Alan Shearer has expressed concern over Newcastle United's attacking output following their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at St James' Park on Saturday. Watching from the director's box, the club legend saw the Magpies manage just one shot on target in the entire match.
Johan Manzambi's free header at the Gallowgate End proved decisive, with the visitors taking all three points in front of a full house. The loss marked Newcastle's second consecutive defeat in the Premier League.
Shearer's verdict on the performance
Speaking to Premier League Productions' Final Word, Shearer acknowledged that head coach Matthias Jaissle is still learning his trade but stressed the worrying trend in front of goal. "He is a young manager, and you are going to have ups and downs. But it is a worrying thing for me in the last two games, particularly at home to Aston Villa, that you have one shot on target in 90 minutes," Shearer said.
Reflecting on Manzambi's goal, which saw him have time to flick the ball past Lukas Hornicek, Shearer criticised the lack of pressure on the ball. "This is the worst of the lot. Where was the press? Gonzalez has to get out there quicker. You can't leave anybody free to have time on the ball and have a free header. That's what cost Newcastle the game," he added.
Concerns beyond the defeat
Newcastle remain 11th in the Premier League table with eight points, and they still have a Carabao Cup trip to Everton to look forward to next week. However, Shearer admitted to concerns about several issues that have surfaced in the last two matches.
"I always expected it to be a yo-yo season because of the young squad that they have and with the young manager that they have brought in," Shearer said. "He didn't know Newcastle and didn't know the Premier League, so I always said it was going to be a difficult season, and I'm going to stick with that. But the last two games have been worrying. In whatever way you want to look at it, whether that is creativity or the lack of it or defensively."
Lack of creativity and response
Shearer pointed to the defensive lapses and the team's inability to respond after conceding as key problems. "The big thing for me is, and you are always going to concede goals in this league, but it's the lack of press and the lack of marking when they conceded. Then you are looking for a response, what are you going to do about (once you concede), and that was the big thing at Coventry and on Saturday at the game at St James' Park," he explained.
He also questioned who would provide the decisive moment in attack. "Who is going to score you a goal or get you that killer pass or put that cross in? They are hoping rather than producing that moment of magic," Shearer concluded.
