A big win for Newcastle United in more ways than one as the Toon responded to conceding four at Brentford by putting four past Leicester City – and it could’ve been more!
The first half was a strange one, starting with an edgy opening 10 minutes where we lost the ball cheaply a few too many times and lacked that bit of quality in the final third, with guilty on both fronts…for now at least.
The lively Gordon forced Hermansen into his first save with a powerful effort destined for the top corner before Burn headed over from our next attack. After Joelinton had a big chance blocked, Murphy messed up L another clear opening by firing an unconvincing effort wide – but he’d soon make up for it.
Half an hour in, it was a cleverly worked set piece that saw us finally unlock the door. Tonali slipped Gordon in down the byline from Hall’s short corner and our player of the first half cut the ball back to Murphy, who responded to his sloppy showing with a brilliant controlled finish into the bottom corner.
1-0! Although it could and should have been two five minutes later. Joelinton found space and slipped Isak in behind. The Swede took it well and the Gallowgate was braced for the net the bulge, only for Isak’s shot to be unusually tame and straight at Hermansen. Hopefully this was a moment we wouldn’t live to regret, much like punished missed opportunities against West Ham and Brighton in previous home games.
So, into the break 1-0 up and, while the stats made for good reading – 64% possession and 14 shots to Leicester’s one – we had to finish them off…and we did just that!
If anyone was late in coming out from their half time pints or toilet break, they’d have missed a superb start to the second half as a simple free kick was dinked in, headed back across goal by Hall and tapped in by Bruno! 2-0 then became 3-0 and game over as Gordon burst down the left before Hall’s deflected cross was bundled home by Isak!
It could’ve been four soon after as Isak bamboozled the back-peddling Leicester centre-backs before feeding Murphy, who blazed a big chance over. But, like he did in the first half, our No.23 made up for that miss and scored his second of the game to make it 4-0, smashing into the bottom corner after another dazzling run from the unplayable Isak to set him up.
Three subs followed as Howe brought on Barnes, Longstaff and Trippier for Murphy, Bruno and Livramento, and so did more chances. Tonali volleyed wide after juggling the ball cleverly in the box, Longstaff almost helped Hall to his third assist of the day but took too long to get his shot off and Osula – who came on for Isak – did well to feed Barnes, only for the ex-Leicester man to be denied a goal against his former club.
It was good to see another glimpse of Osula, who may be needed in Wilson’s absence. He’s clearly raw and has plenty to work on, but he also gives Howe plenty to work with, offering an undeniable mix of power, pace and quick feet.
It wasn’t just a big, confidence-boosting win that sends us back to just a few points off the top-six (for now), it was an afternoon full of positives after a patchy start.
Gordon was electric and set the tone from the off before setting up our opener. Isak had the Foxes defence chasing their tails and created a hatful of chances, the midfield balance of Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton worked well again for the second home game running and Burn barely put a foot wrong at centre-back to help Dubravka to a clean sheet, but it was Hall who was my man of the match.
The 20-year-old did everything quickly, created two goals, drove us forward constantly down the left and also defended superbly, winning so many of his duels – in the air and on the ground – and making one important block in the first half when it was 1-0. He struggled at Brentford but he looked every bit an England international in all departments today and Howe deserves so much credit for helping his development over the past 18 months.
Murphy also deserves plenty of praise. He started the first half with some really sloppy moments, either losing the ball cheaply more spurning chances, but he responded in the perfect way with two well-taken goals. We need a new right-winger in 2025 – that hasn’t changed – but today we saw a team that carried a threat down both flanks and a much better balance to the side, albeit against a woeful Leicester team who never laid a glove on us.
The only real negative was a fifth yellow card of the season for Joelinton, who will now miss our trip to Ipswich next weekend.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Vlachodimos, Barnes, Willock, Osula, Kelly, Targett, Almiron, Longstaff, Trippier.
