Even with European football already secured for next season, Champions League-chasing Eddie Howe and his Newcastle side knew they had a tough task ahead of them hosting Brentford on Wednesday night.
And they were certainly made to work for all three points in the end, with a record-breaking Alexander Isak opener and Sandro Tonali stunner either side of a Bryan Mbeumo penalty propelling the Mags into fifth place in the Premier League table.
Here’s what Howe had to say after last night’s victory saw us leapfrog Chelsea on our first game back following cup final glory.
Not at our best – but a big win
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Heading into the game, Howe had been clear with his players (as evidenced by his strict training routine and abstention from alcohol during the parade celebrations) that this was truly the first of ten cup finals left of this season.
And despite some clear rust and occasional lapses, the Magpies grounded out a win against the Bees to avenge the defeat at the GTEC earlier in the season.
Reflecting on the win, Howe expressed some cautious optimism. “Performance wasn’t our best, but delighted with the win.”
“I think with everything that’s happened since the cup final – dealing with all the emotion, dealing with the international break, players coming back, the parade and just trying to get the lads to focus on the next game – I thought they were absolutely brilliant in the buildup and brilliant today.”
The good, bad and one “big moment”
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Discussing our display in more depth, Howe felt our finishing touch in the final third was a little off and believes we lost control in the second half, also naming the “big moment” that went out way before Tonali’s winner.
“I think we opened them up pretty well, we had a number of shots, and on another day we would’ve scored more, but the finishing touch wasn’t there.”
“I don’t think we were great with the ball in our build-up. There was some really good moves, but a lot of careless giveaways especially in the second half, where we lost a bit of control.”
“I thought we kept them relatively quiet, until a couple of big moments. Obviously their penalty, then a header just after they scored, which was probably a big moment looking back when they hit the post.”
“Other than that, we defended well, so there’s a lot to look at as there always is.”
Tonali “very good” – but did he mean it?!
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Did he mean it? Was it a lucky cross that flew in? Whether he did or he didn’t mean to score, Sandro Tonali continues to showcase himself as one of the best in the league right now, with his audacious strike from such a tight angle the difference maker.
Reacting to his strike, Howe said: “Well it was a massive goal, we needed it in the moment in the game. We’d sort of lost control that we’d had in the first-half and they’d just scored. So it was a massive swing for us, and a bit of fortune really because you don’t really expect to score from that angle.”
“As we all know he’s got an unbelievable strike on him when he hits the ball and connects, and he did in that moment. We’re just delighted to see that go in.”
“(Tonali was) Very good, very good again. A lot of good decisions from Sandro, and I think that’s what makes him the player that he is.”
“You’re always going well done, and they’re not necessarily outstanding moments, but adding them together just turns out to be a very forcible performance from midfield.”
Howe on Isak’s record-breaking evening
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Heading home from close range in added time, Isak secured his 20th league goal of the campaign: 10 at home, and 10 away.
This makes him not only the third Newcastle striker, after Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, to record double digit returns at St James’ Park and on the road in the same season, but he also became the first player across every one of Newcastle’s Premier League campaigns to record back-to-back 20 goal seasons.
Howe once again could not praise the Swede’s goalscoring abilities enough, saying: “You’re defined by ability to score goals in this league, and your attacking players really have to take that responsibility. I think he’s done that unbelievably well since he’s been here.”
“It’s not easy to do. I don’t think this was his finest game, and I don’t think he’ll be surprised at me saying that.”
“But he was in the right place at the right time. He maybe got a bit of luck with the finish, but he’s done that consistently, he’s always in the right place.”