Eddie Howe has said that he is the right man to take Newcastle United forward into the next stage of their Saudi-backed project.

In what was a clear contrast to Howe’s slightly tired demeanour ahead of the Magpies’ clash with Crystal Palace last week, he was focused and bullish, and made abundantly clear that that he will “fight harder than I’ve ever fought before.”

Given Howe’s perceived negative body language last week, he was asked whether he still has the determination within him to lead the club through what will be a transitional summer, and into a new era. His response was clear.

“My fire is burning very, very strongly”, Howe said, leaving no doubt in the room.

He did admit that there was “no guarantee” from his side as to what will happen in the future given how quickly football can change, but doubled down on his initial declaration, stating that “my fire is there, there’s loads of wood stacked up and I’m ready to put it on it.”

It was certainly a statement of both assurance and intent from Howe, but whilst his internal flame may be burning bright, Newcastle United’s season needs reigniting. Heading into the weekend, they sit 14th in the Premier League, with European places slowly slipping from their reach.

To that end, and with the ambition of the club set out by CEO David Hopkinson in mind, should Howe not be able to improve results and secure another continental campaign for the club, he risks tarnishing his stellar reputation on Tyneside.

As the man who brought the first major trophy back to St. James’ Park since 1969, whilst also returning the club to the Champions League twice during his tenure, he will undoubtedly go down as a Newcastle United legend. However, boos have been heard in recent weeks, especially after the home loss against Sunderland. It would be a great shame if the situation was to become toxic.

On that subject Howe made clear that he just wants “to serve the club.”

“I just want to do what’s right for the football club and that’s always been my aim. If that’s me leaving to help the club, then, of course, that’s something I’ll do.”

There have been some online who have called for Howe to do just that because of recent performances and results, but having said that, Howe then echoed his belief that he is still the right man for the job.

Therefore, with his fire raging, Howe must transfer his energy to his players, to make sure that the club at least turns a corner on the pitch, before any thoughts of Europe, the summer transfer window, and next season occur. This, he will hope, starts against Bournemouth.

An upturn in performances and results would change the mood on Tyneside heading into the summer, and may restore the belief of some, and allow them to back Howe and his claims. It all feels very much on a knife edge. Howe believes he is the man, not just for this season, but for the seasons to come, but it remains on him to make sure that fire is not extinguished.

Despite the victory, the Black Cats lacked composure in the final third, with their goal coming thanks to a deflected effort from Nordi Mukiele. They dominated proceedings but only won thanks to a slice of fortune.

“It’s a question of execution”, Le Bris said, adding that “the last choice, the last pass, probably the presence in the box as well, we still have room for improvement”.

Only two sides have scored fewer goals in the Premier League than Sunderland this season, with the Black Cats level with relegation bound Burnley on 33.

This points to Sunderland’s defence having been strong enough to help them grind out results, which is true, but ultimately, struggling to score will be unsustainable.

The lack of goals is clearly an issue Le Bris recognised, as he made clear that “we are working hard behind the scenes. It’s about small adjustments, but small adjustments at that level make the difference.”

However, the Frenchman was also keen to point out that Sunderland “still have a young squad”.

“They are intense, strong energy”, he continued, backing his players for the performances they have put in throughout the season, including in the win against Spurs. Despite the winning goal being fortuitous, for Sunderland to outplay and defeat one of the so-called ‘big six’ as a newly promoted side is certainly impressive, regardless of Spurs’ current relegation fears.

It demonstrates again just how willing to fight Sunderland are, a trait which now sees them sitting in tenth place in the top flight table. There is no doubt that for a club who have returned to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs after eight seasons away, it has been a remarkable campaign.

Le Bris and the club also have an upcoming transfer window to bolster their firepower, which may ease concerns about Sunderland’s goal scoring going into next season. Le Bris though, being the critical thinker he has proven himself to be, will want to solve the issue before then with the players he currently has at his disposal.

If he is able to do that, then whatever attacking talent he adds to the squad will be better able to bed in to what will be a fluid and capable forward line.

Le Bris said last week that it was too early to be thinking about the summer transfer window, but preparations will undoubtedly be occurring. Therefore, Sunderland will hope that both their on and off-field activity provides a higher strike rate next season.

Not long ago there was a fear that Sunderland’s season had fizzled out. Safety in the Premier League had been confirmed for another season, which was the club’s main target at the beginning of the campaign. The Black Cats had lost their previous three home fixtures in succession, when at one stage they had been the only club left unbeaten at home in the top flight. However, it is amazing what a win in a derby can do for a team.

