Yet another brilliant win at St James’ Park for Eddie Howe’s high-flying Mags, as Bruno Guimaraes scored a 94th minute header to send the Gallowgate wild and almost certainly secure our Premier League status!
It wasn’t a great game, with both sides struggling in the final third in a stop-start affair that never really got going, but it didn’t matter in the end.
After Ademola Lookman opened the scoring for Leicester with a well worked corner, Bruno equalised 15 minutes before the break with a close range finish that was initially ruled out by the referee before a second look at the pitch-side monitor soon changed his mind.
The second half was a forgettable affair for the most part, until a brilliant run from Joe Willock saw his deflected cross fall perfectly for who else but Bruno, who guided a 94th minute diving header into the top corner to seal all three points!
Our £35m Brazilian will grab all of the headlines, however there were a few unsung heroes on the day. Emil Krafth was outstanding at right-back, putting in the sort of all action display we couldn’t have imagined a few month ago, while Miguel Almiron’s energy and ingenuity was a breath of fresh air as he put in a lively display in his first start at St James’ Park since mid December.
It was another day where things didn’t come off for Allan Saint-Maximin and a quiet Chris Wood was unable to build on last Friday’s goal, however it says a lot about this new-look side that we can find a way to win games when several key men aren’t firing.
The result sends us 12 clear of third bottom Burnley – who conceded late to draw at West Ham in today’s other 2.15pm kick off – and leaves us looking up ahead of the final few weeks of the season, with us now just three points away from Leicester in 9th!
That’s now FIVE victories on the trot at St James’ Park. If that alone wasn’t impressive enough, the Premier League table for 2022 alone has us sat in 2nd, highlighting what an incredible job Eddie Howe has done.
No team in Premier League history has ever survived after failing to win any of their opening 14 games, yet here we are – safe by mid April and in with a very real chance of securing a top 10 finish if we can keep this run of form going!
Next up, another home game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night!
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett – Guimaraes, Shelvey (c), Joelinton – Almiron, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Dummett, Lascelles, Fernández, Ritchie, S Longstaff, Willock, Murphy, Gayle.
My easter egg was sweet but that late winner was sweeter 😎
KIMTOON(Quote)
It’s nice waking up knowing the 3 points are in the bank ?
I just want to make a point on the ASM.
We seriously need to get a couple more top level players in next season. Whilst ASM continues to think he is the best player and needs to win the game of his own boot, he will not improve. Better players around him will demand he plays to their strengths as well.
I thought he had a shocker today and he only seems concerned about his own game.
The lack of a real alternative to replace him at the moment doesn’t help either.
Murphy is not up to it at all. Miguel isn’t either although his work rate is great. Frazer is another that is a good squad player but not the answer long term. It’s going to be an interesting off season. ?
Aussie(Quote)
The resurrection is now complete. What a job Eddie Howe has done!!! I really want us to push on and beat last year’s points total so lazy pundits will not compare this Easter miracle to Brucie and his boys. They will totally forget we had 5 points from 11 games before Howe arrived.
I have been to The Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is supposedly the site of where Jesus was crucified and his empty tomb is. Long story, and probably a surprise considering I was, and am, an athiest.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Isnt there some stat out there that no team has ever started as badly as us in the 1st 14 games and stayed up? Opposition fans (mainly in The Guardian comments section) will say it is because of “blood money” but that is a small part of the story. Tripps only played 3 games FFS and Bruno was used sparingly. The real story is Eddie Howe’s ability to galvanize existing players and have them fit and with an actual game plan. You know, actual tactics! I think Bruce said it best when he said he didnt do tactics. Of course, being the BSer he is he would totally contradict himself in the next sentence and say the players didnt follow the plan.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
The picture at the top shows Dubs celebrating. He ran the length of the pitch to get there. Had a bit of a shaky 1st half hour but recovered. He always comes across as a huge NUFC fan.
I have actually watched quite a few of the player interviews and all of our players come across very well. Shelvey gets stick, but I saw an interview with him and he was very enthusiastic about NUFC and the area. Wasnt the tw@t he has been portrayed as.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Good analysis Aussie. The lad does my head in. He has so much natural talent but without a clue on how to use it.
georgio(Quote)
Agree. I am in the **** him off category tbh. He plays so many of our attacking players out of position by holding it to long. Like HBA before him, other players have no idea as to when he is going to release the ball.
