Three games in three competitions in nine days. Three wins and the Magpies will have the momentum Eddie Howe craves.
One down, two to go. As much as he loves the place, Mourinho’s record on Tyneside is anything but special. It’s now just three wins in 13 games and one in his last eight visits after Newcastle’s 3-0 success over Benfica on Wednesday night, a second successive Champions League win secured thanks to Anthony Gordon’s first half goal and a double from substitute Harvey Barnes.
No wonder Howe and assistant Jason Tindall celebrated with such gusto. Mourinho will always be the star attraction when he’s in the dugout but Howe’s calls were match-winning. The recalled Jacob Murphy created the opener. For a side that has struggled to score goals this season, having Murphy in the XI feels like a must. He made 14 goals last season and has three assists from just five starts so far this term and will undoubtedly keep his place for Fulham’s Premier League visit on Saturday. Spurs follow four days later as Newcastle continue their quest to defend the Carabao Cup trophy they won last season.
Their European quest already looks likely to stretch to the knockout stages. They’re better equipped to compete on all fronts this time around, demonstrated by the fact Howe was able to rest Sandro Tonali and Joelinton on Tuesday night. Lewis Miley and Jacob Ramsey deputised well.
Newcastle will soon start firing in the Premier League if Gordon can carry over his form from Europe. He was outstanding on Tuesday night, scoring the first goal and teeing up Barnes for the third to seal it.
Benfica are a good side, unbeaten in the Primeira Liga and asked questions of Newcastle. On the eve of the game, Nick Pope told of his ambitions to make the England squad for next summer’s World Cup. He did his chances no harm here, making a string of fine saves and setting up the second goal with a stunning throw half the length of the pitch to set Barnes away. His contribution was certainly recognised, Half of Newcastle’s players rushed to celebrate with Pope after Barnes’ shot went in off the post.
Had the stars ever aligned and the opportunity presented itself, Mourinho would have loved to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Sir Bobby Robson and managed United.
He said he felt Sir Bobby’s presence when he arrived at St James’ Park for his pre-match press conference on Monday night, and even though his start was delayed, he sat and talked – purred – about Newcastle for half an hour, more than double his allocated time slot.
It was more a love letter than a press conference, and ahead of travelling to the UK he’d sat his players down and told them to cherish the opportunity of playing at “beautiful” St James’ Park.
That will also, no doubt, have come a warning to brace themselves for a full-blooded 100mph start.
Newcastle set out their intentions immediately with two free-kicks quickly taken.
With intensity came early opportunities. A fine Nick Woltemade through-ball set Murphy away and the winger’s cross was destined to be tapped in by Ramsey before the outstretched leg of defender Antonio Silva saved the visitors.Dan Burn climbed high to meet Kieran Trippier’s resulting corner but his downward header was saved and then bundled away.
Benfica, though, had not come simply to contain and as Mourinho took a dugout seat, his side found their feet. Dodi Lukebakio skipped inside Burn with ease but was denied by Pope and soon after beat Newcastle’s goalkeeper with a stunning curling effort that cannoned off the outside of the post.
The storm was weathered and control regained. Murphy’s shot from distance missed the target but shifted the momentum back in the home side’s favour.
Fitting, then, that it was Murphy’s fine cross that teed up Gordon for the opener just after the half hour mark, though the deadlock wouldn’t have been broken had it not been for the sublime excellence of Bruno, who split the defence to set the creator away.
Lukebakio must have wondered how he reached the interval without finding the net. The once-Watford winger was the best player in the first half and again got the better of Burn but not Pope on the stroke of half-time.
Mourinho was calling for calm five minutes into the second half, for the game was threatening to run away from his side. Woltemade’s influence was growing and he very nearly made it six goals in as many games when his shot from the edge of the box deflected just wide.
Murphy continued to torment the Benfica defence and would have had a goal to match his assist had his low effort from the right not been clawed away by Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin. The night belonged to the wingers. Murphy was replaced by Barnes, who made his mark. Gordon went off to a deserved standing ovation.