Following a tense first half, the Magpies grabbed control in the second and took the lead via Joe Willock, who flew home a very good move from Eddie Howe’s team.
Despite some tenacious defence from Erik ten Hag’s men, the hosts went on to extend their advantage via second-half replacement Callum Wilson, who nodded in Kieran Trippier’s perfect cross. Although Marcel Sabitzer and Anthony Martial came close for the Reds, the Magpies have already surpassed us in third place on goal difference with 11 games remaining.
The feeling was electric from the first minute, as we’ve come to expect from our visits to St James’ Park, and it was the hosts who could have taken an early lead but for some tough defence from the Reds in the opening minutes.
After 10 minutes, Antony demonstrated tremendous technique down the right to slide past his defender and put in Wout Weghorst, but the Dutch could only shoot into the side netting.
Seconds later, David De Gea came to the rescue with an incredible double save to save the Magpies from scoring.The first came from Alexander Isak’s tremendous header, and Willock raced in for the rebound but shot it right at our goalkeeper, who stopped with his legs. By the half-hour mark, the Reds began to carve out more chances moving forward, as Diogo Dalot’s shot from Bruno Fernandes’ lofted cross skittered into an opposition defender, allowing Nick Pope to receive the ball effortlessly.
Newcastle soon turned the tables on us, rushing forward with Allan Saint-Maximin in control as the half came to a close. The Frenchman sent the ball across the area for the onrushing Willock, who shot from close range far over De Gea’s goal.
The visitors got the penultimate chance of the half when Luke Shaw found Antony with a deep corner that appeared to have come straight from the training ground. Nonetheless, the Brazilian volleyed his effort over Pope’s goal to guarantee that the game was tied at halftime.
The second 45 began similarly to the first, with both teams hungry to score the first goal. Our first chance fell to Antony, but his long-range effort was insipid, and Pope gathered with ease. The breakthrough came in the 65th minute, but in the hosts’ favour, following a well-worked move. Isak started it by finding Guimaraes in space down the left and standing the ball up towards the back post. Saint-Maximin was on hand to head the ball back across the goal, where Willock completed the play to put Newcastle ahead.
When Sean Longstaff diverted Sabitzer’s effort, De Gea and second-half replacement Martial prevented the Magpies from extending their lead at the opposite end. Our goalkeeper made a diving save from Joelinton’s soaring header, which struck the crossbar before Fabian Schar’s follow-up bounced off the post and cleared.
After a beautiful play, Martial should have equalised, but Schar was in the way as the ball bounced wide off the Magpies’ pivot. Despite our best efforts at the defence, Newcastle found a way through for their second goal of the day. Wilson headed home Trippier’s enticing pass into the area from a free kick, rising highest in a crowded box to nestle the ball into the bottom corner.
Ten Hag had made a slew of attacking substitutions in an attempt to salvage the game, but it was not to be on a challenging morning in the northeast for the Reds.
