Newcastle survived a brief scare against Brentford to secure a seventh place finish in the Premier League in emphatic fashion through elite talents Alex Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.
Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Isak sent the Toon romping into a half-time lead. Vitaly Janelt and Yoane Wissa made it an uncomfortable finish, but Bruno put it beyond doubt; a huge relief as Man Utd secured a 2-0 win at Brighton.
It was a game that typified Newcastle’s season – at times brilliant and at times infuriating. However, the lads got the job done today and got the win to end a tough campaign on a high, with us set to play Europa Conference League football next term if Manchester City win the FA Cup next weekend.
Eddie Howe made four changes to the team that lost to Man U last time out. Nick Pope, Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes replace Martin Dubravka, Kieran Trippier, Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon.
Almost as soon as the game had started and Ivan Toney looked to have put the Bees ahead, but a lengthy VAR check spared our blushes after an offside was spotted in the build up.
We missed a huge chance to open the scoring ourselves after 10 minutes when Alexander Isak jinked past his defender and put it on a plate for Joelinton, but the Brazilian dragged what looked like a simple finish wide.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute as the ball was worked to Bruno wide on the right, he picked a great ball into the box to find the oncoming Harvey Barnes who met the header perfectly and sent it into the top corner. A huge goal for the winger who had big shoes to fill in Gordon’s absence and just what we needed to settle the early nerves.
Three minutes later the away end thought we had another one after Sean Longstaff buried the ball in the bottom corner, but Isak was offside in the build up and VAR confirmed the assistant’s flag.
10 minutes from half-time Isak pounced on a loose ball from a defender and played a swooping pass to the back post and Murphy couldn’t miss, doubling our lead on the 36th minute. And the third wasn’t far off.
Bruno slid through Isak and the Swedish forward guided his 21st league goal of the season past Flekken in the Bees’ net. Isak could’ve even had a brace in stoppage time after Joelinton played a well-timed ball through for him, but Flekken was equal to his strike.
We started the second half how we started the first and after a sloppy period, Janelt was picked out by Yoane Wissa and the German slotted home to Pope’s left to give a bit of bite to a game that looked dead and buried at half-time.
On the hour mark, Isak missed another good chance to grab a brace. Some good play between Hall and Barnes resulted in a freekick on the edge. Schar’s strike was blocked into the path of Isak but his effort was hooked wide.
Pope made a wonderful save to deny Toney in the 63rd minute, getting down to his right to push a powerful header away, but they soon pulled another back as Wissa’s brilliant 70th-minute finish sent the heat rates of Geordies across the country soaring just as Man Utd took the lead at the Amex.
But three minutes later, Hall was tripped in the box – or was he? After a penalty was given by the ref, VAR overturned it and awarded a freekick – hmmm. Thankfully, that didn’t matter as Isak’s freekick was parried into the path of Bruno who slammed it home, donning a bucket hat from the away end as he screamed “vamos” in celebration!
And so, that was that. The 23/24 season was over. We can close the door to the treatment room and look forward to possibly a second consecutive European adventure. Our elite talents were the difference so often this season, and they were again today. Bruno and Isak ran the show and we would be so much poorer without them (please Eddie, keep these boys around). Joelinton’s return was also huge in midfield, although it does make you wonder what might’ve been had we avoided so many injuries and that Sandro Tonali ban.
Nevertheless, we’ve ended a season full of challenges with a real chance of Europe and 85 goals in 38 games; a new Premier League record that eclipses the 82 scored by Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers in 1993/94.
Eyes now turn to the FA Cup final, where we need Man City to get one over their local rivals Man U to secure a spot in the Conference League for us next season.
Nice that the boys have finished with a good away win and as difficult as this season has been – to think we were 3 wins off CL again is crazy really.
The club HAVE to fight tooth & nail to keep out key players this summer though. Don’t get me wrong – if the players want to leave (for CL football or because one of Europes Elite come knocking) there’s not much we can do other than get a bumper fee. If the club want to sell (I doubt it) then so be it – but if we are forced to sell then no way!!.
