It wasn’t always pretty, but that was another magical night at St James’ Park!
A brilliant tribute to Allan Saint-Maximin just moments before kick off, an outstanding defensive display, a stunning goal from Miguel Almiron, superb post-match scenes from the NUFC dressing room and our SIXTH straight win on home turf – something we hadn’t done since the days of the great Sir Bobby Robson.
It’s also a result that takes us closer to qualifying for Europe than Burnley in third bottom, highlighting what an incredible job Eddie Howe has done now we’re up to 40 points and level with Brighton in 10th!
The second half was a backs against the wall affair at times, seeing us sit back and protect what we’d got against a Crystal Palace side who just couldn’t breach our black and white wall, but we played some lovely stuff in the first 45.
We started with an intensity about our play, pressed well, moved the ball quickly and got the goal we deserved when a beautifully weighted pass from Bruno released Almiron down the right.
The Paraguayan still had a LOT to do, but burst past the impressive Tyrick Mitchell like he wasn’t even there and fired a left-footed shot across goal and into the top corner from a tight angle!
The celebration that followed was as electric as the finish, as he reeled away shirtless at the Leazes End before jumping into the East Stand to a huge embrace from fans!
It was a game of two halves. After a positive first 45 that saw us grab the game by the scruff of the neck, Palace dominated the ball in the second half, yet they never really looked like scoring.
We conceded possession too easily and struggled to pose any real threat on the counter after dropping deep, but we continued to win the midfield battle – Guimaraes was outstanding, Joelinton back to his disruptive best and Shelvey showing the sort of grit he’s previously lacked – and defended superbly.
Our two centre-backs did little wrong all night, yet it was the protection they were given from the midfield trio and the two full-backs either side of them that impressed me most.
Emil Krafth did a real job on Wilfried Zaha in what was another rock solid display from the much improved Swede. He won so many 50/50s, rarely gave him room to manoeuvre and left the tricky winger looking utterly fed up in a battle few would’ve envisaged him winning just a few months ago!
Down the other side, Matt Targett was also outstanding, barely putting a foot wrong defensively and looking equally reliable in possession.
As for Bruno, I’m convinced we already own one of the best midfielders in the Premier League! He tackles like Tiote, passes like Cabaye and dances through midfield like a true Brazilian flare player. He really does have it all and knows exactly when to throw his arms up to get a roar of support from the Gallowgate!
After the game, we then saw Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben having a casual kick about on the pitch before all three joined Amanda Staveley in the famous team photo in the Toon dressing room!
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett – Guimaraes, Shelvey (c), Joelinton – Almiron, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Lascelles, Fernandez, Manquillo, Ritchie, Willock, S Longstaff, Murphy, Gayle.
Next up, a trip to Norwich on Saturday and a chance to build on our charge towards the top 10!
First off, congrats to the lads. Great photo also. They know we are safe and it is good to see the owners get involved.
Just to be a bit of a curmudgeon. What was Brucie doing with some of these players? Krafth, Big Joe and Schar look like they have been transformed. We all knew the only reason we stayed up with Bruce was sheer luck and maybe some good goalkeeping!
Dubs faced 2 shots today. It would have been 15 under a Bruce coached team.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
It is becoming pretty clear who Eddie definitely wants to keep. Today’s starting 11, inc Miggy. You can then add the injured players like Fraser, Wilson, Tripps.
They are trying to do deals with Dummy and Longstaff so they would be fringe players.
Murphy will probably stay and I would hate to see us sell Lewis as I think he has potential.
But that list leaves about 5 places for new signings which is about what we need to go for top 6.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Great interview with Olly Bernard. It is 36 mins but well worth it.
I forgot Olly came from Lyon and he still follows them. He said Paqueta is like Bruno but with a few more goals. He came to watch us recently so I think there is something going on there.
Olly has a bit of the Julio Geordio going on, that Paul Whitehurst character from way back when.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SqHiqahg1g
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
The Chronic are saying Eddie Howe will want to finish the season strongly because that has not always been the case recently. I hope this does not become a new narrative because the complete opposite has been the case even under Bruce. Rafa went out with a bang and the cabbage defeated Fulham 4 nil away last year after a few other decent performances.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Flying back this morning ☹️ Brilliant way to end my hols though ?? Great stuff.
