Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara has hammered the defensive contributions of defensive duo Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey as they missed Abdoulaye Doucoure in their draw versus Watford on Saturday.
The Magpies were forced to settle for a point against the Hornets in their final game of 2018, Salomon Rondon’s header cancelled out by Doucoure’s own headed effort late in the second half.
Speaking about the Watford man’s goal, Kamara was left blasting the inability to track him from the Newcastle midfielders.
He told Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday (30/12, 11:22): “Invisible man syndrome – this is midfield players not marking their man.
“Doucoure – somebody at least see him out there, somebody pick him up, somebody make sure. Diame’s going to come across, he doesn’t see him.
“Look at him now (coming in the box), Jonjo Shelvey doesn’t see him, doesn’t see him, doesn’t see him and boom, there you are. If you leave a man free…”
Opinion
Kamara has hit the nail on the head as to why Newcastle were left leaving Vicarage Road with one point instead of three. Shelvey is not known for being much of a defender and his frailties at the back – which could come down to his lack of recent game time – were paramount in Watford snatching an equaliser. It would have been a bitter pill for the Magpies to swallow after looking impressive on their travels but a reminder that no one in that side can rest on their laurels even when they are winning. You can be sure that Shelvey and Diame will be working on building up that partnership which was so successful last season on the training ground and here is hoping that their efforts behind the scenes can give the Magpies the dividends they are looking for in 2019. Every goal, whether scored or conceded, will have a big impact on their hopes of survival. Will Saturday’s lack of tracking back end up sending them down? Only time will tell.