Such was Sunderland’s spirit as a result of their away win at Newcastle prior to the international break, there was only ever going to be one winner when Tottenham Hotspur made the trip to Wearside, with Spurs sat, rather uncomfortably, in the relegation zone. One-nil it finished, but it should have been more, way more.

Régis Le Bris said that Sunderland had three main objectives in this fixture, “to be adaptive… proactive… and to generate momentum early”. All three they did, and Spurs simply could not deal with them. All that was lacking was the finishing touch in the final third, but instead of displaying composure, Sunderland were lacklustre.

The Black Cats were fortunate that their opponents were so devoid of confidence and quality, because other teams may have punished them, despite putting in stellar performances in other key areas of the pitch.

Even the winning goal came with a huge slice of fortune. Nordi Mukiele marauded forward and stuck a effort which appeared to be rather tame until a huge deflection off Micky van de Ven sent it shooting in another direction. Antonín Kinský was left helpless as the ball dropped into the net, and for Spurs, it felt like another nail in the coffin.

Roberto De Zerbi believed that his side did well in the first half, but apart from a penalty that was awarded to them (and then correctly overturned, owing to Omar Alderete getting a toe to the ball), they did not look like a team with any fight.

De Zerbi was keen to back his players though, making clear that “the players of Tottenham are all good guys, they are suffering in this moment”. That won’t do much to appease supporters, who want to see grit and determination on the pitch, not sulking off it.

They should take a look at their opponents on this occasion, who for the majority of the season have shown just how far unity and togetherness can take a team. Once again Sunderland were stronger, and first to every second ball. They were composed, confident and streetwise.

Of course, Le Bris will have concerns that only one goal came from such a display - Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey both going close in the first half, but the Sunderland Head Coach did point out that “the knowledge of the team is getting better”. The fact of the matter is that even without scoring a barrage of goals every game, they are very effective at getting results.

And so, with the dust settled on another win, once again comes the question of Europe. Sunderland are very much in the mix, and although Le Bris said that “it’s not on my mind”, he was slightly more open to the possibility of such an achievement.

He continued, “the main objective was to stay in this league, now it is achieved. The ambition is to be a top ten club in the Premier League. If you are consistent you can reach another level.”

Whether Sunderland can reach their ‘next level’ will depend on whether they can continue to be effective in grinding out results without that clinical edge in front of goal. This victory against Spurs would suggest so. Therefore, with six games remaining this season, the Black Cats are still very much on track to doing something very special under Régis Le Bris.

When asked by North East Football TV, Le Bris initially outlined that it was “a bit early” to talk about the upcoming summer window, but then made clear that “the club wants to grow”.

Le Bris added that “the final result in the league we don’t know, but it’s about the next game, do your best, try to win, after that we’ll have another one, another exciting challenge, and so on, and we’ll see at the end of the season.”

Whilst not an explicit admittance, Le Bris’ words convey that if Sunderland were to be playing in an extra competition next season, their summer business would be conducted with that in mind. Furthermore, it would appear that the club view qualification for another competition, say it quietly, a European one, as a distinct possibility given how the table lies at present.

“It’s not the end of the cycle”, Le Bris said, referring to the summer window, and for Sunderland, it will instead be a chance to expand their squad further in terms of depth and quality, especially if they have more games to contend with.

Whilst supporters of Sunderland will relish the chance to see their club attack the transfer window because of the need to improve to compete in Europe as well as domestically, those ambitions should be tempered with some caution.

Sunderland are certainly not guaranteed to qualify for a continental competition, with other teams around them also harbouring the same ambitions. As a result, should the Black Cats only have domestic football to look forward to next season, their transfer policy will be different.

To that end, Le Bris revealed that another key factor in influencing the club’s summer business, which will gain more prominence without Europe, will be taking into account some of the injuries suffered this season.

“Every game, every part of the season is useful for the next transfer window, how we want to build the squad.”

During this campaign, Sunderland have endured prolonged periods without some of their key players. Forward Brian Brobbey, midfielders Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra, defenders Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo Mandava and Dan Ballard, as well as goalkeeper Robin Roefs, have all spent time on the sidelines because of injury.

When those players were missing, Le Bris’ side was undoubtedly weaker, which was showcased by some of their performances and results. Therefore, even without Europe, Sunderland must strengthen those areas, especially given the fact that those below those aforementioned players in the pecking order are clearly not fancied by Le Bris.