Love those photos too – shows a real togetherness in the squad.
If you get chance – YouTube- under the cosh – Steve Howey interview. Some of the old stories are brilliant.
Very timely as well as he was there before our last rise under KK and saw it right through. Good watch if you get the chance.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The problem we have is that 3 of our last 5 are Liverpool, City and Arsenal. I really hope that if we lose these games it will not cause the twitterati and journos to diminish Eddie’s achievements since he came in which have been monumental.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Incredible achievement to have 40 points with five games to go. When Howe arrived we had about 4 points and no in from the first 14 matches. That would be 72 points in a season form… Anyone remember Leicesters finish to the season before they won the league? That’s a joke btw.
New signings settled, old players vastly improved and unbelievable atmosphere at the games. Onwards and upwards.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – do you think the likes of Krafth, Miggy & Schar have done enough to start next season with us? – I think Big Joe has & probably Schar too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
My take on last night’s game was that it was still miles away from a Bruce performance. We were the better team in the 1st half but Palace began to press in the 2nd. They are a decent team! Despite having limited possession we were not just sitting on the edge of the 18 yard box. We didnt look flustered and didnt need a world class performance from Dubs. With Bruce, we always looked likely to concede and only got by on luck and desperate last ditch tackles. We all knew it couldnt last, and it didnt.
We still need another midfielder and striker though and then maybe we will not cede so much of the possession, which we are still doing. But at least now a lot of the possession is on the half way line and not our 18 yard line, which is a big difference.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I think Krafth has no chance of starting when Tripps is fit and I think we will bring in an upgrade for Miggy. I have absolutely no objection to keeping them in the squad though.
I have made this point a few times – WE DONT HAVE TO SELL THEM! Some fans still have the mindset from the Ashley era where we had to sell to buy.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Even as a squad player you will get your chances at NUFC because we have some older players who will get injured. Players around the 30 mark or over – Wilson, Dubs, Tripps, Burn, Wood, Schar, Shelvey, Dummett. And some others who I think we will let go. Fraser is a bit injury prone as well.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Remember a quote from howey from Keegans time, I think after he’d signed a new contract , and he was asked why he’d signed.
He simply giggled and answered “why would I want to go anywhere else ?”
Hopefully more of that in the future
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Eric – I agree mate. I meant keep them as squad players to avoid mass change in one window.
There’s also Jamal Lewis & what to do with him. I’d love to see him get a chance to prove himself to Howe. The improvements Howe has made to some players, I feel sure he could get something out of Lewis – injuries depending of course.
If not Lewis, i wouldn’t mind seeing us go after Brandon Williams from Man Utd, who has been on loan at Norwich this season – only 21 and would learn a lot from Targett as an understudy.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That was a great result last night. Very nervy second half but a great performance overall. A win against Norwich would be amazing. Not expecting anything from City, Pool or the **** but a draw or two may be possible, who knows. As long as we don’t capitulate like we did against Spurs.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Not trying to go on a downer but does anybody remember our fans EVER sing “Steve Bruce’s Black and White Army”? I think I watched all of his games because they are live here in the US or you can stream them afterwards on NBC.
There was a huge banner from Wor Flags with Eddie Howe’s B&W Army. I just dont remember any sort of support for Bruce EVER… EVER… I might be wrong, but even when we had good results the fans never warmed to him.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I dont want to dwell on Brucie, it is just that the contrast between the fans’ view of him and of Eddie is really stark.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Here’s my prediction for the summer. You might call me delusional but this is when to go for it coz Man U are down, Spurs and Arsenal are inconsistent and who knows what is going on at Chelsea.
Darwin Nunez – 60 mil
Paqueta – 60 mil
Targett – 15 mil
Nick Pope – 30 mil
So, that is 165 million and a Europa League spot.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
A centre back would take us over 200 million but I have no clue who to buy. I was not impressed with Botman in the CL but that was a small sample and he is young.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we had held on for that point at Everton they would be in the bottom 3 now.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I watched the Burnley game and they created a lot of chances – 16 – if only they still had Chris Wood 🙂 🙂 🙂 All joking aside this is going to come down to the wire with them and Everton. Our game on the last day of the season could decide it.
