Well what was impressive. An outstanding first half display and so many superb performances as Newcastle United saw off Crystal Palace 4-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors had conceded just seven goals in their opening eight games, but were blown away by our movement, intensity, crisp passing and attacking intent, as goals from Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon and Sean Longstaff saw us race into a 3-0 lead before Callum Wilson made it four in the second half.
The win sends us up to 5th in the Premier League, where we have the best goal difference (+15), the most goals scored (24 in nine games) and six clean sheets in our last eight in all competitions.
We made four changes, as Wilson, Murphy, Gordon and Joelinton replaced Isak, Almiron, Anderson and Tonali, with the Italian on the bench in what may be his last appearance in our matchday squad for some time.
The opening 45 was one of the most dominant first halves we’ve seen at St James’ Park since Eddie Howe took the job, with Jacob Murphy opening the scoring with a lovely lob just four minutes in. It was initially disallowed, but VAR checks shows Trippier was onside as his cushioned first time pass fell to the winger.
A superb start and we were relentless after that, with so many flowing and penetrative attacks coming down our right. Whether it was the superb link up between Trippier, Murphy and Longstaff, Gordon cutting in and spreading the play, Schar carrying the ball from deep or Bruno running rings around the Palace midfield, they just couldn’t live with us in any department.
After a stinging shot from Murphy, a Longstaff cut-back that was almost turned in, Gordon hitting the bar following more great play down the right and Wilson heading wide from Trippier’s delivery, we finally made our dominance and 65% possession count to make it 2-0. Once again, Murphy was at he heart of it, as he ignored Trippier’s overlap and put it on a plate for Gordon, who made no mistake this time with a back post finish hit into the ground and in.
It was the least we deserved just before the break after 45 minutes of utter dominance and free flowing football, but we made it 3-0 before the half-time break. Marc Guehi’s slip allowed Longstaff to steal in and our local lad did the rest, keeping a calm head to fire past Johnstone and into the far corner.
We came out from the break at it once again, although we did have a few bits of defending to do as crucial blocks from Lascelles and Schar kept our clean sheet intact before we made it four. This one came on the counter and Murphy was heavily involved again, curling a lovely ball in behind for Wilson, who took one touch and finished with the other. His 43rd league goal in a Newcastle shirt, sending him level with Andy Cole and Shola Ameobi.
Four changes followed on the 69th minute, as Wilson, Gordon, Trippier and Bruno were replaced by Isak, Almiron, Livramento and Tonali. The Italian received a huge roar of support in what looks set to be his last St James’ Park appearance for some time.
We almost made it five as Isak sent Almiron clean through. The Paraguayan used his pace to edge just ahead of Mitchell, but the left-back was on his heels and his shot was too close to Johnstone. Elliot Anderson replaced Joelinton with 10 minutes to play and we saw out the win, with Nick Pope making a couple of late saves – including one impressive stop to tip over Edouard’s free kick – to seal his sixth clean sheet in our last eight games.
Murphy was my man of the match with a goal and two superb assists, but just about every player in black and white did themselves proud. Schar was outstanding at the back, Trippier dominated down the right, Burn was defensively brilliant, Gordon electric, Bruno ran the show and Longstaff did so much great work on and off the ball, with one superb first time pass setting up one sweeping counter attack in the second half. Are you watching, Gareth Southgate? On a day where all four of our scorers were English, I sincerely hope so!
For all of our great play during the game, our post-match lap of the pitch created perhaps the best moment of the afternoon, as an emotional Sandro Tonali was shown so much love by the St James’ Park crowd. He looked visibly teary but will have left the stadium knowing he has 52,000 Geordies, a top man manager and squad of brothers by his side in his fight against gambling addiction.
4-0 Newcastle and a brilliant afternoon for Eddie Howe’s Mags, keeping the momentum going ahead of next week’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.
HWTL!
Fab result, with some lovely and well worked goals ( Murphy’s looked lucky). While I agree with the sentiment that there are no easy games in the PL, nufc made that one look easy.
Only Joelinton looked off pace today and he can be forgiven coming back from injury after missing some games.
What a gorgeous pass to Wilson for the 4th that Murphy made. I thought it was every bit as good as *that pass* from Willock to isak against spurs. I know it was inside not outside of his foot but his awareness to let it go past him without breaking stride and put it on a pin head first time for Wilson was brilliant. I especially liked how he learned from an earlier pass from almost the same position where he took a couple of touches allowing palace to recover and the ball was cut out
On we go
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Football first. What a performance returning from an international break!!.
People will obviously bang on about all the money NUFC have spent since the takeover. But I have to say, yesterday was a real show of the difference Howe has made – players like Murphy & Lascelles performing to the highest level – and Longstaff has gone up a level from last year. Amazing what quality coaching can achieve.
We were an absolute join to watch & SJP is becoming a fortress.
That’s a bit of a skim job really, coz I came on to talk about what really blew me away – and the reason I supported NUFC in the first place.
Our fans are truly sensational!!. The reception they gave Tonali as he warmed up & then came on was first class. But the love that lad got at full time was love & kindness at a time he’ll need it most. You can see he’s moved by it, as was Howe in his post match interview.
Our club is unique imo. We get slammed for having unrealistic expectations – but that shows what our fanbase is all about.
I know it’s a brilliant win & some of our players were absolutely outstanding yesterday – and that should get the headlines over 1 player.
But when all you hear about is war, invasions & hatred – it’s bl00dy nice to see acts of human kindness now and again – especially from 50k or more.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, mate, I couldn’t have said it better. Agree with everything you say there mate.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Murphy was my MotM but it was a close run thing with several others in the running. Trips could’ve easily taken it too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Superb result, everyone played well and up to 5th, lovely stuff.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gilly – I think that’s why I skimmed over the football bit mate.
I started thinking of my MOTM but thought it unfair to single just 1 player out – so many played well, I actually found myself trying to critique performances to narrow it down & none of them deserved that.
Totally get why you say Murphy though & as well as Miggy has been recently, Murphy just reminded me why I want a right footed player RWF.
I watched Craig Hope do his post match YouTube bit & he singled Trippier out for praise saying this is the best form of career & he’s our elite player – can’t argue with him either to be fair.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just looking at our form so far this season. We have the best goal difference in the league.
We have scored more goals than any other team in the league – and they’ve been spread out amongst different players (and we put 4 passed PSG)
There are only 3 teams that have conceded less – Man City conceding 2 less and Spurs & Arsenal only 1 less … and we’ve been without Botman for a good few games.
To think that people were questioning Howe after a freak performance against Liverpool and 1 bad defeat to Brighton (who are a very good side) – some even predicted he’d be sacked?!?!!.
Our football is an enjoy to watch. Is it sustainable over the whole season?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can I raise a moral point?
Given the Tonali situation and betting
Given the shirt sponsors being pulled
Should we be publishing blatant plugs for gambling as articles on the site?
I know they are not listed in the main articles but they still appear
PremAndUp(Quote)
Glad to see the featured discussion threads back at the top of the page, seems it’s fixed.
MOTM for me Tripps, outstanding .
kimtoon(Quote)
Love this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uR6knlVB-E&ab_channel=BBCSport
kimtoon(Quote)
what does
She’s “forever thankful†for the “passion and appreciationâ€
Mean??
PremAndUp(Quote)
It means there is a fault with the fonts used on the site and quotation marks and other grammatical marks are not represented properly. The statement without commas etc should read .. she is forever thankful for the passion and appreciation…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yea, that’s what I thought too
PremAndUp(Quote)