Sunderland navigated the summer transfer window well last summer, and even though Kristjaan Speakman is no longer at the club, with Florent Ghisolfi now pulling the strings as Director of Football alongside Le Bris, the Head Coach said that despite the market being unpredictable, “the strategy is clear”.

The end to the season is shaping up to be an exciting one for Sunderland, beginning with the visit of a struggling Tottenham side to the Stadium of Light. There is clearly ambition, and a plan for if Sunderland do qualify for Europe in terms of incomings, supporters will certainly be appeased at the club being ready for the market regardless of the situation.

Alex Murphy and Leo Shahar, who are both full backs, played for the first time in Europe’s elite club competition last month at St. James’ Park, as Newcastle defeated Azerbaijani side, Qarabag FK.

Murphy described Howe as “brilliant”, adding that despite the difficulty of not making many appearances, the support given by Howe and his staff has been extremely beneficial.

“I’m still learning and training every day, and they’re always trying to help me”, Murphy made clear, highlighting the attention to detail that Howe has whilst coaching.

Shahar, who has more recently made the jump into the first team picture, stated that he decided to sign for Newcastle United to experience “moments like this, making my debut in the Champions League”. For 19 year old Shahar, the chance to grasp such an opportunity was one he simply could not turn down, and one that would not have been possible if not for Eddie Howe.

Since that victory against Qarabag, Howe has endured what has been without doubt, the most difficult period of his time in charge of Newcastle so far, following a 7-2 (8-3 on aggregate) loss at the Camp Nou against Barcelona, before a humiliating home loss against Sunderland, with the Black Cats completing a Premier League double over their North East neighbours.

The full time whistle at St. James’ Park following Sunderland’s triumph brought many audible boos inside the stadium, with some on social media calling for Howe to be relieved of his duties.

It is no secret that Newcastle’s Premier League form this season, has been below the standards set by Howe himself during the previous years of his tenure. The Magpies currently sit 12th in the table and are facing an uphill battle to qualify for any European competition. They are aided by those above them still being within touching distance, but Howe knows that he must find immediate solutions to the problems that have plagued Newcastle all season.

Following that, comments made by the club’s CEO, David Hopkinson, have, to some extent, changed the narrative regarding Howe’s future at the club. Newcastle could move in a different direction in the summer, and if so, they must find a coach willing to develop and give opportunities to young players, as Howe and his staff have done with Murphy and Shahar.

“All the support, all the individual coaches I have just push me on to be a better player”, Shahar said. “That’s boosted me to get the appearance tonight.”

Again, glowing praise for Newcastle’s youth setup, suggesting that Howe has created a clear pathway for those in the Academy to feed into the First Team. Whilst the long term project at the club may be coming to a crossroads, this system will undoubtedly be seen as a success, with maintaining and enhancing it likely to be a priority.

Derbies are not enjoyable. The days leading up to them, with all of the emotion, tension and nerves, are hardly pleasant. It is all worth it however, if you win. For Sunderland, that has been a feeling they have cherished over the last 15 years. The ecstasy of having the bragging rights in the North East has never worn off on Wearside.

Despite it being ten years since the Black Cats’ last visit to St. James’ Park, the need to once again have that shot of euphoria had not subsided. It came via the sheer presence of Brian Brobbey, who was a constant thorn in Newcastle United’s side all afternoon. His power and strength were like a battering ram ploughing through the heart of the Magpies, and ultimately, it was his goal, in the 90th minute, that sent those high up in the away end into absolute raptures.

According to Régis Le Bris, he felt that Brobbey “had another level”, in the week leading up to the derby. He went as far as to describe Brobbey’s connection with his own performance and his teammates as “crazy”, adding that his style of play is “so hard to defend”. That was certainly the case, although he was aided by Newcastle’s defensive capitulation in the second half, which occurred for the second game in a week.

“Painful” was the word Eddie Howe used to describe his emotions at full time, but that didn’t quite cover it. Despite taking the lead in the first half, Newcastle in the second period became unorganised, uninspiring, unfocused and unable to create any meaningful momentum. They were second to every ball, came out second in every challenge, and were simply second best overall.

There had been fight in the first half from Howe’s side, and they looked lively, especially when Gordon put them ahead, but Newcastle’s half time woes hit home and hit hard once again, leading to yet more dropped points from a winning position.

