Ian Wright Critiques Tino Livramento Following FA Cup Heartbreak for Newcastle
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has not held back in his criticism of Newcastle’s Tino Livramento following the team’s dramatic exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton. The contest turned on its head late in the game after Alexander Isak’s early penalty gave Newcastle the lead. However, the Seagulls fought back with a crucial equaliser from Yanhuba Minteh, a former Magpies player.
In the closing moments of regular time, the match took a chaotic turn with Anthony Gordon and Tariq Lamptey receiving red cards. Fabian Schar appeared to have sealed victory for Newcastle with a 93rd-minute strike, only for the goal to be disallowed by VAR for offside.
As the clock wound down, Danny Welbeck exploited defensive lapses to score the winning goal in added time, securing Brighton’s progression to the quarter-finals with a final score of 2-1.
Wright’s Stinging Assessment of Livramento’s Role
Post-match, Wright directed his ire at Livramento, questioning his defensive positioning during the game’s pivotal moments.
“I thought Welbeck had run away from it too far because when you look at how far he’s actually stretching, you can see he’s had to really dig that out,” Wright said on ITV. “But look at Livramento—this is where concentration comes in. He was too far behind Matt Target.”
Wright continued, emphasising the importance of defensive awareness at this level: “It’s not just about not giving the ball away, especially for defenders—he didn’t even try to step up. I can understand tiredness, but that is unacceptable at this level.”
He went on to highlight the crucial positioning that Livramento failed to maintain, which ultimately allowed Welbeck to score without impediment.
Broader Critique on Newcastle’s Performance
Adding to the analysis, Roy Keane also voiced his concern over Newcastle’s overall performance, particularly targeting goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for his decision-making leading up to Welbeck’s goal.
“Obviously players aren’t concentrating, but it comes just 30 seconds after the goalie makes a mistake,” Keane noted. “He tries to be too clever. Don’t beat yourself; all he has to do is put his foot through it, but he tries to be too smart, and they took full advantage.”
Keane further lamented the impact of Newcastle’s substitutes, suggesting that they failed to add anything significant to the team’s efforts. He contrasted their performances with Welbeck’s, stating, “We saw Danny’s enthusiasm—he’s 34 years old and he’s won this trophy twice—but he came on and made a difference. Other subs for Newcastle seemed like it was a chore for them.”
Conclusion: Lessons to Learn
The match against Brighton revealed critical areas for improvement for Eddie Howe’s side, particularly in defensive positioning and bench depth. As the FA Cup journey comes to a premature end, Newcastle must reflect on these shortcomings to avoid similar heartaches in future competitions.
For a club with Newcastle’s ambitions, enhancing concentration and fortifying defensive strategies will be essential moving forward, especially as they look to compete at the highest levels on multiple fronts.
