Newcastle United dug deep to record a nervy 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Even Eddie Howe will admit it, his team rode their lock and were under serious pressure, especially in the second half.
Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the first half with a well-placed finish – that’s back-to-back Premier League goals for the winger.
Life was tough at St James’ Park last season for Barnes after he made a £38 million transfer from relegated Leicester City, with injuries causing havoc on his season.
But his opening goal was crucial because it provided an error-prone Newcastle side with a starting block. After all, Dan Burn fired into his own net to level the scores during the second period.
Tottenham were pilling on the pressure and the home team couldn’t cope, before a blistering counter-attack and a first Premier League goal of the season for Alexander Isak was enough to seal the points.
Micheal Owen liked what he saw from Barnes and how cooly he opened the scoring, with the former striker slamming Tottenham’s backline and how they were taken by surprise.
He noted how Spurs’ backline was ‘dropping off’ – and it’s not the first time Owen has criticised Tottenham’s defending this season.
Paul Scholes agreed with his former Manchester United teammate and was sure to praise Barnes for his ‘really nice controlled finish’, as he told Premier League Productions (01/09/24 at 2:25 pm).
Harvey Barnes’ goal for Newcastle against Tottenham
“That caught Tottenham out,” said Owen about Barnes’ goal. “It was a lovely finish, in the end from Harvey Barnes. That’s back-to-back games he has scored in now.
“The Tottenham back four just drop off. They don’t pick any of the men up. They pick up space and not the men. He almost glides into that area. Opens his body up, it’s a lovely finish. He makes it look easy. It’s not an easy finish that one. I like that. I like that a lot.”
Scholes added: “It’s a really nice finish. I think they get caught by the quick throw-in initially and it bounces just in front of him as well. A really nice controlled finish and the keeper has no chance.”
Newcastle United’s summer transfer window
Newcastle wanted to sign Marc Guehi, but despite several bids – and those record-breaking ones – they never got their man.
But what is even more frustrating for the fans, and you would imagine the manager, is that they hardly boosted or enhanced other areas of their squad.
The Magpies probably needed another right-sided winger, Miguel Almiron’s future has been in the air and his form has dipped – he came on in stoppage time against Spurs.
Yet, Newcastle put in a deadline-day bid for Anthony Elanga and you question why all the focus was on just the one player who, in the end, they didn’t even get.
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