Newcastle: Howe finds it hard to encapsulate ‘classic’ win after Leeds thriller
Newcastle rallied from behind three times to clinch victory in the 102nd minute.
Eddie Howe found it challenging to articulate Newcastle United‘s exhilarating 4-3 triumph over Leeds United after witnessing his team recover from being behind on three occasions to win at St James’ Park.
It was an emotional evening on Tyneside following the announcement that cherished former manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer.
Supporters chanted his name throughout the match, which turned into the kind of rollercoaster contest Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ often delivered in the 1990s, marked by high attacking flair and minimal defensive sturdiness.
Brenden Aaronson seemed to have secured all three points for Leeds when he struck his second goal of the match off the post in the 79th minute. Earlier in the first half, he opened the scoring for Leeds before Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s controversial penalty in first-half stoppage time restored that lead after Harvey Barnes had equalized. Joelinton leveled the score again for Newcastle with a superb header in the 55th minute.
However, when Aaronson handled a Lewis Hall cross in the penalty area, Newcastle received a third chance to equalize, and captain Bruno Guimarares converted the resulting penalty in the 91st minute. Barnes then scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute after connecting with a cross from the Brazilian, sending St James’ Park into a frenzy.
Howe praises Newcastle’s spirit in classic encounter
Barnes’ decisive goal is the latest on record in the Premier League, propelling Newcastle to sixth place in the standings, just two points shy of the top four.
Discussing the match with Sky Sports, Howe remarked: “It’s hard to encapsulate. It was one of those classic games here where I think we weren’t at our best but displayed immense character, and the game turned in our favor at the end, which is something we rarely experience. It’s fantastic for it to go our way today.
“Our performance wasn’t flawless, and there are areas to enhance, but the mentality is crucial. When you’re trailing, you require that ‘never give in’ mindset.
“We were a bit lethargic at the start, which was unexpected. We’re disappointed with that aspect of our play, but perhaps conceding early helped us in this instance, as it provided us with something to pursue and allowed us to play more freely.
“I’m thrilled for Harvey to score the winning goal; it’s a wonderful moment for him. He has done it previously for us, but he truly deserves it.”
The sole negative for Newcastle was an injury to center-back Fabian Schar, who had to be carried off on a stretcher.
Howe stated on BBC Match of the Day: “It’s a significant concern; I believe it’s quite serious, an ankle issue. He has been taken to the hospital. He has been an excellent player for us.”
Newcastle will face Bournemouth in the FA Cup on Saturday, followed by a match against Manchester City in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg three days later. Their subsequent Premier League match is against bottom-placed Wolves a week from Sunday.
Published: 2026-01-07 23:30:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