I don’t care the repercussions – if the player wants to stay & we want to keep him then don’t roll over for these F wits!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Isak to me is the Key. If we can keep him, we can build a team around him.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I agree he’s the jewel in the crown but I think Gordon & Bruno are vital as well imo – I miss Joelinton off only coz he’s just signed a new contract & least likely to leave
Sharpy17(Quote)
will make one big mistake if we keep Wilson dont understand Howe wanting to keep him so badly he has to go imo
icedog(Quote)
I suspect it is less to do with FFP and more to do with the homegrown players rule. There are different criteria for the EPL and the Eufa competitions.
I know when I’m creating fantasy signings in my head, creating the best squad I can, then those rules get ignored.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Loved this season and watching the team I love compete to the last minute, which they did.
In the moment disappointment at times were outweighed by fabulous wins.
Players come and go and I enjoy watching them while they’re here but it’s the club I love and it will endure under the stewardship of the current lot.
If we can’t relax and accept the pleasure and upset of the development of the club irrespective of trophies what the **** is the point of watching this glorious team
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Agreed GoWest
I think our starting 11 is good enough for the top four.
Unfortunately, Tonali misses the first few games and Sven will be out until after Christmas.
I also think our RW could be strengthened.
The problem I see is that there are precious few places where our backup is seriously pushing our starter.
Strength in depth let us down this season as well of course as several other factors.
Looking forward to seeing our best 11 in full flow next season.
PremAndUp(Quote)
GoWest – I get the sentiment mate & now the season is over I’m sure you’re right. BUT I’m related to Man City – proper ones, not glory hunters. Life long fans who were there through the worst of times.
Even as they were on the verge of winning their 4th PL in a row – relaxed they were not 😂. But isn’t that part and parcel of supporting a football team isn’t it?!
As is having your favourite players.
You’re right, they will come & go – which is fine, as long as it’s not some F wit telling us we HAVE to sell them.
For me it’s not even really about winning silverware – I think it’s been set up to favour certain teams – I mean, City have won 6 out of the last 7 PL titles!!
But you just have too look at the history of the last 30 years and whether it’s the PL, FA Cup or Carabao Cup (in its various names) and year after year you will see the winners being either Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, City and Arsenal.
Liverpool had the choke hold on the 80s, Man Utd the 90’s, its was shared out a bit in the Naughties between Man Utd, Arsenal & Chelsea before City stepped up. Yes there’s been the odd team that have broke that trend – but they are absolute one offs.
Of course I’d love to win something, it would blow my mind & I was sure that we were going to do it last season against Man Utd.
But if we can maintain last season’s achievements on a regular basis – and we were super close this season, then I’m genuinely happy.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can’t believe Southgate has ditched Pope!!.
I know he’s been out injured but Ramsdale hasn’t played most of the season either.
If Pope was still injured or just coming back then I’d get it – but he’s back and played.
Nice loyalty sh!thouse
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anyone watching the Spurs match? 1-1 at half time. Nice handball goal from Maddison 😂😂😂 (no VAR) and then an equaliser from Isak.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Second half was mostly the kids. I’d say our kids were not as good as Spurs. The game went to penalties at the end, much to the surprise of both managers and the commentators. Lol! Not sure why … but we Won the game on pens. Gillespie saved their first pen, we scored all ours.
Not overly impressed with Garang Kuol mind. Doesn’t seem to like running much. He did score one of our penalties though. Surprised too to see Diallo there and playing as he was going to be released. 🤷🏻♂️. Anyway, an enjoyable watch and a win to boot. Big crowd, 78,500 there.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hi guys. Did a report on the Spurs game in Oz – just moved to featured section. New thread below 🙂
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/05/22/newcastle-beat-spurs-after-isak-goal-pope-error-kuol-debut-penalty-drama-down-under/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)