Howe did not believe his players suffered a head loss, but such has been the amount of times that leads have been blown this season, it is easy to understand why the question was asked. He did admit “huge regret” in the amount of points dropped during this campaign, making clear that “we’ve become very passive and quite reactive”.

With the game at 1-1 thanks to Chemsdine Talbi’s equaliser, Howe did make several changes in an attempt to be proactive instead, but the contributions of those who entered the field were minimal. Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, William Osula and Tino Livramento offered precious little, whilst Yoane Wissa’s late introduction felt desperate.

Le Bris meanwhile, was calm on the touch line. His three changes all came after 85 minutes had been played, highlighting the trust he had for those who were on the pitch representing Sunderland from the start. Their unity shone through, like a lighthouse piercing through the stormy seas, darkness and disarray that was Newcastle United.

The result leaves the sides just one point apart in the Premier League, with Sunderland moving just ahead of Newcastle. The Black Cats will now be plotting out the remainder of their season, trying to work out what else is possible in what has been a remarkable return to the Premier League, whilst their supporters will be drunk on derby delight.

For Newcastle, the word ‘crossroads’ is once again pertinent. It has been used on far too many occasions this year, but this latest junction feels like it has a dead end at one exit, and a catastrophic drop at another. Newcastle’s season could simply peter out, or it could crash and burn even more. The only alternative, and the one that Eddie Howe will aim for, is the road that leads up an increasingly steep hill. Whether Howe is able to navigate the ascent remains to be seen, but it is his only option after this result.

Régis Le Bris is on a completely different journey. Despite some difficulties in recent weeks, this mammoth victory has kept him on the straight and narrow, and regardless of what happens next, he will go down in Sunderland folklore.

Newcastle United’s season has been unrelenting. The club and its supporters have enjoyed massive highs whilst also enduring crushing lows. In Barcelona, the 10,000 Geordies who had made the journey were hoping for one of the former, which for 45 minutes looked possible, until it swiftly became the latter.

One night at the Camp Nou was a microcosm for the whole campaign. It showcased Newcastle at their brilliant attacking best, whilst also highlighting the horrors of individual errors in defence. As a result, any meaningful analysis of the mistakes made in this game, is perhaps, foolish. This is just how Newcastle have performed this year.

Eddie Howe, in the raw aftermath of a harrowing second half, captured the essence of what had occurred rather well, making clear that “as well as we played in the first half, and I thought we were outstanding in many aspects, we had too many individual errors within the performance to carry that great performance through”.

The bigger and more pressing question is, what can be done about those errors? They have plagued Newcastle’s season, and on this occasion, led to a 7-2 loss, in a game that was at one stage, there for the taking.

Aside from the errors, Howe was right in his assessment that Newcastle had been “outstanding” in the first half in an attacking sense. Anthony Elanga scored, what appeared at the time, to be two historic goals. The first especially, was a magnificent sight to be hold. But even though Newcastle scored two, Barcelona netted three.

Two slips led to the first from Raphinha. Marc Bernal grabbed the second after Dan Burn dropped too early at a set piece, and Kieran Trippier gave away a penalty for the third, which was tucked away by Lamine Yamal. An early Barcelona goal in the second half from Fermín López then opened the floodgates for further lapses, and that was that in terms of Newcastle’s Champions League adventure for this season.

Of course, the skill and technical ability of the likes of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri amongst others, is hard to ignore. They stepped up a level in the second half and deserve credit for doing so. But Newcastle should take heart from the fact that they had to.

What should help Newcastle going forward from this, will be playing fewer matches from now until the end of the season, but even that argument is tainted by the fact that if the Magpies want to become an elite club, they must become accustomed to going from game to game with minimal mistakes. This has not been achieved this season.

That will undoubtedly be a question for the summer, and will be reflected in the business that the club does in the transfer window. For now, Eddie Howe must concentrate on making sure that Newcastle qualify for Europe again in some form so that those problems can be fully addressed.

Howe said, “I’ve got no problems picking myself up, it’s more the players”, signifying that his most pressing issue will be a psychological one for his squad. Man management will be key, especially given that Newcastle next take on Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby in just a few short days.

With an international break following the derby, it represents the perfect chance to continue their momentum in the Premier League, with two wins in their last two top flight matches, and head into the final stretch of games with a spring still in their step.

Newcastle must be “mentally ready, physically ready for what’s going to be a huge game for us and for the whole city”, Howe stated. He knows how much the derby means to the supporters, especially after the disappointment of the clash between the sides at the Stadium of Light in December.

