Following the antics of Southampton player Ben Brereton Diaz, Newcastle United were enraged.
As usual, Wor Flags established the mood even before the ball was kicked. There was a poster at the Gallowgate that said, “We still have wild dreams,” below a gigantic surfboard that pictured Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, and Alexander Isak staring at the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup trophies.
Newcastle United will need more reinforcements and far stronger performances if they are to fulfill their lofty goals in the future, but they also need a strong sense of purpose. That’s what Eddie Howe’s squad had in spades at St James’ Park on Saturday.
This 1-0 victory over Southampton seemed, in fact, like a relic from the early going of this new era. When the Geordies were whistling their side over the line when Newcastle was battling for their lives and holding on against Burnley. They repeated this in the closing minutes of this hard-fought, far from easy, victory that saw Fabian Schar sent off after only 28 minutes.
In a match against a team that had just been promoted, Newcastle had the type of possession (77%), shots (19), and corners that you would now expect to dominate. On Saturday at St James’, Southampton was the only team to dominate against ten men.
Even with all of its players available, Newcastle was really finding it difficult to score against Southampton. The hosts’ task was made more difficult when Schar received a red card for a confrontation that resulted in Ben Brereton Diaz dramatically covering his face with the ground. But just before halftime, Joelinton scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal as the home team rallied. Was there any reason to be surprised by that?
Before the transfer window closes, it is evident that Newcastle needs more “difference makers,” yet these players are really devoted to one another and know one another well. Joelinton stated that “the team showed great character to fight for each other and stay together.”
On the first day of play, Newcastle found themselves in a situation they had never encountered under Howe: down to 10 men. This was a poignant demonstration of that heart. Surprisingly, just five black and white players have received red cards in every competition prior to this one under Howe.
The red card was going to have one of two effects, though: either it would energise the players and crowd and encourage them, or it would infuriate them to the point where it worked against them. Howe and his staff had, however, spent years preparing the team for situations just like this.
In the end, the former was the case. In fact, Diaz’s antics backfired as Southampton, a courageous team, calmly turned the ball around even with Newcastle down to 11 men, igniting St. James’ once more. The shouts of ‘Cheerio!’ from Southampton supporters toward Schar were soon overpowered by the Geordies’ ‘You’re not fit to referee!’ accusations.
Alex McCarthy was still hearing the boos from the boisterous crowd after they jeered at every Southampton touch. Shortly before half-time, the goalkeeper fumbled a pass and Alexander Isak scored with it. Joelinton was given the ball by Newcastle’s record acquisition, and the midfielder made no mistake in sending the ball into the bottom corner to give the home team the lead with what turned out to be their lone and only attempt on goal.
Nevertheless, those applause burst short. At halftime, there were loud jeers aimed at the referees, and as the players left the field, tensions remained high. Before referee Craig Pawson sent Schar out, Dan Burn became so enraged by Diaz’s antics that the defender actually pulled the Chilean international off the field.
At halftime, when the defender looked back and saw Diaz heading into the away dressing room with his head down, Burn was obviously still thinking about the incident. Before Jan Bednarek, who was waiting at the top of the first set of steps, yelled at the Geordie, Burn had a few choice words for Diaz as the two briefly walked side by side.
Burn just brushed Bednarek away with a swat, and when the Poland international held his ground, the enormous 32-year-old took hold of his shirt and gave him another shove. That was the signal for Southampton officials to get between the players and for Newcastle assistant coach Jason Tindall to contain Burn.
By then, Diaz had ascended the stairs and had glanced back to see what had happened, perhaps wondering whether another center-back for Newcastle was about to get sent off. To Eddie Howe’s relief, not this time.
“You want that, but there was a little emotion at halftime,” the Newcastle manager said to reporters. There’s some resentment against the choice, the instance, and what it means for the other players’ chances to win the game.
It’s great to see them remain united. It’s great to see them interact physically and support one another. That is necessary throughout the entire season.”
In the second half, they very definitely needed to remain together. It’s hardly hyperbole to suggest that when Newcastle’s 10-man defense was forced back, the second half turned into an attack versus defensive drill. Upon returning to St James’, Adam Armstrong watched Lewis Hall clear one attempt off the line, Nick Pope tip over another, and a last attempt go wide. Pope stopped headers late on from substitutes Cameron Archer and Charly Alcaraz, but Newcastle held on to win three crucial points.
Valuable? Really? If you’ve ever wondered how much value Howe places on the opening match of the season, it’s important to keep in mind that the Newcastle manager chose the team’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest—at the time, another newly promoted team—as his favorite memory from a season that will go down in history as the Magpies advanced to the 2023 Champions League. Why? Considering that it’set the marker for what was to come’.
This created a distinct tone. Though far from their best, Newcastle’s brave black-and-white players persevered. There’s enough to argue with that.
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