Bruno Guimaraes hailed Nick Pope as the perfect goalkeeper on this planet after a tenth clear sheet in a row helped Newcastle to a 1-0 win over Southampton.
This newest clear sheet helped Newcastle on their option to carrying a slight benefit heading into the second-leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final with the Saints.
Pope hasn’t been overwhelmed since November 6 – 79 days in the past – when Romain Perraud scored a late comfort for Southampton within the 4-1 defeat to Eddie Howe’s males. That may be a run of 10 video games and 901 minutes the place Pope hasn’t been overwhelmed with the one targets Newcastle conceding throughout that interval coming within the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday when Martin Dubravka changed Pope in objective.
It is an unprecedented run of fresh sheets as since August 2012 (when Opta began monitoring the info) there are not any different cases of a goalkeeper with a Premier League aspect retaining a clear sheet in 10 straight video games in all competitions. Pope has been referred to as on to make 20 saves in these 10 matches, together with three at St Mary’s – the decide of which was to disclaim Che Adams when he raced via on objective.
In whole, Pope has stored 17 clear sheets in all competitions for Newcastle, with solely Leyton Orient’s Lawrence Vigouroux managing extra (17) amongst ‘keepers for English league sides this season.
Newcastle midfielder Guimaraes, who received the participant of the match award in 1-0 win, stated: “I would wish to say thanks to Nick Pope – he has been good for us. He’s the perfect goalkeeper on this planet.”
Pope stated himself: “We glance actually stable on the again. The boys work so laborious to make that occur.”
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has been blown away by Pope’s performances, saying: “I needed to double take when the stat got here up about 10 video games and 10 clear sheets. It is phenomenal. Any goalkeeper on this planet who had that may be buzzing. He is there for essential moments, at Palace and when Adams went via tonight – he makes a giant block. He provides his teammates a lot confidence. Finest on this planet? That’s up for debate however he is in the perfect run of kind in his profession. “
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of the Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg between Southampton and Newcastle.
Pope’s clear sheet run really seemed to have been ended when Adam Armstrong prodded a close-range end previous the England goalkeeper however VAR stepped in to rule the objective out for handball.
Pope stated: “A number of work goes into it however VAR has helped us out. It was a large aid, you do not count on too many reprieves. We’re grateful for that one.”
Howe: Pope has been excellent
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe shares his ideas on his sides first leg Carabao Cup semi-final win over Southampton as they take a 1-0 lead again to St. James’ Park subsequent week for a spot within the ultimate at Wembley.
Newcastle boss Howe, who snapped up Pope from Burnley for simply £10m this summer time, enthused over his goalkeeper, praising his capability to face up at key moments in matches.
Howe stated: “The 2 saves he made have been huge moments within the recreation. Adams’ one-vs-one was at an enormous time within the recreation the place the group have been moving into the sport and so they have been getting on prime, and Nick stood up and made an excellent save, after which made one shortly after as effectively.
“He is been excellent for us this 12 months and the protection has performed very effectively nearly all of the time in entrance of him, however every time he is wanted he is produced the products for us.”
Southampton boss Nathan Jones referred to as Pope the perfect goalkeeper within the Premier League: “There is not a greater goalkeeper within the league, by way of what you might want to be a goalkeeper, utilizing your fingers, he is categorically the perfect within the league.”