Fulham’s 3-1 victory against Newcastle United on Saturday owed much to the brilliance of teenager Ryan Sessegnon, but could Vurnon Anita have done better.
The former Ajax defender was "taken to the cleaners" as the Fulham kid ran riot down the Newcastle right wing.
The 16-year-old, moved from left-back to the left wing, scored a brace and caused all sorts of problems for Newcastle’s Vurnon Anita, and on reflection, Magpies manager Rafa Benitez only has himself to blame.
Had he been fit, DeAndre Yedlin would have no doubt started for Newcastle against the Cottagers, with the American’s pace negating the threat of Sessegnon.
As it was, Benitez opted to pick Anita at right-back ahead of Jesus Gamez and the damage was done before the latter’s second-half arrival.
Anita is not good enough to play against the likes of Sessegnon and while Benitez could not have known for certain where on the pitch the 16-year-old would play, he should have been well aware of his blistering pace and attacking intent.
The Newcastle boss got away with one when he started Anita against Huddersfield, but the same cannot be said for their latest encounter, and it is time Gamez started while Yedlin continues his recovery from injury.