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‘I was very surprised’… Pundit shocked by what Eddie Howe did before Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest game
Michael Bridges has admitted that he was surprised to see Eddie Howe pick one Newcastle United player against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, but insisted that he silenced him by the end of the game.
Newcastle edged a five-goal thriller at the City Ground, with Bruno Guimaraes proving to be the star of the show with two goals for the Magpies.
But Forest threatened to complete the double over Newcastle this season. And one player who had a lot of joy during the first-half was Anthony Elanga, with the winger duelling with Dan Burn.
Michael Bridges to see Dan Burn start in Newcastle win
Burn, of course, has been an outstanding signing for Newcastle. But he has perhaps found life a little tougher in that left-back position so far this season.
Speaking on , Michael Bridges admitted that he was taken aback by Howe picking the 31-year-old against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. But he was very much won over by the end of the game.
“I was very surprised that Dan Burn started and Livramento didn’t,” he said.
“The commentator Jim Proudfoot said to me, can you believe Dan Burn is coming out for the second-half of this game? I actually said, well, it’s a big call from Eddie Howe to take him off because you lose your aerial presence with him. And what they did, they actually made Anthony Gordon come back and help him out in a two vs one situation. And Dan Burn’s second-half performance illustrated why he should have played in that position. He redeemed himself basically.”
Magpies finding form again
Newcastle do remain a work in progress. They have conceded 10 goals in their last four Premier League games. And they have got a huge task on their hands if they are going to make the top four this season.
However, their recent results will give them some much-needed belief. They have won three of their last four, with all three of those victories coming on the road.
Certainly, Tino Livramento is going to be a big part of Newcastle’s plans in the years to come. He has already shown some really promising signs this season.
But Burn’s experience makes him so important to the Magpies’ fortunes right now. He eventually found a way to deal with Elanga at the weekend. And Newcastle went on to secure a big three points.