Wilson stars in Toon rampage
IT IS a marker of how far Newcastle United have come that, on another awesome afternoon inside St James’ Park, the only sour note was a late Tottenham winner at the opposite end of the country which knocked them from third into fourth. A year ago, they were at the opposite end of the table.
For to appreciate just how transformative Eddie Howe’s management has been — his side are five points off the top — you must journey into the past. After 13 matches last season, they were bottom. They were also winless. This latest victory sees them sign off for October with 16 points from 18.
Even the presence of the national-team managers of England and Brazil is an indicator of the distance travelled in 12 months. There was little reason to venture here this time last year.
And how enthused Gareth Southgate and Tite would have been after experiencing a blistering second half in which Newcastle simply blew Aston Villa away, scoring three times in 12 minutes of ruthless efficiency.
‘That is the football we want to produce here,’ said Howe. ‘In the second half I stood back and really enjoyed it. The group mentality was very pleasing.’
Perhaps Southgate would have taken note of a strategy and style which ranks as the most effective in the Premier League on current form. He would also have observed Callum Wilson’s performance — two goals plus telling contributions to the other two — making it six from nine this season.
‘Callum is desperate to be involved with England,’ added Howe. ‘It is his childhood dream. He will be very pleased with his goals today.’
Wilson’s return is a fine ratio, but not as impressive as Miguel Almiron’s six in as many Premier League matches.
That is two more than Jack Grealish has scored in 15 months at Manchester City. To think, the City midfielder thought it was funny to mock the Paraguayan at the end of last season. It is Almiron laughing now.
Joelinton netted Newcastle’s other goal and that, too, would have been noted by the watching Tite. The other Brazilian, Bruno Guimaraes, was excellent — as ever — but so were each of his team-mates during that blistering period which put the game to bed.
For Villa, the incoming Unai Emery cannot arrive quickly enough. The Spaniard was all set to take the Newcastle job a year ago before getting cold feet. What a stroke of luck that proved to be for Newcastle’s new owners, so inspirational has Howe been.
As for this game, the hosts had not played particularly well during the opening 45 minutes, in which Villa lost goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to concussion.
The knock-on effect of his lengthy treatment was 10 minutes of added time and, in the sixth of those, Newcastle took the lead from the penalty spot.
Wilson had not enjoyed his best half to that point. In the battle of the England hopefuls, Villa defender Tyrone Mings was emerging on top. The Newcastle striker, then, was not going to pass up his chance from 12 yards.
The home fans were already serenading Wilson as VAR checked the legitimacy of the award — they did not need to, really, Ashley Young’s handball from Almiron’s shot was clear — and Newcastle’s No 9 duly won another chorus by clipping handsomely down the middle of the goal.
Southgate, in the stands, could be seen smiling. If fit come the middle of next month, the option of Wilson off the bench when in need of a goal must surely be a tempting one.
He made it 2-0 on 56 minutes, heading in via the post after a brilliant short-corner routine involving Almiron and Kieran Trippier, the latter providing the eventual cross.
Wilson might have had a hattrick three minutes later when Robin Olsen blocked his low shot. Not that the keeper did enough to prevent a goal, Joelinton following up to turn in the rebound.
And the scoring was complete when Wilson found Almiron and the Paraguayan dropped his shoulder before curling into the top corner from 20 yards on 67 minutes.
‘I am running out of superlatives to describe his goals,’ said Howe. ‘I am so pleased for him.’ Villa caretaker Aaron Danks admitted: ‘It was a difficult day. The Premier League can be ruthless.’
The only downer for Newcastle was that stoppage-time winner for Spurs at Bournemouth. Still, they would have taken that a year ago.