Howe on verge of history, luck and title talk - Five takeaways from Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
Newcastle United picked up another three points on Wednesday night with a solid victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St. James’ Park. The win was United’s sixth in a row in the Premier League and ninth in all competitions.
A brace from Alexander Isak (scoring for the eighth game in a row) and a strike from Anthony Gordon sealed the win.
Here are our five key takeaways from the game:
- Alexander the Great
It was another excellent outing for the Swede on Wednesday as he became the first Newcastle player to score in eight successive Premier League games and only the fourth player in Premier League history to do the same. Instrumental in the third goal too, Isak showed tremendous composure to assist Gordon once the ball had been deflected back to him from his initial cut back.
We are quickly running out of superlatives to describe what the 25-year-old is producing in Black and White now and he is looking simply unstoppable when he steps onto the pitch right now.
There were rumours in the week that Liverpool turned down £70m for Darwin Nunez from a Saudi club, well if that carthorse is worth that much, Isak must be priceless – and he certainly is to this team.
- One away from a club record!
Newcastle were not at their best on Wednesday night but still found a way to a solid three goal victory and Eddie Howe has become only the third Newcastle manager to record nine straight victories – after Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez.
Our run from nowhere has echoes of Atletico Madrid’s run from nowhere to sit pretty at the top of La Liga (it’s 15 wins on the spin for them in all comps since 31 Oct), a point clear of Real Madrid. And with very winnable games coming up, who’s to say Newcastle can’t reach double figures for straight wins of their own.
If United win on Saturday, Howe will set an outright record of TEN consecutive victories, the only issue is that his former club Bournemouth stand in his way, and he’s yet to beat them as an opposition manager. But with the way United are playing (and both of Bournemouth’s first choice strikers injured) surely there isn’t a better time for that record to be broken?
- Defensive Jekyll and Hyde
As well as Isak’s scoring exploits, United’s defence has been pretty much watertight during this nine-game run only conceding three. Burn, Botman, and Schar have been excellent at centre back, and Tino and Hall have been just as good at fullback.
But Newcastle were very fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Wolves who went close on a number of occasions – Strand Larsen wasted a guilt edged chance as he hit the outside of the post late in the first half, Bueno thought he had netted from close range following some slack marking in the second half and Martin Dubravka made a massive save from Strand Larsen in the dying embers.
In fact, Wolves had more efforts on target throughout the game and put up a 1.3xG from some very presentable chances as United wobbled at the back. Hopefully that’s the wobble out of the way and in this next run of Premier League games the lads can return to their solid best on Saturday.
- Up to 4th - but can United achieve more?
With the way results went on Tuesday night, United had the ideal opportunity to take advantage and claim 4th spot outright (admittedly only by a point) and they didn’t disappoint as they took advantage of other teams’ slip ups.
Good teams around us are dropping points and as United scored three-plus goals for the seventh time in nine outings, the big players are stepping up all over the pitch, performing at a top level and are simply building off the chart’s momentum, can United insert themselves into the Premier League title conversation?
Bigger points differentials have been overcome in Premier League history (as we know to our eternal chagrin) and if United can beat Bournemouth on Saturday, before anyone else has played, they will move only six points behind Liverpool with some winnable games on the horizon. That said, Liverpool do have a game in hand.
- January Transfer Window
Surely then United will strike while the iron is hot and enter the transfer market this month to bolster our chances of having the most memorable of seasons.
I truly believe that United are only two or three first team signings away from having one of the strongest elevens in the league. A European elite right sided outside forward would elevate this side or someone who can come in and chip in with seven to eight goals or someone who can help us to even more clean sheets would also elevate us.
United might never have a better chance to improve from a position of strength than this (and with Atlanta United said to be making a move for Miggy) hopefully that will give United the PSR headroom to act.
Exciting times. HWTL.
