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Newcastle’s rise to becoming a team ready to compete in the Champions League seemed inevitable following their buy-out by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund a year ago.
Few predicted it would happen this quickly.
With a 2-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday, their first home defeat since April, Newcastle climbed into fourth place in the Premier League – the final Champions League qualification position – in another statement of intent by the soccer team with the world’s richest ownership.
Newcastle are now fourth and seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who drew 1-1 at Southampton to bring their eight-match winning run in all competitions to an end.
Newcastle’s rise is no fluke, even though they don’t have any real superstars – yet.
But they’re extremely well-drilled under manager Eddie Howe and have the best defensive record in the league.
Newcastle have an unlikely scoring sensation, too, with Miguel Almiron — one of the players at the club in the old regime under Mike Ashley — grabbing what proved to be the winner for his fifth goal in as many games.
That came in the 40th minute when the Paraguay forward shrugged off Ryan Sessegnon, skipped past another defender, Clement Lenglet, and slipped a finish under goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Lloris played a central role in Newcastle’s opening goal nine minutes earlier, after he was blocked off by Callum Wilson after coming out to intercept a ball played forward.
With Lloris on the ground, Wilson collected the loose ball and chipped a left-footed shot over Lloris and Eric Dier into an empty net.
Harry Kane pulled a goal back in the 54th for Tottenham, who were also beaten by Manchester United 2-0 in midweek.
“It was a big win. We were determined to come here and be positive. My players deserve all the credit for how we attack the game,” Howe said.
“There is a long way to go. I’m sure people will talk us up but I don’t want to put any external pressure on my players.”
While Arsenal looked set to jump up four points clear at the top of the leaderboard, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Southampton. It was only the second time Arsenal had dropped points in the league in 11 games.
Arsenal went ahead through Granit Xhaka in the 11th minute, only for Stuart Armstrong to equalise after the break.
“We were really good in the first half and created big chances that we didn’t put away. In the Premier League, unfortunately, when you don’t do that, you can pay the price,” said Arsenal manager Mike Arteta
Arsenal’s lead now stands at two points from Manchester City, with Tottenham a further three points back.
At Elland Road, American coach Jesse Marsch is the latest Premier League manager feeling the heat from his own fans.
Leeds’ 3-2 loss at home to Fulham sparked jeers from their supporters at full time. There were chants against Marsch and the club’s board in the final minutes of the game, with Leeds in the relegation zone and on a four-match losing run.
Goals by Aleksandar Mitrovic, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Willian put Fulham 3-1 ahead after Rodrigo’s 20th-minute opener for Leeds. Crysencio Summerville got a stoppage-time consolation for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have responded to the sacking of Steven Gerrard with a massive 4-0 win over Brentford.
Gerrard was fired on Thursday after a year in charge, soon after a 3-0 loss at Fulham, with his team wholly ineffective in attack. Aston Villa found themselves leading 3-0 after just 14 minutes, with the final goal coming from Ollie Watkins in the second half
Interim coach Aaron Danks quickly got something out of the forward line, with all three players – Leon Bailey, Danny Ings (2) and Ollie Watkins – scoring in the team’s biggest victory of the season at Villa Park.
Leicester are out of the relegation zone, with Wolves deeper into it after the Foxes won 4-0.
Youri Tielemans smashed in the goal of the day, a first-time effort from 25 metres that crashed in off the post, to set Leicester on their way, with Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy – with his first goal of the season – adding the others at Molineux.
© AAP
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