The magic of the FA cup was in the air once again as Newcastle travelled to Oxford in a quest to reach the fifth round of the tournament for the first time in 14 years. Oxford came into the game from a strong position in League 1 and confident of causing an upset following their hard-fought draw at St. James Park a few weeks ago.
The game was played at a high tempo, with both teams showing a passionate desire to win. In the end, it was the Magpies who prevailed in extra-time after nearly squandering an early two-goal lead.
In this tactical analysis, we look at the tactics used by Steve Bruce to exploit Oxfords eagerness. We also provide an analysis of how Oxford altered their tactics to get back in the game.
Line-ups
With so many players out of action, Bruce didn’t have the luxury of rotating his squad. Newcastle lined up in a familiar 5-3-2, which had an attacking variant. In what’s usually a robust three in central midfield, Bruce allowed Sean Longstaff to move into an attacking role, where he was used to linking transitions effectively. His brother, Matt Longstaff and ex-Spurs man, Nabil Bentaleb completed the midfield. Joelinton returned from injury to partner Miguel Almirón up front. The duo used their pace to attack a high Oxford defensive line.
The hosts started in a fluid 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 system. Mark Sykes, Alex Gorrin, and Cameron Brannagan made up the midfield trio. All three showed liberal movements forward to fill the opposition box in the attacking phases. Skipper Jamie Mackie led the line up front, supported by Nathan Holland and Marcus Browne who alternated between offering width and occupying half-spaces.
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