Newcastle 1 AFC Wimbledon 0 – Tuesday 1 October 7.45pm
Instant fan / writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘A tepid match is the best way to describe what I’ve watched tonight.
No one took their chance of pushing for a place in the starting 11 at the weekend.
We were very predictable and played the game at a pace that didn’t test Wimbledon.
Bottom line is we are through to the next round where I’m guessing our starting 11 may be a little different against Chelsea…. I hope!’
Billy Miller:
‘Not a match that will live long in the memory.
Professional performance which we never looked troubled in.
Felt like a pre-season friendly but I hope the away fans enjoyed their trip to our fantastic stadium and city.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘A first half where we displayed complete control but an utter lack of urgency or intent.
Too often, balls that should have gone into the box were recycled for another turn at shuttling the play across the pitch.
Some rare quickness in the box from Miggy Almiron earned us a penalty and a lead just before the break.
The introduction of Bruno and a reshuffle at the back did manage to inject a little more threat into the game but in reality, we never really got out of second gear and we didn’t have to.
Not a classic and far from impressive but job done.’
GToon:
‘That was hard work!
A very difficult game where Wimbledon put everyone behind the ball for the whole game.
It became a different test for us.
Had we got the ability and skill to break them down?
It took a penalty to win the game but the real penalty might be Schar, Tino, Gordon and Dubravka, who all got injured to varying degrees.
We won and that’s all that counts but that wasn’t a classic.
A couple of our usual suspects were headless and slow as per, but there we go.
I was in the away end and their fans were entertaining and offensive in equal measure and I suppose we have bins, toilets and London, all serving the same purpose.’
David Punton:
‘Very much a case of job done.
We were dominant without creating enough to see it off by a bigger margin.
It was always going to be a cup final for the League Two opposition and they got everyone behind the ball, albeit with no shots on target all night.
Another penalty coming our way, that was dispatched by the skipper, Schar, to set up a clash with Chelsea in the next round.
AFC Wimbledon’s story of a club rebuilt by the fans is one to admire and we were proud to see NUFC make a donation after their pitch subsided the other week.
The decision to move the game helped Newcastle, albeit they got the chance to play in front of 51,000+.
I just wonder, how different it might have been if we’d had to go down there?
Still, on to Goodison at the weekend.’
Jamie Smith:
‘That was heavy weather like.
Wimbledon playing ten men behind the ball contributed nowt to the spectacle but United seemed short on ideas to break them down.
Not exactly sending a message to beat a league two side with a single penalty but we’re through to the business end, where a couple of big hitters have tricky ties and we’re more than capable of taking out Chelsea.
It’ll do and it looks like one or two are hitting a bit of form ahead of Goodison on Saturday.’
Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey:
‘Job done.
It is what it is.
Not a great performance but we’re through to the last sixteen and that was the objective.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans, that was a tough watch.
But never mind the performance, we won and that’s all that matters.
One thing about the game tonight, shows our recruitment team got it spot on with there signings over the summer.
Sign the 3rd string Sheffield United forward and get a 3rd string striker performance, sign a free transfer defender from Bournemouth and get a free transfer from Bournemouth performance.
However, roll on Saturday morning and the ugly bus rides again to Everton.’
The Armchair Fan:
‘A bit of a snooze-fest to be honest.
A couple more goals would have been a fairer reflection of our dominance but hey, football is a results business and we’re in the next round, so I’m delighted with the 1-0 win.
A double header against Chelsea at the end of the month promises a lot of drama. Can’t wait!’
Newcastle 1 AFC Wimbledon 0 – Tuesday 1 October 7.45pm
(Stats via BBC Sport)
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Schar 45+1 pen
AFC Wimbledon:
Possession was Newcastle 78% Wimbledon 22%
Total shots were Newcastle 18 Wimbledon 2
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Wimbledon 0
Corners were Newcastle 10 Wimbledon 1
Touches in the box Newcastle 41 Wimbledon 8
Newcastle United team v AFC Wimbledon:
Dubravka (Vlachodimos 46), Livramento, Krafth (Hall 62), Schar (Burn 90), Kelly, Joelinton (Gordon 62), Willock, Longstaff, Barnes (Bruno 62), Osula, Almiron
SUBS:
Ruddy, Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy
Attendance: 51,739 (1,400 Wimbledon)
Newcastle United upcoming match schedule, confirmed so far to end of November:
Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)
Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
W/C Monday 28 October – AFC Wimbledon or Newcastle v Chelsea
Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle
