If Newcastle United were to achieve their goal of qualifying for Europe this season, then the last two months had to be strong. There were still 27 points to be played for in nine games, and even fifth place was out of the question.
A Champions League repeat was out of the question, but continuing to play in Europe was an important goal for Eddie Howe and his Magpies squad next season. After the thrill of a win over West Ham, Everton came to St James’ Park in the first match of April.
United were without former Toffee Anthony Gordon after he was sent off in the dying stages against the Hammers, and without him the Magpies lacked a cutting edge. They still have plenty of opportunities to add to Alexander Isak’s opener, not least when Dan Burn appeared to make it 2-0 only for the tightest of offside decisions to go against Isak in the build-up.
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And they were left rueing their missed chances as Paul Dummett fouled Ashley Young in the box and Everton grabbed a 1-1 draw thanks to a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty. The performance, if not the result, boded well for the future and United continued to build with a fighting win at Fulham. They were second for most of the opening half, but after some stern words from Eddie Howe, the visitors raised their game.
Another VAR intervention meant that Fabian Schar’s goal was disallowed after a seemingly innocuous challenge from Burn, but United took the lead soon after, Bruno Guimaraes tapping in from the left after good work from Harvey Barnes and Elliot Anderson. Significantly, it was a clean-sheet performance at the back, with Schar and Burn forming a strong partnership in Sven Botman’s absence and youngster Lewis Hall finally getting a run of games at left-back.
Tottenham’s arrival at St James’ Park the following week brought back memories of that 6-1 hammering almost exactly a year ago, although Spurs under Ange Postecoglou are a very different animal so there was little thought of a repeat.
Well… United may not have been 5-0 up after just 21 minutes like they were in April 2023, but they weren’t a million miles away. While the pre-match talk was about how Newcastle’s makeshift defense would fare against Son Heung-Min, James Maddison, Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson, the game itself was all about United’s attacking prowess.
Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy exposed the Spurs defense time and again, with classy Dutch stopper Micky van de Ven suffering a St James’ Park nightmare. Gordon set up Isak first, holding off Destiny Udogie before sliding past the Swede.
He then cut inside and left Van de Ven sprawled to slot past Vicario. Two minutes later it was 2-0 and this time it was Gordon who got on the scoresheet himself, capitalizing on a Spurs defensive error to send the home crowd into a frenzy. Tottenham are made of stronger stuff now, so surely they would bounce back? No chance.
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Isak made it 3-0 when he ran onto Bruno’s long ball and left the Spurs defense for dead before beating an exposed Vicario and Schar wrapping it up with a free header from a corner. It could have been a lot more, but it showed that United are back in contention for a European place.
Of course, things are never that simple with Newcastle United. The same side went to Crystal Palace just days later and were sent packing after a comfortable 2-0 win for the Eagles. Manager Oliver Glasner slowly began to turn Palace’s fortunes around, but United suffered a letdown at Selhurst Park and barely registered a threat as Jean-Philippe Matety’s double meant Howe’s side had a long journey home with nothing to show for their efforts.
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Five minutes into the home game against Sheffield United, you’d be forgiven for wondering what had happened when Anel Ahmedhodzic put the Blades – who knew defeat would see them relegated – ahead. They could easily have extended that lead too until United eventually took control.
Alexander Isak calmed the nerves with a cool finish after a wonderful pass from Murphy and it was easy from then on. Fifteen minutes into the second half, the game turned, Bruno Guimaraes put Newcastle ahead after a well-worked set piece and Isak doubled his tally from the penalty spot. A Ben Osborne own goal really sunk Sheffield United and when Callum Wilson came off the bench to make it 5-1, the Blades were heading back into the Championship.
They will be joined by Burnley in the second tier and United had a lot of credit in sending them down as well. Vincent Kompany’s side made a decent fist of a late bid for survival but were no match for the Magpies at Turf Moor. Howe opted for a less-scoring Wilson-Isak duo and United cut through the home defense with ease.
Wilson opened the floodgates after Isaac’s chance was parried before Sean Longstaff and Guimaraes made the finishing touches with flowing moves to end the game before half-time. All that remained was for Isak to score his 20th Premier League goal of the season. He fluffed his first chance from the penalty spot but set up Murphy’s cross for PL goal #20 a few minutes later.
Sixth place was now in United’s hands, but Brighton somewhat spoiled the momentum with a poor 1-1 draw, Longstaff again struggling to salvage a point for United off-colour.
A strong end to the season for Chelsea meant they now sit top of the table in sixth, but Newcastle could ensure Manchester United don’t finish ahead of them if they beat Erik ten Haga’s side at Old Trafford – repeating their Carabao Cup success.
However, a combination of poor defending and missed opportunities meant Howe’s men lost 3-2 to keep the Red Devils in their sights.
Kobbie Mainoo was given a free at Old Trafford to open the scoring but Newcastle hit back through Anthony Gordon, who had earlier been denied a penalty after VAR strangely missed a clear foul.
More defensive laxity allowed Amad Diallo a chance to fire home the visitors’ second before Rasmus Hojlund added a third as Newcastle took the lead.
Lewis Hall’s late strike was just a consolation, so the Magpies went to Brentford knowing they had to win to secure seventh place – with only sixth open, Chelsea would lose to Bournemouth.
Pochettino’s men picked up another three points against the Cherries, but thankfully Newcastle got the job done at the Gtech Community Stadium. A blistering first-half strike from Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak sank the Bees, with Bruno Guimaraes securing the win after Brentford pulled two back.
The game saw Nick Pope and Joelinton return to the side as United head to Australia in seventh place with a big summer ahead of them.