Didn’t have a real problem with the red, in real time I said ‘fuck, he is off’, first reaction. Ball was going through, so was the attacker, and I don’t think it was going to be wide enough to preclude a goal scoring opportunity. Mostly, I was exasperated at the poor defence that set it all up, then VVD’s poor decision-making. Maybe we can win on appeal, but I am not holding my breath.
That said, that could turn out to be a defining game for the season. For Newcastle, that is the kind of match that mentally breaks teams. Doubts will be there about Howe now, in owners and players. Lots of pressure now on their very next match away to Brighton.
For our part, that is also the kind of game match that makes teams. There are some great player-level narratives that could begin right there:
i) TAA - shaky start, composed finish playing most of the match on a yellow matched up against a truly snide little prick like Gordon. Shook off the travesty of that yellow instead of a free kick (should have been a yellow on Gordon), delivered a Captain’s performance the rest of the way, right down to taking into the corner to close out the match.
ii) Darwin - obviously. Lots of doubts, maybe had some of his own. Could be a real watershed for him
iii) Szoboslai - weren’t many doubts, by contrast, but he showed a remarkable high end. Toon were keying their press on him at one point, and they just gave up. I presume Howe changed his instructions at half, because they seldom tried to get the two-man press right on him in the second half - because he never put a foot wrong against it in the first half
iv) Quansah - a stand-up and be counted game for him. The rest of the side will look at him differently now. Nothing exceptional now, but I expect his confidence to build.