The dressing room was taken aback by Nick Pope's incredible assist as Anthony Gordon makes post-match confession
Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope (right) celebrates with Malick Thiaw
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope (right) celebrates with Malick Thiaw
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There were many things to admire about Newcastle United's 3-0 win over Benfica last night at St James' Park as Euro fever shook the famous old stadium to its foundations.
Before the game, the club's owners celebrated United's European heritage with a flag display for the boys of 1969 and Joe Harvey's triumphant Fairs Cup-winning side. Up in the stands watching with a tear in his eye was club legend Bob Moncur, as the iconic former club captain watched on as Jose Mourinho's side were dismantled on a mild autumn night.
Putting aside Euro nostalgia though, this was a much-needed win for Newcastle after the 2-1 defeat at Brighton. On the back of an international fortnight and not much preparation time, perhaps you have to give Howe's side the benefit of the doubt a little.
Yet one recurring theme of late seems to be slipping up in the Premier League and then turning it on for a European night. It's happened twice now against Union SQ and now Benfica after top-flight defeats.
Consistency is now the key for Howe's team with Fulham up next in the Premier League.
The best £35million PIF have ever paid?
Let's be fair, Eddie Howe has got it right the majority of times with his transfer choices as Newcastle boss. Kieran Trippier was a vital signing, Dan Burn was a steal at just £13m and Nick Woltemade's transfer fee of £69m was a gamble, but one that is paying off.
But in Malick Thiaw, Newcastle have snatched another bargain at just £35m with the German international bringing another dimension to Howe's back four. Anybody who is keeping out Fabian Schar from the defensive rearguard must be a class act, and that is proving to be the case for Thiaw.
Thiaw is an elegant reader of the game, Thiaw picked up a booking in the first half and was skating on thin ice after a rough challenge. But he did not make another tackle and spotted the danger before it arrived, calmly clearing the danger and picking out passes from the back.
He must be worth at least double the fee Newcastle paid AC Milan to. The Serie A leaders must be feeling shortchanged.
Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United
Newcastle United's Malick Thiaw(Image: Getty Images)
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Anthony Gordon comes alive and talks about THAT quarter-back pass
Gordon is relishing life on the European stage and took his tally to four goals with a well-taken first half strike before setting up Harvey Barnes.
In doing so he went level with stars like Rob Lee, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley and John Beresford in the Toon's Euro scoring charts and became the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive Champions League games. On Sunday, he'd made his way to Wembley to watch the LA Rams against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL London games.
Gordon had witnessed some history at Wembley after the Rams' Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes beneath the famous arch. But what about United's own quarterback Nick Pope and his exquisite throw assist for Barnes?
Gordon told Chronicle Live: "It was as good as anything I saw at the NFL. I do love my NFL, but I prefer this football But that was up there with Tom Brady.
"I've never seen anything like that live. I didn't know he had it in his locker. I thought 'Where's that going' then Barnesy gets on to it."