“We’ve got to play like our lives depend on it”, Howe added about the upcoming clash with Sunderland.

There is no doubt however, that this result against Barcelona will hurt everyone associated with the club. There was a real confidence ahead of kick off, which until moments before half time, looked to be well placed. In the end, that confidence was vanquished and the dream was dead.

When Murphy signed for Newcastle in the summer of 2017, he joined a club who, under Rafa Benitez, were freshly promoted from the Championship, and which looked very different to how it is now.

Mike Ashley held the keys to the club, and even the high of promotion could not fully mask the underlying reality of what Newcastle United was during that period. The frustration, the disappointment, and more often than not, the heartbreak. By October of that year though, Amanda Staveley was spotted at St. James’ Park, in what was the first sign of the change that was to come on Tyneside.

“I’ve had some really good mentors over the years, over the nine years that I’ve been here”, Murphy told North East Football TV ahead of the recent Champions League tie against Qarabag FK. “Matt Ritchie for one, he was amazing for me”, Murphy continued, very keen to mention the former Newcastle United and Scotland winger, who was instrumental both in helping the Magpies return to the top flight in 2017, and then stabilising them there. He was a leader at the club, both on and off the pitch.

Nearly ten years on, Ritchie is still playing professionally for Reading in League One, whereas Murphy is preparing to face Barcelona in the second leg of a Champions League Last 16 fixture.

In mentioning Matt Ritchie, Murphy not only highlighted just how much has changed at Newcastle United in just under a decade, but also he has managed to remain integral to the core of the club, even with all of the development and progress that has occurred.

In that time, Murphy had two loan spells away from the North East, first at West Bromwich Albion during 2019, and then at Sheffield Wednesday for the 2019/20 season. On both occasions, Murphy was taking a step down to play in the Championship, and one would not have blamed him for thinking that his Newcastle United career was all but over, having never really kicked into gear.

It seemed far-fetched, preposterous even, that Jacob Murphy, who had gone to the Championship twice in search of regular football, would once again represent Newcastle, never mind in a Champions League knockout tie. However, what perhaps made Muprhy different to others, were his roots.

Both he and his twin brother Josh grew up in north London, but their mother, from Birtley in Gateshead, clearly made an impression on their young footballing lives. Pictures exist of the two as infants, both adorning Newcastle United shirts from the mid-1990s. Whilst Josh has never been fortunate enough to pull on the famous black and white professionally, Jacob had, and having had that experience, having it again became almost like an itch that needed to be scratched.

His “resurgence”, as Murphy described it, came whilst wearing the blue and white of Sheffield Wednesday. ”Everything started to click for me, and that’s where I feel Jacob Murphy 2.0 was formed”.

Murphy returned to Newcastle from Wednesday in the summer of 2020, with the world stricken by Covid-19, and yet for the winger came “a couple of good seasons under Steve Bruce”, which were then followed by the the arrival of Eddie Howe in November 2021. As Murphy put it, “the gaffer came in and the rest is history.”

History it may be, but Murphy is still very a part of their present, even with the influx of new talent that has signed for the club since Eddie Howe became Head Coach. On Saturday at Stamford Bridge, he captained the club on-field to a one-nil win that reignited Newcastle’s hopes of European qualification via the Premier League this season. Much has been said and written of Blyth-born Dan Burn captaining the side in recent times, and of course, scoring at Wembley, but for Murphy, a boyhood Mag just like Burn, this was his moment.

Such a privilege came from Muprhy being elected into Newcastle United’s leadership group. Having such responsibility Murphy said was “awesome”, and he believes that he has brought a positive contribution to the group, which features players such as Bruno Guimarães, Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Burn.

Having become part of such esteemed company thanks to the votes of his fellow professionals, Murphy revealed that Matt Ritchie was “one of the first people I reached out to, and he said he had sensed them qualities in me from early on”. Quite fitting, it’s fair to say.

Perhaps it is the influence of Matt Ritchie, combined with Murphy’s Geordie upbringing, that have made him both the player and the person he is today. His delivery into the box and his eye for goal are qualities Ritchie also demonstrated at the peak of his powers in a black and white shirt, but also the passion, the willingness to succeed, were traits very much etched into Ritchie that Murphy displays now.

