Eddie Howe explains Bruno Guimaraes’ benching in Premier League draw
Eddie Howe has opened up on his decision to bench Bruno Guimaraes for Tuesday night’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham at St James’ Park, reports BritPanorama.
Guimaraes, often regarded as the club’s key player, started the match among the substitutes. He eventually came on to score the opening goal, with Tottenham’s Cristian Romero equalising shortly after.
Anthony Gordon looked to have secured a victory for Newcastle with a late penalty, only for Romero to net another equaliser, ensuring the match ended in a draw.
Howe explained his reasoning for Guimaraes’ initial absence from the starting lineup: “Rotational reasons, we’ve got such a busy schedule ahead, we want him at his physical best,” he said. He emphasised the importance of managing player fatigue while maintaining team balance.
After the match, Howe expressed frustration, noting that Newcastle had failed to defend their lead convincingly. “It’s hugely frustrating; we worked really hard to get ourselves in that position,” he commented. He highlighted the team’s greater control and creativity during the match but recognised a lack of clinical finishing.
Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank praised Romero for his impressive performance, including two goals, but expressed disappointment over the penalty awarded to Gordon. He insisted that the decision for the spot-kick was harsh, stating, “For me, it’s never a penalty.” Frank acknowledged the character shown by his team to come back from behind twice, particularly during such a challenging run of fixtures.
The match showcased the competitive dynamics of the Premier League, where resilience and tactical decisions remain pivotal. As teams navigate congested schedules, managing lineups and maintaining form will be as crucial as ever.
