How did the players fare in Newcastle's goalless draw at Southampton?
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2):
McCarthy 6; Cedric 6, Stephens 7, Hoedt 7, Bertrand 7; Redmond 6, Romeu 4 (Ward-Prowse 78), LEMINA 8, Elyounoussi 5 (Long 78); Ings 4, Austin 4 (Gabbiadini 63, 4).
Subs (not used): Gunn (gk), Yoshida, Vestergaard, Armstrong.
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):
8 DUBRAVKA: Made excellent first-half saves to deny Elyounoussi and Stephens and claimed a series of crosses as Southampton pushed late on
7 Yedlin: Kept Elyounoussi quiet for most of the game, although he wasn’t able to provide much of a presence in the Southampton half
7 Lascelles: Led by example as he tussled with Austin and Ings, and was always in the right place to snuff out the Saints’ attacking
8 Fernandez: Was the game’s best outfield player as he won a succession of headers and made some perfectly-timed blocks
7 Dummett: Just about edged his personal battle with Redmond and made a crucial second-half block from the winger’s shot
5 Shelvey: Was Newcastle’s likeliest creative outlet, but failed to hold on to possession and played too many hopeful passes that came to nothing
5 Diame: His energy and work rate were commendable, but his touch was desperate at times and he misplaced far too many passes
5 Ritchie: Completely anonymous in an attacking sense, and found himself spending most of his time in his own half as an auxiliary defender
4 Perez: Suffered one of those infuriating afternoons when was brushed off the ball far too easily – never looked like troubling the Saints defence
4 Kenedy: Another ineffectual display from the Brazilian, who continues to look a pale imitation of the player that was so exciting last season
4 Muto: Ran down a series of blind alleys as he tried to break clear of his markers, and lacked the physical strength that was needed to retain possession
Subs:
4 Rondon (for Perez, 68): The West Brom loanee did not look match fit, but he will surely return to the starting line-up next weekend
Ki (for Diame, 76)
Atsu (for Muto, 80)
(not used): Darlow (gk), Manquillo, Schar, Joselu.
Man Of The Match: MARTIN DUBRAVKA – The Slovakian’s first-half saves kept Newcastle in the game, and he frustrated Southampton as he claimed a series of second-half crosses.
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