All of that will be needed when Murphy and Newcastle United step out at the Camp Nou to face Barcelona, with a place in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League at stake. This match represents the chance for this iteration of the club, with the current core (of which Murphy is a part), to climb to quite possibly their greatest height. Three years ago in 2023, as Newcastle lined up for the Champions League music at the San Siro, ahead of their return to the competition after 20 years, Muprhy’s beaming smile, infused with pride, excitement and emotion, was caught on camera for all to see. If such a smile is seen at the Camp Nou, it will signify that Newcastle United have reached the last eight, with Murphy very much at the heart of it all.

Amongst the barrage of competitive matches that Newcastle United have played of late, it is perhaps worth remembering that the Magpies won their last outing in the Premier League. William Osula’s late strike against Manchester United was very memorable and meant that the European places were still just about within touching distance.

Qualifying for Europe again depends on Newcastle either winning the Champions League, which is perhaps unlikely despite the Magpies being in a good position in their last 16 tie against Barcelona, or finding further form in the top flight. Standing in their immediate path to another victory was a Chelsea side who have been very hard to predict at times.

Given Newcastle’s next two games after Chelsea are Barcelona and Sunderland, most would have predicted that the Blues may have been victorious over the Magpies who did make changes to their lineup. Not to be though, with Eddie Howe’s side coming away with a hugely significant win at Stamford Bridge, with Anthony Gordon scoring the game’s only goal.

Eddie Howe himself knew the importance of the victory, especially when considering what is to come for Newcastle. “It’s great to go into those games with the good feeling that we have”, Howe said, knowing that now more than ever, his team need positive momentum.

That can come from his attacking players putting the ball in the net, but also his defenders being watertight at the back, something they have not managed for several weeks. Therefore, this clean sheet in the capital will have been extremely satisfying, as well as “long overdue”, as Howe made clear.

“All eyes on Barcelona”, Howe remarked after defeating Chelsea. Newcastle probably had one eye on that fixture to come during their encounter with Chelsea, but it certainly didn’t show and they started their huge week in perfect fashion.

Ahead of kick off, the Chelsea players formed their team huddle around the centre spot, as has become a recent tradition under Liam Rosenior. However, as the television cameras captured, their huddle surrounded referee, Paul Tierney. It was such a strange phenomenon, with all watching completely baffled by the sight of it.

Was it a tactic to intimidate Tierney? Whatever it was, it give Chelsea the impetus early on to attack Newcastle. In recent weeks, Newcastle may have crumbled at such pressure, and inevitably make an individual error that would lead to a goal. This time was different, however. Those in black and white stood firm, and weathered the early storm.

In doing that, Newcastle gained the confidence they needed to gain the lead. Tino Livramento burst forward out of defence with the ball, before cutting open the Chelsea defence with a pass through to Joe Willock. Willock was one-on-one, but unselfishly squared the ball to Anthony Gordon who then had the easy task of tapping home into an empty net.

Against the run of play it may have been, but it highlighted that the Magpies were on course to execute the textbook away performance. For Chelsea, despite their attacking prowess in the opening period, their defensive laziness was showcased by this goal. Not only was the gap in the middle of their back line far too wide, allowing Willock to get away, but once Gordon set off to create an option, the lack of effort from Wesley Fofana to chase back was inexcusable.

The one goal lead could have quite easily become two ten minutes before half time, when Malick Thiaw was wrestled to the ground in the box by Reece James. Tierney was unmoved, with VAR confirming his decision. Replays showed that James was very lucky to get away with his actions though. Maybe Tierney had been intimidated before the start of proceedings.

The second half saw Newcastle sit deep and defend their lead. They defended manfully, limiting Chelsea to precious few openings, and when Aaron Ramsdale was called into action, he was equal to everything thrown at him. There was clear frustration on the faces of the home players and supporters, symbolic of the season that they are having.

Of course, Newcastle have had an equally frustrating league campaign, but this display was one of a side with renewed confidence. Newcastle, one suspected, could have elevated their attacking performance if needed, whereas Chelsea looked stumped as the game reached its conclusion.

When the final whistle blew, it left Newcastle just six points behind their opponents with eight games to play. Chelsea currently occupy fifth place, which will likely be a Champions League spot come the end of the season. Many had written off finishing that high up the table, but is there now a glimmer of hope?

Eddie Howe will not dwell on that. His focus will be on Barcelona, and making club history in Europe. That is the nature of Newcastle United’s unrelenting season - one huge game after another.

