Newcastle 3 Bromley 1 – Sunday 12 January 2025 3pm
First half we were badly off the pace, with Barnes, Trippier, Longstaff and Osula looking particularly rusty.
Miley lost possession in midfield, allowing Congreve to advance and bend an excellent left-foot shot just inside Dubravka’s right post. The keeper touched it, though not enough to produce what would have been a brilliant save.
Miley quickly made amends with a superb screamer that flew into the far corner from 23 yards, seconds after Osula had been crowded out.
Apart from that gem, however, our play lacked sparkle, though Almiron did cross the ball with his right foot. Once.
Second half Gordon replaced Barnes, who looked to have strained a muscle, and Guimaraes replaced Joelinton. We immediately looked sharper and within two minutes Targett won a penalty that Gordon buried, sending Smith the wrong way.
Was there an argument for giving it to Osula? Perhaps.
Bromley blocked a batch of on-target shots from then on.
Then Miley won back the ball in our half and Guimaraes released Osula on the right flank. He cut in, threw a couple of stepovers and crashed a thunderbolt into the far corner with his left boot. The wait for his first goal was certainly worth it.
A deflected Targett shot fizzed narrowly wide; Guimaraes tried his luck from similar long range.
The traffic was almost entirely one way as Hall replaced Targett and 17-year-old Sanusi replaced Osula on 68 minutes. The left winger took Gordon’s berth, with Flash going central.
Tonali arrived on the scene with 83 minutes gone. The departing Almiron has been a wonderful servant for United since his arrival from the MLS. Will he be seen again in a Toon top?
My man of the match was Lewis Miley, who played the full 90-plus minutes and reminded everyone of his class.
Paul Robinson, the ex-Leeds and Spurs keeper, agreed with me in his BBC TV role and did a better job than most summarisers.
Happy days are here again!
Newcastle 3 Bromley 1 – Sunday 12 January 2025 3pm
(Stats via BBC Sport)
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Miley 16, Gordon 49 pen, Osula 61
Bromley:
Congreve 8
Possession was Newcastle 81% (86%) Bromley 19% (14%)
Total shots were Newcastle 18 (9) Bromley 3 (3)
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (1) Bromley 1 (1)
Corners were Newcastle 7 (4) Bromley 1 (1)
Touches in the box Newcastle 41 (21) Bromley 5 (2)
Newcastle team v Bromley:
Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Targett (Hall 69), Longstaff, Miley, Joelinton (Bruno 46), Barnes (Gordon 46), Almiron (Tonali 84), Osula (Sanusi 69)
Unused subs:
Vlachodimos, Livramento, Burn, Alex Murphy
Newcastle United upcoming matches:
Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)
Wednesday 5 February – Newcastle v Arsenal (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 15 February – Man City v Newcastle (3pm)
Sunday 23 February – Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports
