A massive result for Newcastle United in the context of our season as Bruno Guimaraes’ second half strike helped us to a 1-0 win over West Ham on Monday night.
It wasn’t pretty, we weren’t at our best at either end of the pitch and we’ll have to be far better if we’re to lift the Carabao Cup on Sunday, but this is a huge win at the start of our biggest week of the campaign and hopefully a confidence boost that can inject some belief back into the side heading into this weekend’s final.
We had to get through tonight with a win and no injuries and we’ve done it, all without a number of key players in Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman – and without doubt (whether Howe admits it or not) one eye on Wembley!
The result sends us back up to sixth in the Premier League. We’re back above Bournemouth, Brighton and Aston Villa, level with Man City, two off Chelsea in fourth and four from Nottingham Forest.
Howe made three changes from the side dumped out of the FA Cup to Brighton just over a week ago, with Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy in for Martin Dubravka, Lewis Miley and the suspended Anthony Gordon.
It was Barnes’ big chance to impress down the left in Gordon’s absence and his first league start in three months, wile Pope’s return caused plenty of pre-match debate online after his recent struggles.
**Newcastle XI (4-3-3):** Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
**Subs:** Dubravka, Targett, Willock, Krafth, Wilson, Neave, Longstaff, Osula, Miley
Less than 50 seconds on the clock and West Ham should’ve been ahead, as Soucek arrived at the back post, made the most of Livramento’s missed attempt at a clearance and thankfully fired over from six yards. A huge let off, but alarming how easy it was for the Hammers to isolate Schar and create such a big chance so early on.
We looked so shaky, slow to react and sloppy on the ball, but we finally settled after a timid first 10, with Barnes having two chances. One from the angle he got all wrong, the second well saved by Areola after a sharp through ball from Trippier.
Barnes popped up once again on the 25 minute mark, forcing Areola into another save after Trippier’s corner and Burn’s header back across the box was glanced goalwards by the former Leicester man. Promising signs after a poor start and we were certainly growing into it, we just needed to find that quality in the final third.
Livramento’s lack of left foot (and the absence of Hall) was telling as we failed to make the most of getting into some good positions down that side, with Tino always cutting back on his right and slowing down the attack. We were on top in a strangely flat game with little to no atmosphere, but that quality, decision making and lack of left foot kept letting us down.
At the other end, Trippier bailed us out after holding up Kudus who threatened to burst through, with both centre-backs taken totally out of the game by Alvarez’s flick on. And that was pretty much that in an entirely forgettable first half.
West Ham saw far more of the ball at the start of the second half, where we came out slowly and struggled to get out. Pope’s kicking continued to be a problem too, as he shanked one into touch for the second time.
We hadn’t got going whatsoever but almost took the lead on the hour mark, only for Areola to pull off a remarkable save to stop Kilman putting into his own net from Murphy’s cross. Isak followed up but the ball was behind him and his effort flew over.
Then, FINALLY, a breakthrough. After having his initial effort blocked, Barnes delivered a lovely ball at the second attempt. It flew past Isak but Bruno arrived to poke home before celebrating in front of a packed out away end. 1-0 Newcastle and a lift we desperately needed.
Isak looked a shadow of his brilliant best and looked like a man playing at 50%, despite Howe insisting he was “fine” after “fatigue” and groin tightness forced him off against Brighton eight days ago. With that in mind, Howe brought him and Barnes off with just over 10 minutes to play, seeing Callum Wilson and Joe Willock come on.
Burn picked up a booking – his eighth of the season to leave him two away from a two-match ban – and we were just over five minutes to play before Sean Longstaff replaced Bruno in the closing stages.
Six minutes were added on and we didn’t see it out convincingly, with Longstaff, Murphy and Tonali gifting the ball back in poor areas, but we got there in the end to leave London with three massive points and our first clean sheet in seven.
Next up, Wembley! Howay the lads.