Sunderland have been on a largely positive trajectory all season. That was until last weekend’s rather embarrassing FA Cup Fifth Round loss away at League One Port Vale. The side who occupy the bottom spot of the third division were fully deserving of the FA Cup upset that they caused, and it left the Black Cats at a crossroads for the first time this season.

With the possibility of a return to Wembley gone, but with Premier League safety secured the feeling around the Stadium of Light pre-match against Brighton was one of uncertainty. After so many inspiring results throughout the season so far, there has been a growing risk of the campaign fizzling out.

By the end of the 90 minutes on a cold but bright day on Wearside, those feelings had developed further, as Brighton claimed all three points thanks to a Yankuba Minteh goal in the second half. The Stadium of Light had been a fortress earlier this season, but now Régis Le Bris’ side have lost three in a row on home turf.

Of course, injuries to key players have played their part in Sunderland’s lack of form. Their bench against Brighton showed the scale of their issues, with Régis Le Bris admitting that Sunderland are “limited” in terms of experienced players at present.

“It’s not an excuse”, Le Bris was quick to add, before praising those who did come on during the match. Those introduced were Luke O’Nien, Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda, all of whom were solid, but did little in the way of adding to Sunderland’s attacking threat.

Ultimately, Sunderland “don’t have many solutions” as Le Bris made clear. Thankfully, they are safe in the top flight for another year, because if they were not, the final weeks of the campaign would have been a nervy prospect.

Despite Sunderland having much of the early possession, the first real chance fell to Brighton, when a teasing delivery from Yankuba Minteh was met by Jack Hinshelwood in the middle. His effort at point blank range was somehow saved by the legs of Melker Ellborg with the ball going out for a corner.

Then it was Sunderland’s turn to have what looked like a certain goal cleared at the last second. Brighton failed to clear as the ball bounced around in the box, with it eventually falling to Chemsdine Talbi. His shot was on course to nestle in the back of the net, but Lewis Dunk on the line managed to prevent Sunderland taking the lead.

This Sunderland opportunity inspired further openings but it was Brighton who had the most threatening moments as the first half continued. They had a couple of chances that they really should have done better with. Sunderland, meanwhile, on their forays forward, seemed far too reluctant to shoot when an effort on goal appeared to be the most obvious choice.

Luckily for Sunderland there was no such reluctance early in the second half to shoot from Chris Rigg, as he fired past Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle. That luck soon disappeared though, as the goal was swiftly ruled out for an offside in the build up - Omar Alderete the man who had strayed beyond the defensive line before winning a header.

The pressure from the home side went up a notch following that disallowed goal. Brighton struggled to find a way out of their own half, with Sunderland knocking on the door. But then, instead of the door opening, it slammed shut, with Brighton finding the key at the other end.

The Seagulls taking the lead was completely against the run of play, and it was perhaps, one of the strangest goals imaginable. It came from a Brighton corner swung in from the right, with Habib Diarra immediately going down as the ball entered the box. He stayed down amidst pleas for a foul from the home fans, but they were ignored by referee Thomas Kirk. The ball then found its way to Minteh, who, in an attempt to cross the ball from the byline, completely miss-kicked the ball, causing it to somehow spin and creep into the net.

Whilst conceding a goal of that manner was hugely frustrating, Sunderland did not respond to it with any creative flair. They ran out of ideas going forward, and Brighton, despite dropping a few yards deeper as they looked to hold onto the win, were never in any real danger.

At full time there was audible exasperation. It was clearly a missed opportunity for Sunderland to win another game, but it was their lack of creativity in the final third, especially when chasing the game, that will have annoyed Régis Le Bris and supporters alike.

Not a good time for Sunderland to be wobbling, with the small matter of the Tyne-Wear derby at St. James’ Park next weekend. By then they will hope to have a number of injured players available again, but the worry is that they will lack match fitness. For now, Le Bris will have to work with what he has.

There is a certain romance when Newcastle United and Barcelona meet. They are linked by Sir Bobby Robson, who took charge of both clubs, and on Tyneside at least, memories of 1997 remain fresh.

The hallowed turf at St. James’ Park still has echoes of Keith Gillespie charging down the wing, and Faustino Asprilla heading home for his hattrick. The noise, the passion, and the emotion all linger from that famous evening, waiting to be resurrected. Asprilla was back on Tyneside for this clash between the clubs, hoping that his presence might inspire new memories.

Eddie Howe and Lewis Hall had built the game up perfectly on Monday and now, under the lights, the stage was set. All the ingredients were there, and the actors assembled on the pitch. It was time for the show to begin.

