David Seaman has rued Newcastle United’s bad luck when discussing Nick Pope’s red card against Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s hopes of winning the Carabao Cup were dealt a seismic blow when the goalkeeper was dismissed for handball outside his area at the weekend.
A one-match suspension rules Pope out of Newcastle’s biggest game in a generation. Martin Dubravka’s earlier appearance in the competition for Manchester United also rules him out - adding salt to Toon supporters’ wounds.
Loris Karius or Mark Gillespie must step up in a cup final, despite neither featuring at professional level for two years. The former - signed on a short-term deal until the end of the season - is expected to make his Newcastle debut this weekend.
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Former Arsenal goalie Seaman is no stranger to making a howler in a big game. The 59-year-old was infamously caught off guard by Ronaldinho at the 2002 World Cup.
Speaking on his podcast, Seaman believes Pope’s confidence proved his undoing at St James’ Park. He also sympathised with Newcastle for their rotten run of luck when it matters most.
“Nowadays, with goalkeepers, there is this talk of being a sweeper keeper,” Seaman said. “But sometimes you get a little bit too confident. In the first five minutes, Nick came charging out of his goal and headed one away.
“If there is a player (defender) there, with the attacker, try and stay out of it. Let the defender deal with it. Drop off then see what happens because once you come out, you make the mind up of the striker because he knows he's just going to knock it around you.
“If he knocks it around you and you take him out, you’re gonna get a red card. The worst thing for Nick, obviously, is he misses the Carabao Cup.
“He has been such a massive influence and he's in the running for the player of the season at Newcastle - there's no doubt about that. It’s really tough on Newcastle. Whenever they seem to start doing well, something happens!”
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