Les Ferdinand now gives verdict on Newcastle’s performance against Milan

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Newcastle escaped from the San Siro with a point on their Champions League return against AC Milan to mixed reviews, but former striker Les Ferdinand has now praised the Magpies.

Eddie Howe’s side were greeted with a tough trip to the Italian giants in the club’s first appearance in the competition for over two decades, and found themselves under immense pressure for most of the game.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope helped keep the scores level, and the match ended up finishing 0-0 in a one-sided affair, with Newcastle failing to give a good impression in attack.

Nevertheless, Ferdinand has now claimed on TalkSPORT that a draw at the San Siro is a fantastic result for the team, particularly given the weight of the occasion.

“First and foremost it’s great to see Newcastle back in the Champions League and they’ve done such a fantastic job to to get themselves there,” he stated.

“It was always going to be difficult for Newcastle to come into this game, not playing their best football, but they’re back in the Champions League and that in itself would give everybody a bit of a boost.

“They’ve gone to Milan, the San Siro, and for a lot of these guys it was the first time they played in the Champions League, so I think they accounted themselves very well.

“Held on in the first half, Nick Pope had to make some good saves, but the team itself, to put in a dogged display, and as Eddie Howe said at the end of it, another nil-nil, a clean sheet at the San Siro, they’d be more than delighted with that.”

A good point

Before the group stages started, Newcastle would have 100% taken a draw at the San Siro. In this group of death, any points on the road will be a double boost as all four teams stand a good chance at qualification.

If Newcastle can pick up wins in the home ties, then draws away from home will be fantastic results. Whilst they did not perform to their best ability, and were perhaps lucky to not concede given the Milan pressure, the result itself is one that Newcastle will be very happy with.

Games against Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund will also offer difficult tests, but Newcastle can take confidence in the fact they now have a point on the board in the group.