3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Newcastle 4 Bradford 1 | OneFootball

Wednesday night’s match ended Newcastle 4 Bradford 1.

Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

Plenty to talk about after this one.

On this occasion it is ‘Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey…’:

POSITIVES

The cup holders progress

How does that sound when referring to Newcastle United?

This was a potential banana skin but those two goals in quick succession before twenty minutes was on the clock settled us down, never in doubt from that point.

Goals, Goals, Goals

Four of them, shared between big Joe and Will Osula, the latter given a run out against lesser competition and he more than took his chance.

Good to see because the lad hasn’t impressed so far and had it not been for the last minute shenanigans that nearly thwarted the signing of Wissa, I’m convinced he would be paying his trade in Germany right now.

Howe the tinker man

Another seven changes to the first eleven last night, coming on the back of seven changes last weekend when we visited Bournemouth.

Is this a positive? Well, in the sense that it demonstrates strength in depth, it surely is. Added to that, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa still aren’t available.

The games are coming thick and fast and rotation is going to continue. It has to.

Mixed feelings about the fourth round draw

Drawn against one of our fellow Champions League qualifiers, one of the other teams who were also more or less given a bye to get this far, it could have been kinder.

Then again, at least it’s at home, against a side we’ve fared well against in recent times, especially at SJP, so it could have been worse.

Goals, Goals, Goals

On another night, our opponents would have really been put to the sword, lots of chances going begging.

Then again, to register 27 shots, of which 11 were in target, you have to be playing some good football. ‘But it was only Bradford’ the haters will point out. So what? You can only beat what’s put in front of you.

Daft goal to concede

As always in this feature I’ve been asked for three negatives and as you can from my first two negatives above, I’m scraping the barrel to find some.

For me, our number 67 rarely plays the ball forward one when occasion when he did last night, it led to the lad from Bishop Auckland scoring a raker.

Nice for him, not so good for teenager Lewis Miley, who otherwise was pretty solid. Let’s hope this is a learning point for the lad as opposed to something that puts a dent in his confidence.

Newcastle 4 Bradford 1 – Wednesday 24 September 2025 7.45pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Joelinton 17, 75 Osula 19, 87

Bradford:

Cook 79

Possession was Newcastle 77% Bradford 23%

Total shots were Newcastle 27 Bradford 6

Shots on target were Newcastle 11 Bradford 3

Corners were Newcastle 6 Bradford 4

Touches in the box Newcastle 66 Bradford 6

Newcastle team v Bradford:

Ramsdale, Krafth (Trippier 61), Thiaw, Botman (Alex Murphy 89), Hall (Livramento 61), Bruno, Joelinton, Miley, Gordon (Barnes 61), Osula, Elanga (Woltemade 69)

Subs:

Pope, Lascelles, Tonali, Willock

(Newcastle v Spurs drawn out in Carabao Cup fourth round – Newcastle United fans react – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 4 Bradford 1 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United fixtures (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Sunday 28 September– Newcastle v Arsenal (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (5.45pm)

Sunday 5 October– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)