Newcastle United U21s were reduced to nine men and suffered a second straight loss this season following a narrow home defeat to Stoke City. Ben Kershaw's stunning early strike proved to be the only goal of the contest, with Magpies duo Matty Bondswell and Michael Ndiweni both dismissed for second bookable offences.
Elliott Dickman named two changes from the side who suffered a heartbreaking late defeat at West Brom in their season opener. Summer signing Jordan Hackett and goalscorer on the night Ndiweni both made starts, with Charlie Wiggett dropping to the bench and Josh Scott not included in the matchday squad.
However, the hosts fell behind to a sensational effort from summer signing Kershaw. One of five Stoke debutants on the night, the forward cleverly chested down a clearance before rifling his effort beyond Max Thompson from the edge of the box.
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Ndiweni was sent off shortly after the restart for a challenge on visiting goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu, while Bondswell was then given his marching orders for a ill-judged slide tackle with 19 minutes remaining. Here are three things we learned as Newcastle U21s were beaten by their Stoke City counterparts.
Composed Murphy
Newcastle's first summer signing made his competitive home debut on Monday night, and delivered an assured display. The Magpies saw off competition from Brighton and West Brom to land the highly-rated defender.
Murphy initially partnered captain Niall Brookwell in the heart of defence, and looked composed in possession. But more importantly in the first-half, the teenager read the game well to make a number of timely interceptions and tackles.
Dara McGuiness looked set to quickly double Stoke's lead, but was guilty of a loose touch while running on goal towards Max Thompson. This gave Murphy an opening, and the defender reacted swiftly to snuff out the danger.
A chaotic second-half saw Murphy first partnered with substitute Remi Savage, before the red cards saw him pushed to full-back. The former Galway United prospect even came close to equalising before coming off second best in a collision with Nna Noukeu.
With six minutes added on, Newcastle pushed for a goal and were inevitably exposed at the back. Stoke had several opportunities to kill the game off, but Murphy along with his fellow defenders made key blocks and interceptions to keep their fading hopes alive. It is early days, but the recent recruit offer a glimpse of why his arrival was labelled a 'coup' by the club.
Harper's Ndiweni message
It had been an encouraging evening for Ndiweni prior to his dismissal early in the second half. The teenager was rewarded for his goal at West Brom with a starting spot this time around, and he came agonisingly close to making it two from two.
Ndiweni's clever flick initially released Jordan Hackett down the left, and the winger almost returned the favour in a later phase of play. The ball was rolled across the six-yard box but behind the unmarked forward, who was unable to divert it goalwards on the stretch.
Dickman clearly liked what he saw as Ndiweni remained on the pitch despite the change of system at the interval, with strike partner Santiago Munoz withdrawn. However, within minutes the 18-year-old had seen red much to his team's disbelief.
Ndiweni had been booked for a slide to reach the ball in the first-half where he accidently caught opposing defender Daniel Malone. It meant an ill-timed attempt to close down goalkeeper Nna Noukeu gave referee David Richardson the chance to send the striker off.
Ndiweni was clearly aggrieved as he walked off the pitch, but he was reassured by academy boss Steve Harper who made his displeasure with the decision known on the sidelines. The academy boss told the teenager that he had to go for both challenges, while questioning both yellow cards.
Bondswell lesson
Having endured an anonymous loan at Shrewbury Town last term, Bondswell became something of a surprise star in pre-season. Kieran Trippier praised the full-back for an 'outstanding' display after being introduced by Eddie Howe at half-time of the Eusebio Cup defeat to Benfica last month.
It was a performance which inevitably raised questions over whether the former RB Leipzig prospect could be an outside bet to feature for the first team this season. However, Bondswell clearly still has some learning to do, as he was punished for his decision to go for a slide challenge near the halfway line when already on a yellow card and with his side down to 10 men.
It was neither reckless or dangerous, but it was a poor decision which left the hosts firmly up against it as they searched for an unlikely equaliser. Harper himself admitted he had 'no complaints' about the call having reviewed the foul. Bondswell may have impressed in his cameo against Benfica, but on the basis of this display the defender still needs time to develop, whether that it is with the under-23s or with another loan move.
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