What a performance.
Martin O’Neill is going to be without his first choice ‘keeper for next Friday’s Euro 2016 Euro play-off first leg with Bosnia.
Shay Given’s injury means that one of Rob Elliot, Darren Randolph, Keiran Westwood or David Forde will start the game.
Unfortunately, hardly any of those players is a regular starter at his respective club, apart from Rob Elliot, who, thanks to an injury to Tim Krul, is filling in between the sticks at Newcastle.
And the Irish international was inspirational in goals this afternoon, as Newcastle nicked a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, despite having been dominated by the hosts for most of the game.
Elliot, who has three Ireland caps, also came into the match with an apparent injury.
Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle FT:
Shots: 20-2
Pass acc: 86%-72%
Chances created: 12-1
Possession: 60%-40%
Crosses: 44-3 pic.twitter.com/r3R1vaZUO1— Squawka (@Squawka) November 7, 2015
Elliot kept his side in the game , especially in the first half, and everyone was full of praise for the former Charlton man, especially the official Newcastle account.
4’ – Chance for Joshua King to the right of the box but Rob Elliot makes a good save. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 7, 2015
39’ – Another fine save by Rob Elliot, this time to keep out Dan Gosling’s header. The ball comes off the post and goes behind. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 7, 2015
46’ – Chance for Ritchie from Smith’s cross but Rob Elliot makes another outstanding save to tip his header over! #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 7, 2015
54’ – Swirling cross from Ritchie on the right and it almost catches Elliot off guard before he recovers well and catches. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 7, 2015
Attacks. Crosses. Shots. Rain. Wind.
YET SOMEHOW ROB ELLIOT KEEPS A CLEAN SHEET. WHAT A PERFOMANCE @the_dilsh 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/gu68OeHHaK
— ToonDeepDive (@ToonDeepDive) November 7, 2015
The stats show the Irishman was in inspired form
Rob Elliot's game by numbers vs. Bournemouth:
6 successful punches
5 saves
2 clearances
1 clean sheetBig game. pic.twitter.com/VhnXZqcvn5
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 7, 2015
And fans were quick to appreciate his brilliance.
https://twitter.com/NedZelic/status/662989768779694080
https://twitter.com/TheMasterBucks/status/663007243206438914
Rob Elliot has his critics, but he's a very good shot-stopper. Thanks to him Newcastle have all three points this afternoon. #nufc
— Miles Starforth (@milesstarforth) November 7, 2015
Irish fans wanted his to start against Edin Dzeko next week.
Rob Elliot has to start for Ireland
— Jonto (@Curtis__94) November 7, 2015
Been saying Rob Elliot is a good keeper for the late 2 years and I think that has been proved in the last two games #Ireland'sno1
— Cormac kennedy (@Cormackennedy95) November 7, 2015
Although others weren’t so sure.
Rob Elliot to get in the Ireland team next week on the back of this performance and play nowhere near as good
— bob (@Robbie_OR) November 7, 2015
He was given the man-of-the-match award and he was delighted when interviewed on BT after the game.
"You're just happy to help as a 'keeper!" Man-of-the-match @the_dilsh praises @NUFC's defending in valuable victory. https://t.co/eCYgQkZ6vf
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 7, 2015
