Newcastle United concluded their March Premier League journey with a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham United away from home. Now, they are fully focused on the EFL Cup final at Wembley against Liverpool.
Despite the looming final, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle team showed professionalism against West Ham. This hard-fought win keeps them close to the Premier League’s top four.
Bruno Guimaraes proved to be the key player against West Ham. His goal in the second half secured the win, adding to his impressive season.
Bruno Guimaraes’ Match Performance
The Newcastle captain aims to replicate his crucial role against Liverpool in the final. Against West Ham, Guimaraes delivered a standout performance.
Guimaraes not only scored the winning goal but also won four duels, showcasing his combative style, and made one key pass.
His decisive moment came when he converted a superb cross from Harvey Barnes, securing a vital victory for his team.
Barnes’ cross was praised as “top quality” by manager Howe. This goal brought Guimaraes’ total goal contributions for the season to 11 across all competitions.
While Guimaraes delivered another strong midfield performance, his teammate Sandro Tonali arguably outshone him, making a strong case to start at Wembley.
Tonali: An Undroppable Force
While Anthony Gordon will miss the Liverpool game due to suspension, Sandro Tonali’s performance against West Ham suggests he will be a key player in the final.
Tonali surpassed Guimaraes in duels won during the match.
The Italian midfielder won an impressive nine duels. Journalist Josh Bunting highlighted Tonali’s dominant presence in midfield.
| Tonali’s Performance Stats | |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals scored | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches | 58 |
| Accurate passes | 37/45 (82%) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Successful dribbles | 3/3 |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Tackles | 4 |
| Total duels won | 9/10 |
Tonali also made four tackles, contributing defensively alongside Guimaraes, and displayed his attacking ability with a 100% dribble success rate.
Journalist Lee Ryder from Chronicle Live awarded Tonali an 8/10 rating for his performance, emphasizing his crucial tackles that contributed to Newcastle’s victory.
Howe hopes Tonali can maintain this level of performance at Wembley, potentially limiting Liverpool’s midfield effectiveness.
Guimaraes stated after the West Ham game that Newcastle can “beat anyone” when at their best. This mentality will be crucial in the upcoming EFL Cup final.
If Tonali and Guimaraes perform as they did against West Ham, Newcastle has a strong chance of winning a trophy, fulfilling the hopes of the fans heading to Wembley.
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Vihaan Mehrotra