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Much-needed response, scoring touch found - national media Newcastle United verdict
Memories of the last few games were put to one side as Newcastle United hammered Leicester City for a first win since returning from the November international break.
Jacob Murphy popped up with his long-awaited first goals of the season, scoring either side of half time. Bruno Guimaraes followed suit with a maiden strike this term and Alexander Isak continued his imperious form.
A heaping of festive joy was felt across the majority 52,235 packed into St James' Park as the Magpies secured a first success on Tyneside since the victory over Arsenal at the start of November. Here's how the national media reflected on the game, including our own Lee Ryder.
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Making a mockery
Only time will tell whether Ruud van Nistelrooy’s honeymoon as Leicester’s manager was ended or merely interrupted here. Equally, it is far too early to predict if this will come to be regarded as a watershed moment in Newcastle’s hitherto stuttering season but, after four games without a win, they certainly succeeded in making a mockery of suggestions that Eddie Howe might be destined for the sack.
While he recently celebrated his third anniversary in charge on Tyneside, Van Nistelrooy suffered a first defeat in three matches since taking the helm. How the 48-year-old must have wished he was still wearing his old shooting boots rather than watching in increasing dismay from the edge of the technical area as his team emphasised precisely why they remain in relegation peril.
Anthony Gordon 'captures spirit of St James' Park'
When Gordon drove down the left, cut in and wrapped an effort towards goal just seven minutes in, St James' Park knew they were witnessing a player who was intent on leaving a stamp on the game. A strong reaction save from Hermansen denied him a goal on that occasion, but his efforts to lift Newcastle out of a winless mire couldn't be stopped.
Everything good Newcastle produced was sparked by Gordon's industry who on a number of occasions could be seen tracking back to help out his left-back Lewis Hall. In turn, Hall would support Gordon high up the pitch, with the duo combining for Newcastle's second and third goal as they tormented the Leicester right-hand side. Gordon grabbed his assist when he set up Murphy's opener, but outside of that, his relentless pressing and carrying captured the spirit of St James' Park to steer his side to victory.
Much-needed response
It is too soon to talk of corners turned - especially when this Newcastle side can drive even the sanest supporter around the bend - but a four-goal response to a four-game winless run was as good as Eddie Howe could have asked from his players. They needed this, on the back of a bruising week in which Alan Shearer questioned the team’s attitude and goalkeeper Nick Pope and striker Callum Wilson were lost to injury until 2025. To that end, they needed Leicester.
Finding scoring touch
Saturday's success was only the Magpies' third in the Premier League since mid-September, but such is the congestion in the middle part of the table that they remain on the periphery of the European places heading into a key run of fixtures. Whether Howe's team can finally generate some momentum remains to be seen, but there were positive signs here as they caused the Foxes numerous problems down the left-hand side in the first half.
Gordon was particularly lively, forcing Hermansen into a brilliant one-handed save inside the first 10 minutes before teeing up Murphy for the opener. They should have been further ahead at the break, but any fears the home fans may have had about Newcastle's first-half profligacy coming back to haunt them were firmly put to bed early in the second period thanks to the close-range finishes from Guimaraes and Isak.
Goals flowing
Here the goals flowed like a fine festive wine with work on the training ground clearly evident in a week in which Eddie Howe and his backroom team had endured a real bashing after the 4-2 loss at Brentford. From nowhere, the Magpies started to really shine as training ground moves from set-plays came off, and the anxious narrative from the last month or so evaporated into the mild Tyneside winter air!
As Jacob Murphy helped himself to a couple, Alexander Isak got in on the act and Bruno Guimaraes netted a much-needed goal, the black and whites had the perfect platform in front of a packed house. However, it wasn't all fun and games for Tindall with the coach dragged away from grumpy Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy during a late clash between the dugouts!
