Ross shows
BARKLEY’S STILL TOP QUALITY
SEAN AGAIN: Longstaff’s on hand to restore the Toon’s lead
CHAOS and thrills at St James’ Park – but frustration for Eddie Howe’s inconsistent, ragged team.
There will be optimistic talk of Newcastle’s character and fight after they conjured a comeback from the dead.
But that only masks a big problem with no solution in sight.
Newcastle have now conceded TEN goals in their last three games on Tyneside. Where was the in-game management? Where was the control from last season’s fourth-placed side?
Newcastle twice threw away a lead in the first half as Ross Barkley ran the game.
Then brilliant Luton had the Geordies on the rack by taking a 4-2 lead, hitting the home side on the break.
Goals from Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes rescued a point, but this was a must-win for Howe’s men in a bid to revive their hopes of a top-six finish.
It was almost 13 years to the day since the last 4-4 here. That was the game when United came from 4-0 down at half-time to draw with Arsenal.
Luton were magnificent, playing great football and looking like a top-flight team. At this rate they will stay up – if they can tighten up.
Newcastle swiftly built on their win at Villa in midweek by taking the lead through Sean Longstaff.
Kieran Trippier, back to his best after Bayern Munich’s transfer window swoop was rejected, got the assist with an accurate low cross.
Town equalised after 20 minutes when Barkley curled a free-kick for Carlton Morris to head back across goal.
Defender Gabriel Osho rose unchallenged to nod in off the crossbar.
Inside two minutes Newcastle were back ahead when Anthony Gordon turned inside goalscorer Osho and raced past him, forcing a save from Thomas Kaminski.
The keeper beat the ball out but Longstaff was again on hand to smash another low drive into the corner.
By half-time Luton were level when Alfie Doughty fired in a cross which keeper Martin Dubravka parried into the sixyard box. Barkley followed up, taking two touches to score.
It was Luton on the rise and giving it a go and they took the lead after 57 minutes when VAR awarded a penalty.
Chiedozie Ogbene was giving Dan Burn a tough game and burst into the box and went down with the United defender’s hand on his shoulder. Morris rolled home the penalty after a retake.
Then Elijah Adebayo slammed home from the right after Barkley teed him up.
Skipper Trippier rekindled a glimmer of hope by caressing home Bruno Guimaraes’ cross.
By the 73rd minute it was 4-4. Substitute Harvey Barnes returned from a long injury lay-off to curl home and level it – celebrating with an arm wheeling 50-yard sprint.