As Alan Shearer put it, Newcastle United showed a different way to win in Saturday’s Premier League opener.
At their very best, Eddie Howe’s team can almost pummel their opposition into submission. Pressing ferociously from the front, a never-ending roulette of movement and intensity, full-backs bombing forward and midfielders driving into the penalty area.
But after Fabian Schar was sent off just before the half-hour mark – Ben Brereton-Diaz hitting the deck after what could generously be described as a ‘headbutt’ – Newcastle’s usual game-plan had to be sacrificed in favour of something far more pragmatic.
Russell Martin’s Southampton tend to dominate possession at the best of times. But, even by their standards, this was ridiculous.
78 per cent of the possession. 19 shots to Newcastle’s three. 649 passes to 181.
That The Magpies ended the game with all three points in their pocket, then, was testament not to the goalscoring talents of Alexander Isak or the creativity of Bruno Guimaraes. But, instead, their rock-solid backline; some of Howe’s lesser-heralded talents stepping forward and putting their bodies on the line.
Newcastle beat Southampton as Dan Burn and Nick Pope shine
Troy Deeney, taking over BBC Team of the Week duties from Garth Crooks, felt his XI would not be complete without the overworked Nick Pope in goal or the colossal Dan Burn in defence.
Burn, with 10, made the most clearances in the Premier League’s opening weekend. Talk about putting your 6ft 5ins frame to good use.
Deeney, meanwhile, feels that Burn has proven to be terrific value for money having arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee of just £13 million early in Howe’s tenure.
“Playing centre-half – and then in a back three when Newcastle went down to 10 men after Fabian Schar’s red card – he was a monster,” the former Watford captain says.
“I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves considering just how good he’s been for how little they paid Brighton for him.”
Nick Pope, a £10 million signing from Burnley, also falls comfortably into that ‘bargain’ category. The England international missed much of last season through injury but looks like a man ready to make up for lost time as he kept a dominant Southampton at bay.
“He made numerous saves and was just as solid as a rock,” Deeney adds. “He struggled with injuries at the end of last season but was great on Saturday as Newcastle ground out a win with 10 men.”
Eddie Howe delighted to secure three points
Newcastle missed out on European football last term following Man United’s victory over Man City in the FA Cup final. A difficult summer limited by those Profit and Sustainability concerns has also led to a worrying lack of first-team signings, Crystal Palace refusing to soften their stance regarding top target Marc Guehi.
After a frustrating few months, then, Howe was delighted to learn that his Newcastle charges retain the resolve and the discipline that characterised their Champions League-securing campaign in 2022/23.
“It wasn’t an enjoyable game to experience. The result is unbelievable for us, but how we got there was very, very difficult. The sending off changed the game completely,” Howe explains to the BBC.
“We knew what type of game it would be. Before the sending off, we had our moments but we weren’t in control of the game. I don’t know if a sending off ever truly helps you, but it gets the crowd to inspire you – and that made a difference.
“Last season we scored a huge amount of goals but conceded too many. The guys with ten men produced a really good defensive performance. To a man we were blocking shots, we were covering space very well. On another day we could have played better with the ball.”
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