Newcastle United cruised to their biggest ever Champions League victory by beating Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of the Knockout Playoff round. Travelling the 2,525 miles to Azerbaijan looked a tricky assignment on paper, but United made lightwork of the Azerbaijani Champions in a scintillating first half display that saw the Black and White’s go in 5-0 up at halftime.
Anthony Gordon scored four (including two well-taken penalties), with Malick Thiaw and Jacob Murphy getting the others. Qarabag’s consolation came via full back Elvin Cafarquliyev.
Here’s my four good and one (slightly) bad from the game:
**Good: Four goal Gordon**
Many match reports will focus on the quality of the opposition, and they certainly weren’t the greatest, but Gordon (playing up front again) had by far and away his best game playing that role by bagging four goals.
The Liverpudlian became United’s outright all-time leading scorer in the Champions League in the process but putting the goals aside, Gordon also ran the channels pulling defenders all over the place, led the most effective press we’ve seen from the lads in months, and just generally terrified the Qarabag defenders.
His penalties are so clinical these days that you rarely worry when he steps up and as for the “spat” with Trippier over the second penalty, I’ve no problem with that because when he’s on the pitch, he’s the designated penalty taker.
His other two finishes were the finishes of a striker, the first a lovely first-time strike across the keeper and the second which was a composed rounding of the keeper to slot home, and if Gordon continues to mature in the position, perhaps he can solve our striker issues for at least the rest of this season.
**Good: Woltemade’s new role**
Over the last few matches Eddie Howe has used Big Nick in a hybrid No 10/No 8 role, and especially when you look at the average position maps over the last two games, Woltemade had certainly been deeper than a traditional ten.
He appears to be being used in a roving role between the midfield and the striker and it’s a welcome evolution to the sides tactics and despite only having one shot in the game, he is much more involved playing there.
There was one lovely stud role over the ball in the build up to a Harvey Barnes chance in the first half, and he was criminally ignored on a couple of occasions when well placed in the area too. It’ll be interesting to see if the German continues to play there when everybody is fit but it’s been an encouraging couple of recent outings for the 24-year-old.
**Good: Incisive and sharp**
It’s been a minute since we’ve seen the lads look as incisive, sharp, and athletic as they were in the first 45 minutes on Wednesday. If the Qarabag keeper hadn’t been as on form as he was in the first half, we would’ve scored seven or eight (possibly ten) such was the level of display we imposed on our opponents.
The passing was quicker and more intelligent and when it was mixed with the runs and pressing the lads were making, we cut Qarabag open through the middle of the pitch almost at will. Gordon could’ve had a double hattrick but had to settle for just the four, Hall was his usual incisive self, Barnes should’ve scored a couple, and Trippier put in an impressive performance for the second game in a row.
All in all, it was a thoroughly impressive display, especially in the first half, and it’s killed the tie with the second leg to go.
**(Slightly) Bad: Slow start to 2nd half and Nick Pope**
The only slight mark on the night’s performance was a slightly dodgy start to the second half that saw Qarabag score. There seemed to be a drop off in certainly physicality and the mentality of dropping deep started to appear again.
Pope was also weak for their goal with a very definitive noodle arm thrown at the ball – he barely moved for another goal he’ll be dissapointed to let in – and the entire defence will be disappointed to lose the clean sheet.
It’s only a slight blot on the copybook but that 15-20 minute spell felt a little representative of how United have been across the entire season, and with us being half way through February it’s something that may not be able to be stamped out of the side, but I hope it can be moving forward.
**Good: We can rest players next week**
The club may be hoping for something different considering the cost of the tickets for the second leg next Tuesday, but surely Eddie Howe can afford to rest a few of the players we will be relying on heavily over the coming weeks considering our injuries.
Tonali, Hall, Thiaw, and Gordon should all be afforded the opportunity to be rested with the second leg already a far-gone conclusion. It’s something Eddie Howe hasn’t always got right during his tenure but with the relentless schedule and the quality of opposition coming up I would think it would be the ideal opportunity to blood some players who may be required in the crucial final couple of months of the season.
Up next, just the small matter of Man City at the Etihad and having just won three away games in a row in three different competitions, surely, we can finally go there and, at the very least, put in a performance.
Keep the faith. HWTL