I never want us to lose, but I think I would settle for a draw if that sends Everton down.
I never really cared about Everton until recently, but some of the comments about us on Blogs have been entitled rubbish. I also think they call themselves “The People’s Club” which they aren’t.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think they will be bottom 3 after the week end
KIMTOON(Quote)
Burnley game was very good Eric, they should of had 4 really
KIMTOON(Quote)
Burnley has a decent run in. They play villa twice, Villa could lose both of those and still pick up the couple of points they need to be safe.
I said months ago that Everton would only get 31 points, 32 tops and I stick with that. They are going down
PremAndUp(Quote)
Hope you are right Prem. The next 2 games are a nightmare. You have the Merseyside Derby followed by the Super-Frank Derby (Chelsea). Lose those and their heads will drop even more.
Also, Calvert-Lewin is injured again. His conversion rate for chances was great last year and that usually doesnt last unless you are a world class player, which he isnt. So, he might have been a little bit overhyped.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Norwich are our best chance for a win in the next 4 so I dont think Eddie will mess much with the team. The only change I see is Little Joe (Willock) for Big Joe.
Joelinton has been carrying a knock and got banged about a bit against Palace. He is the player I would rest.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
The media are brilliant aren’t they.
Just coz Bruno has 3 or 4 good games Real Madrid are now after him – like they don’t have scouts ? – like they wouldn’t have said to his agent in January ‘listen we are watching your lad but he’s playing at a higher level at Lyon. Don’t go to Newcastle – keep playing regular for Lyon like he’s doing & in the summer we’ll make our move – and it will cost us half what it would if you let him go to Newcastle’.
They might have and Bruno might have ignored them thinking what if Real don’t come back – bit like Ekitike decided to weigh up his options in the summer.
Bruno came to Newcastle & I don’t believe he’s moved his whole family for the sake of 6 months.
He’s a Geordie Galactico now!!! ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Everton , with7 games remaining , will certainly set the benchmark for points needed to avoid relegation .
Being generous, I will give them 1 point from their next two games at Liverpool and home to Chelsea.
After that they finish the season playing five games in fifteen days ( good luck with that schedule ) but they could get a further 7 points from those five games which will leave the benchmark at 37 points.
If Leeds and Burnley get past 37 points then Everton will be the fall guys.
It is going to be an exciting end to the season and I will be able to sit back , relax , and enjoy watching the drama unfold .
Sidekick(Quote)
I disagree with Andy the Magpie that we should go for Eden Hazard. He is 31 and we already have quite a few players around that age. We should be going younger. He is also on 400k a week, that is pounds but if you prefer to talk Euros that is 500k a week. He has been at Madrid for almost 3 years and has played a total of 47 games with only 4 goals. Considering Madrid play about 60 games a season that is a lot of time out injured.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think Hazard cost Madrid 100 million euros. He is probably the biggest bust in their history. The fans dont like Gareth Bale either but he won them a Champions League and played well in another.
I went to the Bernabeu 5 years ago. It is a very strange place and a bit of a dump that needs an upgrade. Their fans boo their own players. When I went they had just won the CL and they were booing Ronaldo FFS. Lots of tourists, but the locals expect them to win 5 nil every game and let the team have it if the other team scores. They also have to have a cheering section behind one of the goals to generate any sort of atmosphere.
If I was Hazard I would want out but NUFC should stay well clear.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
It is amazing that we are on 40 points AND Wilson is still our leading scorer on 6 goals. We have only scored 37 goals in 32 games. That really is a 17th or 18th finish total.
I had faith in Eddie Howe to keep us up after watching the B’mth documentary Minus 17 but I thought we would be on about 30-33 points and still in trouble needing results against Norwich and even Burnley on the last day to survive.
How many points did we have at Xmas? I think it was 11. It is madness that we now have 40.
Bookies now have us as 500-1 to go down.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)