Jacob Ramsey started his second game for Newcastle United following his £40million move from Aston Villa.
Jacob Ramsey was “buzzing” after sampling his first taste of Champions League action for Newcastle United.
Eyebrows were raised when Eddie Howe named Sandro Tonali and Joelinton on the bench against Benfica. Lewis Miley was drafted in alongside Ramsey, with Bruno Guimaraes leading the team to complete the midfield.
Ramsey has endured a frustrating start to life at St James’ Park, having picked up an ankle injury at Leeds United in August. He did his first-team opportunities no harm with an assured performance last night as Newcastle put Benfica to the sword.
Jacob Ramsey posts after Benfica win
The 24-year-old played 63 minutes before being replaced by Joelinton. With the scoreline at 1-0, the Magpies bagged another two in the closing stages to guarantee all three points.
Ramsey posted on social media after the game to praise the St James’ Park atmosphere, with Nick Woltemade replying with loveheart emojis. He wrote on Instagram: “A strong UCL win. Buzzing to be back on the pitch with the boys. What an atmosphere tonight.”
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United victory
Howe admitted Newcastle have not been at their best this season as he toasted a “massive” result. He told reporters: “(It was a) good performance. Even in the first half, we created some good chances but had to be patient for the first goal. We scored three great goals and looked a constant threat in the game.
“I am delighted with the win. It’s a massive result. Benfica are a really good team, so we had to show our qualities today. I thought we were patient initially because we had chances and didn’t score early, but we kept at it. And once you saw the second goal, you saw the real us and what we can be.
“I thought we were excellent from that point. We haven’t quite clicked into gear yet this season. Hopefully, that’s the start of what we can be. I think it is that kind of game that we have to take forward into our next few games that we’ve got coming up.
“I thought that’s the level that we want to be at. We’ve been threatening, I think, to put a performance like that together. It’s a good night for us.”
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Jose Mourinho verdict
Reflecting on the game and Newcastle’s “horsepower”, Mourinho said: “What does this team's level tell me? What does Newcastle's level tell me? While the score was open, and I think it was even unfairly open, because in the first half the team played well on the pitch, the players felt comfortable in a stadium with a palpable atmosphere.
“We had great chances to score, three or four. Before they scored, we had a beautiful shot from (Dodi) Lukebakio that hit the post, so I reiterate that the first-half result doesn't reflect the game at all.
“In the second half, we conceded a goal we couldn't afford, a set piece in our favour, where our initial positioning for the transition was correct, but then we made mistakes in our defensive movement. And when we concede that goal, the differences in characteristics between the teams come to the fore.
“There’s a team with a higher horsepower engine than the other, a team with much more intensity, a team with much more speed. As I said yesterday, they have four lightning-fast wingers. They don't have one or two, they have four. And when you change two who come on in the 50th or 60th minute, when you change one and then later change another, we, losing the compact play we had in the first half, were exposed.”
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