Kevin Keegan has told the United players to convert their first-half performance during Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Arsenal and challenged them to produce that level of performance throughout the full 90 minutes for Tuesday’s league fixture.
Last Saturday’s opening period saw the Magpies performing their best football of the season, with determination and the “Keegan’s” attacking style, United team has given some real test to the home side.
Newcastle has at least two great chances to convert the game into their advantage with Alan Smith strike was denied by Gael Clichy’s goal-line clearance and Steven Taylor headed inches over the crossbar.
“It was a very good first half performance and we had the courage to play them,” Keegan said, “We could not keep it up (on the second half) and they stepped up, we stepped back and in the end, the gulf was pretty big.”
King Kev said our biggest problem is confidence. We could not coming back after they scores the first goal and our passing in the second half was X-rated stuff, we were just giving the ball away.
“But if we can put 90 minutes in like we did in the first half, then Arsenal will have a tough game here – although you can still play well for 90 minutes against them and they can turn you over.” Keegan added more.