Newcastle United 4-1 Northampton Town – Player Ratings

1. Karl Darlow - 6

He couldn't have saved the penalty that was firmly smashed past him by Northampton captain, Marc Richards and asides from that the keeper was left with very little to do. His kicking still needs work which is something that seems to be a common flaw among all of the Newcastle goalkeepers. Darlow's handling was solid and he commanded his area relatively well. Strong decision by McClaren to play the former Nottingham Forest shot-stopper and the 24-year-old will have gained some vital experience.
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.