After the rollercoaster of Newcastle’s 4-3 win over Leeds in midweek, the Toon Army were taken for another spin here, and it was hard to tell if their knuckles were white with fear or frost by the time they disembarked as penalty-kick victors.
It was close to 6pm, three hours after kick off, when Aaron Ramsdale saved from Bafode Diakite to climax an 18-kick shootout following a 3-3 draw. St James’ Park does not do dull, and that is just as well given the sub-zero grip that has taken hold of Tyneside in recent days. How fitting that the one man wearing gloves was the hero.
Ramsdale saved three penalties and, for him, continuation in the FA Cup is key, given Nick Pope has returned as No 1. But top of the charts in these parts right now is Harvey Barnes. After his 102nd-minute winner against Leeds, it looked as if he’d repeated the trick in the 118th minute this time, heading in from Anthony Gordon’s cross to put Newcastle 3-2 in front. But in keeping with a chaotic afternoon, Bournemouth raced up the other end and Marcus Tavernier poked home to force penalties.
The goalless first half, on reflection, was more Ferris wheel than big dipper. After that, it was dizzying stuff. There were four goals shared in the second half and, so end to end was the contest, it looked as if both teams were playing to avoid extra-time, which is exactly what they got.
Newcastle led through Barnes in the 50th minute but immediately lost cohesion and, come the 62nd minute, the lead. Alex Scott turned in unmarked from Evanilson’s cross and, six minutes later, Bournemouth were in front when David Brooks finished from a break in which Newcastle looked broken, so stretched had they become.
Chances were traded at either end before, in the 92nd minute, Sandro Tonali burst clear and was felled by goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic. Substitute Gordon converted from the spot. Then came the late drama of extra-time and, later still, the drama of the shootout.
Harvey Barnes continued his fine form with two crucial goals to send Newcastle through
Aaron Ramsdale saved three spot-kicks as Newcastle defeated Bournemouth on 7-6 penalties
How big a win was it in the context of Newcastle’s season?
It was four years ago that Newcastle were beaten 1-0 by third-tier Cambridge in Eddie Howe’s first FA Cup tie as head coach. He later admitted, after embarking on a run to escape relegation, that the cup loss had been no bad thing. While there is an argument to support Newcastle needing less matches this time around, momentum can also be lost and spirit sapped by defeat in any game, especially one in which you have went the distance.
‘It was a great cup tie and similar to Leeds in how open it was,’ said Howe. ‘The last thing we wanted was extra-time and we worked far harder than we wanted to with Tuesday in mind (Carabao Cup semi-final versus Manchester City). There is a cost, but at least we have a win to show for it.’
There was a new look to Howe’s side?
One week on from the furore over Howe not having a Plan B (and after three straight wins with Plan A), here was an alternative strategy – for the first time, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were on the pitch together, and from the start.
That meant a 4-2-3-1 system, previously unseen under Howe, with Woltemade in the No 10 position off Wissa, as a section of supporters had so demanded. Did it work? Woltemade saw more of the ball, including a tailored through-pass for Barnes to score the opener, but his telling link-ups with Wissa expired after a bright start.
In fairness, that was more to do with Wissa’s quest for match sharpness. For his own part, Woltemade looked happier in the deeper role, even if was bought as a £69million centre-forward.
‘There were good bits and bits that weren’t so good,’ said Howe. ‘I don’t see it being a regular system for us. Both players tried to make it work. I thought Nick was particularly impressive.’
Eddie Howe opted for a new look in attack with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa together
But the win did come at a cost?
Newcastle do not want to spend money on short-term solutions this month – well, they might have to revisit that reluctance. With centre-back Fabian Schar facing a lengthy spell out with an ankle injury, Tino Livramento followed him into a treatment room he has only just vacated. The England defender hobbled out at 1-0 with a hamstring issue and his absence will leave them short during a period which features critical games in all competitions.
They need another body, either in the form of a loan arrival or, more sensibly, accelerated business for a young defender from the continent. Dayann Methalie of Toulouse is their top target, but the 19-year-old is currently sidelined until the end of January with a knee injury – how fitting!
They are close to one signing?
Of sorts. We can reveal that significant progress has been made on a new contract for Sven Botman. The centre-back has 18 months to run on his deal but, after talks led by sporting director Ross Wilson in recent weeks, a new long-term contract is close. In the short term, Newcastle need to keep Botman fit, just as they do the rest of their squad. To that end, rollercoasters are probably best avoided, as fun as they have been this week.
