About Tyne! Newcastle united again after crucial win
EDDIE Howe punched the air and screamed; exhausted goalscorer Callum Wilson looked to the heavens before collapsing to his knees; fans chanted defiantly, a 50,000-strong declaration of love.
It has been a while since we’ve seen joyous scenes like these at full-time at St James’ Park. Newcastle United had not lifted a cup; the Magpies had merely won their first game of the season.
You can see why that 1-0 win against Burnley meant so much, though. It had been 195 long days since Newcastle last claimed all three points but longer still since some of these supporters witnessed a victory in person - and not just because of the pandemic.
Many fans made the difficult decision to walk away during the final years of the Mike Ashley regime. This win was all the more special as it finally got the new era going.
Wilson admitted he got ‘a bit emotional’ on the lap of appreciation after the game because he ‘just wanted to get that first win for them’.
It would have been hard to ever imagine the owner, head coach, players and supporters all being on the same page under Ashley but something is stirring at St James’ Park again as the club starts arts to rebuild.
Perhaps, that is the biggest takeaway way from Eddie Howe’s first month in charge. This club, which for so long was fractured, now feels united again.
Nothing captured that togetherness ness quite like players and staff posing for or a group photograph in the home dressing sing room after the game. The message was clear: this was a united effort.
Kit man Neil Stoker and physio io Daniel Marti were in the front row; w; assistant Jason Tindall was right in the he middle of the shot with his arms ms around Federico Fernandez and Miguel guel Almiron; and Allan Saint-Maximin was sandwiched between first-team coach ach Stephen Purches and Howe at the back. ack.
Starters, substitutes and coaches all had huge smiles on their faces.
After the match, Matt Ritchie was one of the first onto the pitch to congratulate late Jamal Lewis despite the left-back effecfectively taking his place in the team.
Having inherited a group that was low on confidence, Howe has breathed new life into the camp as players and staff push each other on.
These were not back-slapping exerxercises; they were reminders to players yers and staff of what comes with winning. g.
Howe will soon be reviewing clips lips and mapping out sessions for a crucial cial clear week on the training ground und before the trip to Leicester and the 44-year-old knows the Magpies have to build on this first victory. Although Newcastle remain three points from safety and face a brutal run of fixtures before new year, the players genuinely believe they can get out of this. No team has
ever eve r stayed up in the
Premier League after failing to win any of their opening 14 games, but Howe has already challenged his players to ‘change history’.
Since relegation was introduced in the late 19th century, only three clubs have had a winless run as long as 14 matches to start a top-flight season and stayed up: Sheffield United (16 games in 1990-91), Portsmouth (15 in 1937-38) and Leicester (15 in 1975-76).
This gritty win, though, may yet prove a turning point. Newcastle have played better in spells of other games and not got the rewards. This time, against a relegation rival, the Magpies edged it despite a poor start to the game.
That will give Howe encouragement. Newcastle showed spirit after going down to 10 men against Norwich City four days earlier and, against Burnley, the Magpies again had to dig deep.
It was everything you would expect from a six pointer - tense, stop-start and scrappy - and Newcastle were second best in the opening stages.
The hosts looked a little leggy after their efforts against Norwich and Johann Berg Gudmundsson sent an early warning when his shot hit the post in the 13th minute. However, as long as Newcastle have Wilson on the field, the Magpies always have a chance and the number nine fired his side in front just before half-time. Nick Pope, under pressure from Fabian
SchSchar, ffumbledbld JJoe WilWillock’s teasing cross and the ball fell kindly to the predatory Wilson inside the area.
The striker took a touch to take the ball away from defender Nathan Collins and the Burnley goal but still managed to pick his spot and lash the ball into the net from a tight angle despite three opposition players being in the way.
The goal changed the atmosphere inside the stadium as delighted partowners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi hugged in the directors’ box.
It had been nervy at times in the first half. After the break, Newcastle supporters pushed their side to get a second.
You could understand why. Newcastle had failed to keep a clean sheet in the
league l eague all season and memmem ories of Teemu Pukki’s late equaliser eq on Tuesday were still fresh. fresh
That se second goal would not come in a game o of few chances. Miguel Almiron had a shot s tipped wide after being played in by Wilson in the 55th minute while Jonjo Shelvey’s effort was tipped over by Pope Pop in the 79th minute.
Just as th the fans urged their side on, they also stuck st with the players when Burnley bombarded bom the Newcastle goal with long ba balls forward late on and each clearance was w cheered like it was a goal.
Substitute Jay Rodriguez did have a goal ruled out for offside in the 83rd minute, but bu that was as close as the Clarets cam came to an equaliser as Newcastle’s defence held firm. At long last.