Newcastle United fans voiced their frustration when **Sandro Tonali** was substituted during their 1-0 home loss to **Brighton** on Saturday. Despite Newcastle’s dominance, the team struggled to create clear chances, and Brighton took advantage of their only significant opportunity to secure all three points.
**Eddie Howe** replaced Tonali and **Jacob Murphy** with **Joe Willock** and **Harvey Barnes** just after the hour mark, a decision that was met with boos from the St. James’ Park crowd. Fans were perplexed, especially since Tonali had been one of Newcastle’s better performers in midfield. However, Howe explained his decision, stating that it wasn’t a reflection of Tonali’s performance, which he praised. Howe cited concerns about fatigue, particularly given Tonali’s international duty with Italy and the high-intensity nature of the game.
Howe acknowledged that the substitution didn’t have the desired effect, but he emphasized the importance of managing player workloads to prevent injuries, especially for someone like Tonali, who is still adjusting to the demands of regular football after a period of less consistent play.
While Tonali’s substitution puzzled fans, Newcastle’s main issue seems to be their misfiring attack, with the front three struggling to find the net consistently. Fixing the right-wing position has become a priority as they look to improve their finishing .
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