This is acceptable when we have an average list with one mercurial player but if we are building to something bigger and better, players like that can be shifted on imo. We need the team to be playing as a unit if we really want to be pushing for the top places on the table. These mercurial rogues are not the future.
Aussie(Quote)
It was an ok game yesterday that had 1-1 written all over it really. Both teams knocked the ball about nicely without really threatening the opposition keeper much at all.
But that ball in from Willock at the end was brilliant & just begging to be headed home!!. It was like slow motion when you can see it coming and are just waiting for the net to bulge.
I’ve decided the best way to watch a Newcastle win is drinking free Estrella with the sun on your back ?.
Another excellent home performance though & Howes record continues ??????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Willocks crossed highlights what’s being said about ASM imo. Had that been him he would have cut in on his right & tried to score the stoppage time winner himself – and it would have ended 1-1.
I don’t want to write him off because he COULD be as affective for us as Zaha is for palace – he could be a £50m player. He certainly has the skills & attributes.
But Howe and his coaching staff have to work harder with him – maybe even 1 to 1 if needed. He has to do what’s needed for the team & when he’s not – Howe HAS to hook him until he either learns & does it or throws his toys and goes.
It’s a real head scratcher for me these stories of a £50m move in the summer – would I go with it? I’m still not sure ??♂️.
But I agree he needs to do better than he is at the moment.
I think I want to stay loyal with him for the good he’s done for us so far. But he HAS to make better decisions to those he’s making at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy to me Willocks cross looked like it took a deflection but you are right he crossed it at the right moment.
Asm can be moved on imo. Let’s look for skilled team players and leave these mavericks in the rear view mirror. We are moving into a new era.
Aussie(Quote)
Sharpy, such a frustrating player, bags of talent but selfish at times.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Agree on ASM. Lots of similarities with Ben Arfa. Let’s hope he learns to be more of a team player.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I should clarify – I know Willocks cross was a deflection off a Leicester player but his run with the ball & attempt to get the ball into the box resulted in the goal – Maxi would have just went for goal himself.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I agree that ASM is not a team player, has no idea when to release the ball, and tries to win the game on his own. A joy to watch but totally frustrating.
Given all that his role in the team is to take three defenders out of the game. Defences know that simply 1 on 1 leads to goals for us. This gives us a numerical advantage. If we had players like Diaby and Erikson alongside him defences would be overwhelmed. As it is they only have ASM to worry about
PremAndUp(Quote)
Yep. The opposition always put 3 players on him so that must mean they are worried and that if we get a decent centre forward who isnt injured we will get top 6 next year.
ASMs stats are still up there in terms of dribbles and attacking runs.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I have seen the winning goal a few times now and it is amazing that Bruno was up there in the 94th minute. That control and run from Willock was also absolutely fantastic. The Leicester player looked like he gave up, and thought “I am not catching him” 🙂 The cross had a deflection, but I think Bruno would have side footed it in otherwise.
BUT THE DIVING HEADER WAS MUCH BETTER. What a way to win a game!!!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Can we play a 4-4-2 against Palace?
I would like to find some way of getting Willock on along with Big Joe, Jonjo and Bruno.
Front 2 of Wood and ASM?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
My thoughts on Leicester were that they had the ball a lot but didnt do much with it. Same as like when we played Brighton. These possession stats are sometimes misleading as we are pressing teams now and they pass it around the back line in the middle 3rd and dont really threaten.
Still have to play Man City and Liverpool though so that might be a different kettle of bananas.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we are second in the form table since Christmas, then we surely must be better than one of them
PremAndUp(Quote)
Plaudits well deserved for willock and guimares and and not forgetting a brilliant pivot from targett to get the move going.
Very smart decision as he felt the Leicester player overcommit and then switch to play the ball when he looked to be letting it go out .. decent ball out to willock too. Intelligent, aggressive and effective play .. lovely to watch
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I keep seeing comments on Blogs etc that we should let this or that player go in the summer. Usually it is Maxi, Miggy and Lewis. I dont see the point as we dont need the money. We can create space in the squad elsewhere by selling older players or the VERY fringe players like Gayle and Ritchie now. The only reason I see to let Lewis go is that HE wants to leave as he might want more playing time. Let’s say we get 4 or 5 starters, here’s how to get them in the team:
Goalie: probably Henderson or maybe Nick Pope. Sell Darlow.
Left Back: Buy Matt Targett, sell Ritchie, keep Lewis.
Centre Back: maybe buy Botman and sell Lascelles. Or even sell Maquillo as Krafth seems to have replaced him in the pecking order.
