New boys Wood and Guimaraes lead by example in crucial victory
NEWCASTLE United took a giant step towards safety with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Wolves that moved the Magpies moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Chris Wood, who had a goal disallowed in the first half, settled the game with a 72nd-minute penalty after the striker was fouled by Jose Sa.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
WOOD’S PRECIOUS CONTRIBUTION
The fact Callum Wilson remains Newcastle’s top scorer with a measly six goals, despite being out since December, tells its own story. But when the Magpies needed Wood most, the striker stepped up.
It was the £25million man who won what proved to be a decisive penalty as he was felled by the visiting goalkeeper. The New Zealand international immediately grabbed the ball and, following a lengthy VAR check, the 30-year-old converted the spot-kick to score his first goal for the club at St James’ Park.
Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle spent big money on Wood in January, but this goal, and his previous header at Southampton, could yet prove priceless contributions in securing Newcastle’s Premier League status. They will also potentially help the Magpies earn a huge cash bonus from staying in the top flight.
United have struggled to score goals from open play of late, but rarely have they been so clinical from set pieces. Right of Newcastle’s last 12 goals have come from dead balls, whether it is penalties, corners or free-kicks.
UNITED STARS MAKE UP FOR HUMILIATION AT TOTTENHAM
Newcastle players have perhaps seen a different side to Eddie Howe since the 5-1 defeat at the hands of Spurs last Sunday.
Howe spoke frankly in the dressing room afterwards and the Newcastle boss admitted that he had ‘changed the way he dealt with the players and certain situations’ after that secondhalf capitulation.
One saving grace for Howe was that his players did not necessarily throw in the towel, as was case in a previous era, but they were just simply too cavalier and naive in their bid to get back into Sunday’s game.
Rather than making sweeping changes, or switching systems, Howe gave the majority of these players the chance to make amends after the Newcastle boss reminded them that they were fighting for their futures.
The visit of eighth-placed Wolves was another acid test of whether some of these players could play a part in this new era given that Newcastle had yet to defeat a side currently in the top half this season. It was not going to be easy; only Liverpool had earned more points in the Premier League this year than Wolves and only five teams have won more games this season.
This was not a vintage performance but Newcastle would likely not have won this niggly, stop-start game not so long ago.
They managed to get in front and, just as crucially, they showed the resolve to see the game out thanks to a brilliant save from Martin Dubravka to keep out Fabio Silva late on.
BRUNO GUIMARAES’ NIGHT TO REMEMBER
United had to make a late call on Joe Willock, who had been managing a knee issue for a couple of weeks. However, Guimaraes always appeared destined to be recalled to the starting XI.
The Brazil international started on the bench at Spurs because he only returned to training two days prior, having been away on international duty in South America.
While Howe has been keen to ease Guimaraes in, his influence has grown with every cameo and appearance. It can take signings from abroad six months, a year or even longer to settle in and although Bruno is still getting to grips with life in the Premier League, there is an edge and steeliness to the 24-year-old.
As comfortable as Guimaraes is on the ball and as this side’s midfield conductor, he also works tirelessly off it to regain possession for his side.
In a game where Wolves appeared content to let Newcastle have the ball, as the visitors sat off, he came to the fore as the hosts attempted to break Lage’s side down.
It was the Brazilian who helped to create what Newcastle thought was
the opening goal in the 23rd minute.
Krafth seized on Max Kilman’s pass and fed Guimaraes, who played a clever one-two with Almiron before teeing up Wood, who hooked the ball into the net despite being knocked over in the build-up. The only problem was that a VAR check found Guimaraes was offside in the build-up.
In a game lacking quality, he stood out. He also created a huge opportunity for Saint-maximin after the hour mark before coming close to doubling Newcastle’s advantage himself in the 75th minute.
His numbers told their own story. The Brazilian completed 37 passes, won 12 duels, won possession back seven times and completed four tackles.
Was it any wonder that he was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Sean Longstaff late on? for Newcastle following the reverse fixture in October. Supporters had embarked on a 408-mile round trip but there was an understandably flat atmosphere in the away end come full-time following a 2-1 defeat that did not come as a surprise to them.
Newcastle have had worse defeats this season, but apathy was in the air. They were languishing in 19th place and had yet to win a game at that point despite a relatively kind fixture list.
The Magpies had triumphed on just seven occasions in their previous 37 fixtures under Steve Bruce, which was a run of form only an owner like Mike Ashley would have tolerated.
No-one knew it at the time, but that trip to Molineux proved the final game of the Ashley era, and you only had to witness the scenes at St James’ on Friday to see how much has changed in the intervening period.
Howe wanted the feeling in the ground that this was a ‘massive game’ and for the atmosphere to be ‘intense’, and the head coach got his wish.
Wor Flags, who only returned to the stadium after Ashley sold the club, created another stunning display as all four corners of the stadium were covered with flags.
That set the tone for what was to come in the first Friday night game of this new era which was a sell-out as
Newcastle finally returned home after four successive fixtures on the road.
United’s fans played their part in carrying their side over the line as the Magpies made it four straight wins at St James – as many as they had managed across their previous 24 games.
SAINT-MAXIMIN LIFTED BY CROWD
Howe said he needed the ‘incredible talent’ that is Saint-maximin at his ‘very best’ because the Frenchman could potentially be the difference between staying up and going down.
Saint-maximin may have already played his part in that regard – the forward has been directly involved in a quarter of United’s goals this season – but this was a chance for him to offer a timely reminder of what he can do to his critics at his favoured arena.
The mercurial winger has come under fire in recent weeks for his work off the ball. No player should be immune from criticism but it is easy to forget that the Magpies’ talisman has started just once in nearly two months after bouts with injury and illness.
This was another testing night at times – Saint-maximin cut a frustrated figure after wildly shooting over the bar in the 64th minute – but the response from fans in the Gallowgate was telling as they sang his name.
He looked to have been lifted by that reaction and went on to play a part in Wood winning a penalty just a few minutes later as his backheel found Joelinton in the build-up to Sa bringing down the striker.