Leicester XI: Hermansen – Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen – Choudhury, Skipp – McAteer, El Khannouss, Mavididi – Vardy
Good win and clean sheet at home can’t be argued with and stops the gap to Europe widening. More of the same is required to make it meaningful.
I agree with the thoughts from earlier thread that the volume of good chances is heartening.
The profligacy of not taking them early is probably a source of nerves/ debate for future threads in closer games.
A Couple of things really jumped out to me; i) they’ve been listening when the coaches are telling them to try options and get their heads up and shoot rather than trying to work triangles on every attack; ii) They’ve worked on Set pieces and the first two goals were very nicely implemented
It was nice to see osula and I share frustration we haven’t seen him more but am assured by Howe’s successes with players such as Gordon and hall not to mention guimaraes that he’ll be worth the wait
On Vlachidimos not playing, he’s there for the sole reason forest would not pay £35m for Anderson to help nufc avoid psr consequences without him coming to nufc.
Jonesy(Quote)
I’m gonna leap to Murphy’s defence and say he didn’t blast it over – the keeper saved it … but defence over coz he should have put that one away really. That said I think he was brilliant today (again).
I think he & Tino down the right & Hall & Gordon down the left are really linking up brilliantly as the season goes on – Hall & Gordon will get the limelight, but it’s worth mentioning the balance of both flanks at the moment.
Tonali has realised Bruno to be more creative in the final third – both them & Joelinton make up a very strong midfield.
Burn & Schar were solid today as well.
BUT I am going to completely agree with you. Lewis Hall not only today, but season so far has been out stand out player.
When you consider he couldn’t get a sniff last season. He’s still only 19 but his reading of the game & composure is just brilliant.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh and I’d add that while he’s ridden his luck this season and he was generally quiet, that yellow for joelinton wasn’t deserved. He’ll miss Ipswich now so it was good to see willock get some
time today
Jonesy(Quote)
Jonesy – yeah, while I rave about Hall, it was an under hit pass from him that put Joelinton in that situation. It was a freekick, but never in a million years a yellow!!.
His team selection will be interesting against Brentford – but we could be in the semi finals of the Carabao Cup & top 6 come Christmas Day – of we could be out and 13th – that’s how tight it is this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Concur on how good hall has looked. He and Howe deserve lots of credit for how he’s playing.
Yup it’s tight and I’ve
seen commentary about how poor standards are this season. I think it’s the opposite and Liverpool/chelsea aside there’s a slew of teams incl nufc who can beat each other week on week.
So I’m not despondent about the league table while not being sure they have it right just now to put a run together as they haven’t shown it so far. Saturday was a good game to generate some lift to go into the 1/4’s. Let’s see if they use it
Jonesy(Quote)
Hall has been an outstanding buy to be honest and like most of our purchases, he didn’t go straight into the team, he worked with Eddie and the coaches and we are now reaping the rewards, like Bruno, Botman, etc. I’m hoping the same will happen with Osula. I’m really pleased for Murphy. He deserved those two goals. He gets a lot of criticism, some fair, but mostly not, but he gets his head down and does his best for the team. A great squad player, always willing to run his backside off.
Yesterday was a great win, but some frustrating moments too. I don’t think Bruno is suited to being captain. His dive was awful and not what we should be seeing in our captain. Perhaps I’m being too critical though. 🤷🏻♂️.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
How tight is that top half of table? 😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – it’s mad. We sit 12th – 1 win off 6th spot 🤯 … BUT … as bad as Man Utd have been this season – they sit only a point behind us.
3 games left to the half way point – Ipswich away, Villa at home & Man United away – with Brentford up next in the cup.
It would be great to make semi final 🤞🏼.
But in terms of the league – 4 to 6 points from the next 3 games is a most really to keep our European chances alive I think.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The fight for European places is incredibly strong this season. We have to keep winning just to stay within touching distance. So many teams playing very well this season. Bournemouth, Fulham, Forest, Brighton as well as Villa and the criminal 6. Let’s hope we at least beat Brentford and get a cup semi …
Gilly Toon(Quote)