The doubters said Eddie Howe’s team-sheet was a resignation letter – it turned out to be a statement of intent. Upon that piece of paper should he and the Saudi-led ownership, in attendance at St James’ Park, agree to move forward together next season.
The head coach picked his best XI, in his mind, when it would have been easier to include those whose absence has enhanced their popularity on the outside. It was ever thus when a team is losing matches, as Newcastle have done too often of late.
But Howe’s big selection calls, as well as his second-half changes, responded with even bigger performances, securing a win that both confirms Premier League safety and keeps alive hope of a European-placed finish. What a strange season this has been.
It was not easy – Brighton are a slick and confident side who came into this targeting Champions League football – but here was evidence of Newcastle’s guts and, with their very last kick, the glory of Harvey Barnes making sure of victory. That it needed a 95th-minute goal to be certain of three points told you how nervy it had become inside St James’.
Minutes earlier, former Newcastle man Yankuba Minteh missed an open goal for 2-2. Yoane Wissa then skied from close range at the other end. It was the drama Howe could have done without, especially with his side having led by two midway through the first half.
But when Wissa stole the ball and pulled back for fellow substitute Barnes, who lashed home after stepping around goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, it allowed Howe to smile in a way that he has not for so long. Newcastle’s last win was March 14 and, after five straight defeats since, this week’s Matfen Hall summit with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan included Howe explaining their loss of form.
Eddie Howe (left) got his big selection calls right as Newcastle beat Brighton on Saturday
The inclusion of the likes of Jacob Murphy (right) were questioned but paid off
Here, though, it was his players who did his talking for him. He should have not picked Nick Pope, said the doubters. Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock and Will Osula, too. Come the end, Pope had made two huge saves at either end of the game, Osula scored the opener assisted by Murphy, Willock led the break from which the second goal came and Burn was man-of-the-match. The defender was the warrior whose shield protected the lead before Barnes used his sword to apply the killer blow at the death.
‘I went with players that I can really trust, who I know can handle this kind of atmosphere and this kind of pressure,’ said Howe. ‘I’m not picking the team based on emotion, I’m picking the team based on what I think gives us the best chance of winning the game. Those players have never let me down and they didn’t today.
‘I’m very open – I go into the week and I go, “Right, let’s see how the players train”. I can’t just base it off perception. I then need to see it delivered in training and that’s where, from a supporter’s perspective, they don’t get to see that.
‘I accept my fate because I’ve picked the team in good honesty with the intention to win the game. There’s no politics involved with me. It’s always what gives us, in my opinion, the best chance to win the game.’
Not that his selection looked like playing out so well after 10 minutes of Brighton domination. Newcastle looked lost, at least until they found the opening goal against the run of play. A word first, though, for Pope’s save after just 80 seconds. Karou Mitoma got the better of Lewis Miley on the left and served the ball on a plate for Jack Hinshelwood, unmarked 10 yards out. He found the target with a tidy steer but Pope read his intentions and got down low to block. Had that gone in, against a team low on confidence, you suspect it would have laid the foundation for a Brighton victory.
Not that Newcastle looked short on belief when they attacked from back to front and took the lead on 12 minutes. Bruno Guimaraes sprung Murphy clear from deep and, when the winger was tripped by Verbruggen just beyond the penalty area on the right, he had a quick decision to make – stay down or get up and carry on. Maybe it was more instinct than calculation, but let’s credit him with the latter, because Verbruggen was unlikely to be sent off for the foul, given how wide they were. And so, jumping to his feet, Murphy crossed and Osula headed in.
It was a header that made it 2-0 when Burn connected with a Guimaraes corner. Burn should not have been in the XI according to some. He was to offer an aerial threat from set-pieces and greater resistance at the back, which he did more than anyone when Howe switched to a 5-4-1 after Hinshelwood scored a fine goal for 2-1 on the hour.
Pope made another big stop from a Kostoulas overhead kick in the 85th minute, and without that Newcastle would not have won. Indeed, you could say the same for all of those who the manager, said his critics, was wrong to pick. On this occasion, he got everything just about right.
