Congrats on the three points, it was always going to be a tough challenge for us, but not made any easier by that stupid bellened Shelvey. Has to go down as one of the most pointless red cards I've ever seen. So petulant and thoughtless.
That said, we were incredibly unlucky yesterday. Losing 2 of our first choice defenders in the 1st half really disrupted our plans. Kane got the Alan Shearer treatment for his tackle on Lejeune. Guarantee if this was Mitrovic he'd have seen red. Tackle from behind, both feet off the floor, don't care if he eventually touches the ball it's dangerous and rumours are that it's broken the lads ankle. Arguably more dangerous than Shelvey's stupidity and that was deservedly a red.
That aside it was clear we set up to frustrate you and until the red we kept you to 2 shots on target and I don't remember Elliott having to make a proper save. After that moron got himself an early bath, obviously we were up against it, but we made a couple of chances and had Gayle been 100% he may have been more of a pest. I think the plan was to play Gayle for 60 minutes to ease him back, then, depending on the score change things up. Obviously with 2 forced changes and being a man down that plan went out the window.
You remain one of the best sides in the league and if you're not challenging for the title you will, at the very least, have sewn up a CL spot. For us, we'll have much easier challenges ahead and on that showing I think we'll be fine. Merino, Lejeune and Manquillo looked all right, Atsu looked very good, a fully fit Gayle will score goals. We'll end up 14/15th I reckon.
Hope the lads who made it up had a good weekend.