Rio Ferdinand on Newcastle United's European exit - 'At this level you have to punish teams'

Rio Ferdinand believes Newcastle’s inability to make the most of their first-half dominance against AC Milan cost them dear as the Magpies were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League after a pulsating 2-1 loss at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side needed to win and hope Paris Saint-Germain dropped points against Borussia Dortmund. The Magpies had looked set to fulfil their end of the bargain when Joelinton gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 33rd minute.

But the Italian giants hit back after the break to level and then snatch the three points to secure a spot in the UEFA Europa League and end Newcastle’s Champions League dream.

“At this level you have to punish teams and you have to capitalise when you're on top,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. “Newcastle were by far the better team in the first half and only came away with one goal.

“The other team is still alive, they've got a lifeline still, they're still thinking if they get one they’re going to be back in it.

“Whereas if Newcastle had punished them at that point, go in 2-0 up, it'd maybe have been a different story because you’ve got more to hang onto.”

For all it ended in disappointment, the home side certainly can’t be accused of going down without a fight.

Cheered on by a raucous crowd, The Magpies were on the front foot from the first whistle, with Anthony Gordon’s second-minute slide tackle celebrated like a goal.

The 22-year-old was a constant thorn in Milan’s side as the visitors struggled to cope with the overwhelming intensity coming at them in waves.

An incredible last-ditch challenge by Fikayo Tomori denied Miguel Almiron a simple tap-in in the 20th minute but Newcastle got the reward their early dominance deserved through Joelinton, who thumped a half-volley into the top corner at the end of a slick move.

“It was exactly what we expected from Newcastle in the first half,” TNT Sports expert Jermaine Jenas said. “They were full of energy, they were buzzing around, they were lively, and they got exactly what they deserved.

“It was a really well-worked goal, Anthony Gordon popped into a little bit of space, and I mean this place just absolutely lifted when Joelinton smash that one into the roof of the net.

“At this point in your thinking, ‘Right, it's on, we’re going to qualify into the next stage’.”

But the hosts were made to pay for not taking more of their chances when Olivier Giroud displayed all his composure to tee up Christian Pulisic for a simple finish past Martin Dubravka in the 59th minute.

The final half hour was end to end as both sides went in search of a winner, and Newcastle could perhaps count themselves unlucky not to regain the lead when Mike Maignan somehow tipped Bruno Guimaraes’ shot onto the bar.

“It was a magical save,” Ferdinand added. “And this is probably one of the most important moments for the AC Milan team.

“It’s a great strike and we're all off our seats thinking it’s in and he pulls a save out of nowhere.

“It's a strong hand as well, puts it up onto the bar and you just think 'wow'. And that gives this AC Milan team a lift.”

Indeed it did. Rafael Leao hit the woodwork for the visitors before Samuel Chukwueze landed the knockout blow in the 84th minute at the end of a dynamite counter-attack.

The result left an injury-hit Newcastle bottom of Group F and out of Europe completely, with Jenas lamenting costly defeats at St James’ Park.

“They are a force to be reckoned with at home and it's those two games at home [against Dortmund and Milan] that have cost them essentially,” Jenas added.

“So it was a tough, tough evening. It just came down to the squad has been just not what it is really essentially, and they just came up a bit short.”

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