A month ago, Newcastle United were having an average season. But the lift provided by victory over Premier League champions-elect Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final – the club’s first trophy in over half a century – has now taken them into the top four in the EPL. A crushing 4-1 win at St. James’ Park over a disappointing Manchester United took Newcastle into fourth and 56 points, with a game in hand on the team around them. Harvey Barnes, playing only because of an injury to Anthony Gordon, scored twice in the second half as Newcastle overcame the disappointment of conceding a first-half equaliser to romp home in the second.
Eddie Howe, their manager, was hospitalised earlier this weekend after being unwell for several days. But even with Jason Tindall, his assistant, overseeing proceedings on the touchline, a relentless Newcastle quickly seized control. After missing several chances early on, a lovely dinked pass from Alexander Isak in the 24th minute saw Sandro Tonali lash in from an angle to send the Toon Army into ecstasy.
One of Ruben Amorim’s changes after the 2-2 Europa League draw with Lyon was leaving Andre Onana out of the squad all together. In his place, Altay Bayindir started his first league game in goal. He saved smartly from Isak to prevent Newcastle extending their lead, and the hosts were left to reflect on those misses when, after burgling the ball in midfield, Diogo Dalot released Alejandro Garnacho to finish superbly past Nick Pope in the Newcastle goal.
Ruben Amorim has six wins and 10 losses in 21 league games
But Barnes rushed in to apply the finishing touch to a right-wing cross at the start of the second half, and a Noussair Mazraoui slip presented him with a second that he took brilliantly after driving into the box. The hugely popular Bruno Guimaraes supplied the gloss after a dreadful mistake from Bayindir, leaving the spotlight once again on Amorim and his United project.
Since taking over from Erik ten Hag in November – Ruud van Nistelrooy had two games as caretaker – Amorim has six wins and 10 losses in 21 league games. Only five teams have scored fewer than United’s 38 goals, and the toothlessness was on display again in a second half where they created next to nothing.
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