Newcastle moved up to SIXTH in the Champions League league phase with a solid 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
We needed a response after Sunday’s dismal display and defeat at West Ham, and that’s what we got. Did we ever hit top gear? No. Was it one of our best displays of the season? I don’t think so. But we grew into it after an edgy start, rarely looked like conceding and saw two towering headers from big Dan and big Joe before seeing out the second half with minimal fuss.
That’s now FIVE wins in the spin at St James’ Park, conceding just once in the process, and three straight wins in the Champions League after beating Unions SG (4-0), Benfica (3-0) and Bilbao (2-0) by an aggregate score of 9-0.
The challenge now is clear; take this form into the Premier League, particularly away from home as a tricky trip to Brentford awaits on Sunday in what feels like an important gam in our season.
Howe made two changes from Sunday, seeing Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes come in at the expense of Emil Krafth and Jacob Murphy, with Bruno Guimaraes fit enough to start and Anthony Gordon keeping his place.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton – Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon
Subs: Thompson, Ramsdale, Hall, Schar, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, A.Murphy, Willock, J.Murphy, Ramsey, Miley
It was such a scrappy first half, with the opening minutes featuring so many loose touches and sloppy passes, which was a theme for much of the opening 45 minutes. Bilbao’s game plan was decent and they weren’t giving us much space, but it was bouncing off us, seeing us rarely build attacks into the final third.
Then, one moment of quality arrived. Another St James’ Park piece and a stunning header from big Dan Burn on 10 minutes, giving us a brilliant opener to settle what had been an edgy start from so many in black and white.
It was one of the best headers I’ve ever seen live, giving Spanish No.1 Unai Simon absolutely no chance as he guided the ball back across goal to grab another vital European goal at the Leazes End.
Big Dan Burn heads Newcastle into the lead 🔥
What a goal that was 🤩
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We struggled to build on that and Bilbao almost responded, with left-back Boiro smashing a rocket of a strike past Pope and off the upright. A few inches to the right and it would’ve been 1-1 and one of the goals of the league phase so far!
Woltemade had been starved of service, but missed a good chance to double our lead on the half hour mark, glancing a header wide before Gordon was forced off. He’d looked way off it all half and was pointing to his hip, meaning Murphy came in and Barnes moved to the left.
The final big moment of a pretty tepid first half so Joelinton break through on goal after forcing the Bilbao centre-back into an error, but his first effort was blocked and his second struck his hand before he blazed over.
So, a 1-0 lead and something to build on as we attacked the Gallowgate in the second – and it didn’t take us long to double our lead as another towering header made all the difference. This time it was Joelinton, who powered home from a teasing Barnes cross to make it 2-0.
The second knocked the stuffing out of Bilbao and we controlled the game well from that point onwards, with Howe rotating well with 25 minutes to go as Burn, Bruno and Barnes made way, allowing Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley and Anthony Elanga.
Hall looked superb in his cameo and it was brilliant to see him back in action, with his bursts into space, sharp turns and slick passing a joy to watch.
As for other top performers, I thought Thiaw was superb yet again and Saliba-esque, not only showing with pace and power, but reading the game expertly and pinging some lovely diagonal passes.
Joelinton responded to his West Ham stinker with a really strong display, Tonali went through the gears in the second half and it was one of Trippier’s best games in a while, where he set up one goal and set the tone at the other end with some experienced defending.
Pope made a few good stops late on to preserve his clean sheet and keep us comfortable at 2-0, but it was a quiet night for Woltemade and Elanga looked poor again, reeking of a player who is in dire need of a goal and some confidence.
But, it was generally a night of positives, a welcome victory and much-needed response to THAT horror show at West Ham, which remains such a head-scratcher of a display and one we must learn from.
Next up, Brentford away on Sunday in our final game before the latest international break.
Keep the faith – Howay the lads!