Eddie Howe predicted Matty Bondswell's impressive cameo could prove to be a 'big moment' in his Newcastle United career. However, the promising defender is now being warned to work on his discipline less than a month later after seeing red as the U21s lost to Stoke City.
Elliott Dickman's side were reduced to nine men at Whitley Park on Monday night, with Bondswell and Michael Ndiweni both being dismissed for second-bookable offences. The young striker could consider himself somewhat unlucky after first being booked for an accidental sliding collision with Daniel Malone, before being sent off for a mistimed challenge on goalkeeper Blondy Nna Nokeu shortly after the restart.
However, academy boss Steve Harper admitted he had 'no complaints' over referee David Richardson's decision to dismiss Bondswell in the 71st minute. The defender was punished for a frustrated lunge near the halfway line, and Dickman believes it is a long-standing issue the 20-year-old needs to address.
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Dickman told ChronicleLive: "Matty Bondswell has got to learn to deal with his frustrations. It's not the first time it's happened, last season he was getting booked a lot. It's something we're going to have to work closely and hard with him to improve and develop, because at the end of the day it left us down to nine men."
The red card comes weeks after Bondswell was hailed by stand-in skipper Kieran Trippier for an 'outstanding' second-half display against Benfica. Howe suggested the former RB Leipzig full-back had done his chances of further first-team minutes 'no harm' with his performance in the Portuguese capital.
Newcastle U21s pushed for an unlikely equaliser even after being left two men down as a result of Bondswell's red card. In the end, Ben Kershaw's stunning strike in the seventh minute settled the contest and Dickman was proud of the way his side responded in the closing stages in the face of a numerical disadvantage.
The head coach added: "It became chaotic, but what I would say is the lads worked hard and put a shift in. Their attitude with nine men was terrific, and we probably could have come away with a draw at the end of the day which is a credit to the players. The big lesson for us is we've got to make sure how we finish the game is also how we start them."
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