Melker Ellborg: 7/10
Not overly tested in goal by the hosts and wasn’t particularly accurate with his kicking but got through the game well, despite some rough treatment at set pieces.
Lutsharel Geertruida: 8/10
Geertruida was solid defensively at right back, not allowing much to come from his side of the pitch, and was good at combining with Rigg down the right. Also stepped into midfield on occasion and made a vital tackle to prevent a chance deep into injury time.
Luke O’Nien: 6/10
An absolute brain fart early on to gift the home side the lead, also had a couple
of other nervy moments with one rushed header in the second half to Xhaka being intercepted and causing an issue at the back. Kept at it though and made a massively important back post header in the second half and won a foul in the process. Long throws caused some problems too.
Omar Alderete: 9/10
Stepped up with Ballard missing and threw himself at everything aerially, won so many headers, tackles and made important blocks. Played some really good balls forward too to start attacks.
Trai Hume: 8/10
Was up against a lot of pace out wide but came out on top, didn’t give Elanga much room to run into and mostly shut down the left wing.
Granit Xhaka (C): 8/10
A real leader’s performance in the middle, patrolled in front of the back four and helped push the team up the pitch after the break. There was one lazy pass to Sadiki in the second half that almost set the hosts away.
Noah Sadiki: 9/10
One of Sadiki’s better performances in the middle, was always right on top of the opposition midfield and never gave them a moment to breathe. Got forward well too and had a hand in the winner when he played in Le Fee.
Habib Diarra: 7/10
Had a hand in the first goal when a shot off his chest was well blocked.
Chris Rigg: 8/10
Another really good performance by Rigg, never stopped running off the ball to help out Geertruida but was also just as good on the ball. Had a couple of good attempts in the first half and usually made the right decision when he got into good positions.
Chemsdine Talbi: 8/10
Like Rigg on the other side, Talbi worked really hard to help out his full back but scored one goal when he reacted first to a loose ball and almost equalised soon after the opening goal of the game when he cut inside and had a shot that was arrowing into the top corner tipped wide.
Brian Brobbey: 9/10
Caused the central defenders for the hosts serious problems all game with his strength and hold up play. So good at keeping hold of the ball and getting a shot off or picking out a teammate. Won the game in the 90th minute when he prodded home when his initial shot was saved.
Substitutes
Enzo Le Fee: 7/10
Wasn’t on too long but set up the winner with a good run to the outside of Sadiki and then waited and waited for Brobbey to get into position before picking him out.
Reinildo: 6/10
Helped us see out the game and either blocked an opposition player or completely took them out.
Eliezer Mayenda: 6/10
Carried the ball up the pitch well in the short time he was on.
Man of the Match: Brian Brobbey
Lots of candidates for man of the match today but I’ve got to give it to the match winner who fully deserved the goal he scored. Absolutely bullied any Newcastle player who came close to him, was so good at holding players off and finding a teammate or getting a shot off around the box. Showed good movement for the winner and reacted so quick to his initial shot being saved, despite falling over in the process.
