunate Gayle then getting in on the goalscoring act to make it 3-0 Newcastle United. Not one to describe - just watch….. (Brilliant)
The flood gates had now opened and Newcastle had started to run riot. Next it would be the turn of Thauvin to tap in to make it 4-0 after more tremendous work from Aarons. And then Aarons himself would get a Newcastle 5th with a brilliant solo effort, sustaining a knock in the process.
HIs goal would see him applauded off the park as he made way for Dummett to get some game time. Whatever is left on the Aarons contract is just not enough, he needs a new one!
An appearance from Wijnaldum who was saved until the 69th minute as a replacement for Anita would leave most Newcastle United fans wondering if this would be the last time they’d see him in a black and white shirt. Only time will tell. But if it is to be he last appearance for Newcastle he did so by signing off with a goal, an AWAY goal, as he fired into the roof of the net following another good move from the visitors.
Rafa’s final substitutions of the game would see another debutant make is bow with Gamez on for Captain Lascelles who will be delighted with his days work and Tiote also on for Saivet, both on 76 minutes.
A couple of late chances would come and go, with Shelvey and Perez almost getting in on the act, but in the end Newcastle United would finish the game just ‘just’ the six goals to show for their days work.
Whilst this is a game that most fans and observers would have expected Newcastle to win, you only have to go back to last season and see results like a 1-0 win over Gateshead and a 2-1 loss to York to realise that perhaps these games are not as insignificant as you’d think.
Overall, a good result, hopefully the couple of knocks we took are not too serious, and roll on Doncaster.
One point of interest was the absence of Arma who wasn’t even on the bench today. And whilst de Jong and Mbabu were missing also this was of course due to injury for that pair. Quite what this means for Armstrong remains to be seen, but an early view maybe that he is on his way out on loan again, which would also perhaps signal another striker being signed. There was no comment from the club on this issue before or after the game however.