Attacking Midfield: Buy Bruno’s mate from Lyon. Could sell either Sean Longstaff or Miggy to make room. I am not averse to keeping them though. Sean seems to have picked up a bit lately.
Striker: this is an easy one. Splash out on Darwin Nunez and let Gayle go as he is 32 and needs game time. Probably cost 80 mil now but we need someone who can get into double figures in goals to really press on.
My point is that we need a squad and some of the players we have are good enough to be in OUR squad that will not be playing European football next season. We can have a clearout the following summer when we will be in Europe. Meanwhile, there is some natural attrition that will take care of creating squad places.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I mean, Liverpool and Man City play 60 games a season and we play like 40. If we buy 3 or 4 starters they will be fresh. If we buy any more than that, where would they get the gametime?
My guess is that we will buy young and top quality with high price tags. There is the free agent market as well but I think we should limit our business there as I dont really want aging prima donnas.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
And I got sick of Youtubers slagging off Chris Wood weeks ago. We knew what we were getting. A big lad who would put himself about and create space for other players. That’s what he has done and he is on a 2 year contract. He will be backup/utility next year, we all know that. His contract tells you he was bought to keep us up and fill in for Wilson, same as BDB as I think they will go younger at CB in the summer.
What we need to emulate Man City is a version of David Silva and Sergio Aguero. That is probably Bruno’s mate at Lyon and Darwin Nunez. The new Vincent Kompany wouldnt go amiss either 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Bruce 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
On BBC, comment about Manure
They need a whole new backline and a box to box midfielder. I would buy Guehi, Alphonso Davies, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Digne, and Rudiger if his contract goes.
Doesn’t take long, a couple of decent performances and me, me, me.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Let’s not forget we have our very own Elliot Anderson too. I’m really hoping he makes it into the first team and comes good at this level.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What they havent realised yet is that despite their commercial revenue we can outspend them and that our commercial revenue will only go up.
There is a plan at NUFC to be one of the top 4 teams in the world. That will involve bumping PSG, Man U, Liverpool and Chelsea. Oh, and Spurs.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
And Arsenal.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Did I say this before?
Bruce 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Gilly – there’s Kelland Watt as well, who has had an excellent loan spell with Wigan – but coz he’s a CB won’t get written about as much.
I’d like to see both get a loan in the Championship next season, to play at a higher level again – then see where they are.
Watt could stay at Wigan if they get promoted & I think Milwall want Anderson. I wouldn’t mind seeing him at somewhere like Forest or Boro though – I think the style of football would suit his game more there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t think we need Anderson to learn Championship football. Get him in with our big lads next season, learning from class players.
georgio(Quote)
Hi folks,
Not sure if you guys are in a position to donate or even just share with friends and family, but would really appreciate any support for this campaign I’ve been working on for a few years now out in Sierra Leone.
One day they hope to have someone from their academy become the first player in NUFC history to come from Sierra Leone, but for now I just hope to help them lead health and happy lives, as COVID-19 and ongoing poverty in West Africa has left them short of so many supplies.
Would really appreciate your support
https://www.gofundme.com/f/jn3smx-newcastle-united-sierra-leone
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
This should be fun today. The Red Bindippers have the best attack in the world and the Mancs have – Mason Greenwood probably up on rape charges, Lingard leaving, Rashford completely off form. They played Mata on the weekend who hadnt played in like 18 months 🙂
I hope Ronaldo is OK after his tragedy. Another hattrick maybe although “UNITED” dont have a midfield!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Olly: I totally disagree with The Telegraph on Nunez. I think he will be our “Aguero signing” for 60 mil plus 20 mil to his agent.
People are just not paying attention to how much money NUFC has now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Renaldo will not play tonight after the tragic death of his baby son! ??. Very sad.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ronaldo sorry…
Anyone know if our game vs Palace is on tv?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Apparently it’s not televised. Illegal stream it is then! ?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Unchanged starting 11 for tomorrow innit.!?
I would really like to try a 4-4-2 to get Willock on. I think Eddie might do that on 65 mins. Go with 4 midfielders and either take off a winger or Wood. We sort of saw that against Leicester so we know he has that in his pocket.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Forest 4 – Steve Bruce nil.
I really dont like Steve Bruce and will continue to mock him, his painfully inarticulate son and the 2 other Steves until they get sacked again!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Do you know Alex Bruce is still on BBC podcasts even though he is employed by his Dad at WBA?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)