Gary Lineker shares verdict on stalemate between West Brom and Newcastle
Gary Lineker has feigned surprise following the goalless stalemate between Newcastle and West Brom this afternoon.
In what should have been perceived as a relegation six-pointer, neither side was able to break the deadlock at the Hawthorns, with the subsequent result doing nothing to ease either side’s fears of dropping into the Championship.
Both Martin Dubravka and Sam Johnstone were called into action during the game, proving that neither side was completely toothless, although both manager’s will likely be disappointed at how their respective attacking units lacked influence.
Fans on either side of the contest have been critical of their respective team’s performance, and Lineker seemed to share their outlook on the game.
On Twitter, the BBC pundit sarcastically tweeted: “Football never ceases to amaze. I mean, who would ever have predicted that [West Brom] v [Newcastle] would be goalless?”
Though Lineker doesn’t specifically express his dissatisfaction with that game, we gather that was his intention behind the tweet and to be honest, we’re in the same boat.
Albion aren’t likely to get any better opportunities to claw their way out of the relegation zone than against a sub-par Newcastle side, so it’s disappointing that we didn’t make the most of the game.
Sam Allardyce facing off against Steve Bruce was hardly ever going to produce a scintillating display of dazzling football, but what we’re currently seeing from his side just isn’t enough.
Albion’s next three fixtures will see them travel to Crystal Palace and Chelsea before hosting Southampton, leaving little space for error if we are to mount a late season revival.
It’s certainly not over quite yet, with Newcastle and Brighton both struggling in the league, but it is beginning to look bleaker by the week.
In other West Brom news, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has described his loan move to West Brom as ‘another loan deal’ after ‘rotting away’ on Arsenal’s bench.
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