What followed was a raucous 90 minutes that ended so cruelly for the Magpies. A lead given to them by Harvey Barnes was dashed so late on, and a draw was the outcome. Eddie Howe described Lamine Yamato’s equaliser as “a tough one to take”, which can be viewed as an understatement. It was gut wrenching.

“There was so much good today”, Howe said, making clear that Newcastle had deserved to win. They had indeed. They limited Barcelona to so little, whilst being a pertinent attacking force throughout the encounter.

Not all is lost though. The tie is effectively all on the match next week in Barcelona. It is the opportunity Howe and his players would have wanted coming out of the first leg, with the Head Coach stating that this match had been “a great advert for [Newcastle] as a club”. What is for certain is that they can go one better next week, and produce not only an advert, but a shockwave across the continent.

St. James’ Park thrives on big nights. The dazzling floodlights lit up an arena that was pumped and ready for action. Fireworks rocketed into black sky from the roof of the East Stand as Wor Flags unveiled their Gallowgate End display. It read ‘Geordie Boys Are Taking Over Budapest Awaits For Me’. Hungary’s capital city, the setting for this season’s Champions League final, is a long way off for Newcastle, but why not dream?

The energy in the stands was matched in those in black and white on the pitch. All of the early running came from Newcastle, who conjured several half chances; winning a number of corners. Perhaps their best of the first period fell to Anthony Elanga, who having been played through so his goal-bound effort saved by the finger tips of Joan García.

William Osula also went close with a header that went just over the crossbar. As for Barcelona, they managed to break with speed on a few occasions, but apart from one shot that went straight down the throat of Aaron Ramsdale, their attacking threat was blunt in the first 45.

Apart from the lack of a first half lead, the main gripe of Newcastle supporters was the Barcelona’s high profile winger Lamine Yamal not being booked for what appeared to be a blatant body check on Lewis Hall. A yellow card for Yamal would have seen him miss the second leg.

All associated with Newcastle knew though, that with the game finely poised on Tyneside, and with another leg to come in Spain, they needed to take one of the openings that they created. They needed something tangible to take to the Camp Nou that might give them a realistic chance of knocking out a European heavyweight from this season’s competition.

Where the Magpies had started to wither in their first meeting with Barcelona this season, this time they grew stronger. The second half saw their intensity increase, with Newcastle winning the individual battles on the pitch.

Substitute Jacob Murphy fired an effort over the bar, Harvey Barnes struck the post, before Joelinton put the rebound in from an offside position. Emotions all over were growing, but would just one chance drop kindly for Newcastle?

With the game building to a crescendo, Murphy played a quick one-two with Tino Livramento, allowing him to whip in an inch-perfect delivery for Barnes who sent the ball towards goal. García tried, but he could not keep it out. The net rippled and the roar of 50,000 Geordies bellowed into the night. The lead they had been looking for had been found, but not long later, it was gone.

Four minutes were added on after the 90 minutes were up, and with all four having been played (plus another 20 seconds), Malick Thiaw was adjudged to have clipped the shin of Dani Olmo. The Spaniard went down theatrically, but it didn’t matter. Lamine Yamal then stepped up to the spot, having been in Lewis Hall’s pocket all game, and sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way.

It was cruel. Injustice filled the air. Barcelona did not deserve the draw they achieved. Newcastle had played so well and got so close to a famous win, only for it to be snatched away.

Next week the two sides will lock horns again at the Camp Nou, where the winner will reach the last eight. The pain Newcastle have felt here, they will undoubtedly take to Spain next week, looking to avenge this heartbreak. All is certainly not lost.

This season Eddie Howe’s side went to the Parc des Princes and came away with a 1-1 draw against PSG, a game that they should have won. They know they have it in them, so why not go one better? The best away day in Newcastle United’s history awaits for them, all they have to do is grasp it.

Cup football has always been popular in the North East, but until Newcastle United’s triumph in last season’s Carabao Cup, the region had been starved of success since Sunderland won the FA Cup in 1973. With the Magpies exiting this season’s FA Cup at the hands of Manchester City, Sunderland knew that a real opportunity had presented itself for them.

Premier League safety was all but assured by the Black Cats after their victory over Leeds United in midweek. It left the club in the unusual position (in the context of recent years) of being able to give the FA Cup a real go. A win over the side bottom of League One, Port Vale, would see Sunderland into the last eight.

After what has been an almost model season for a newly promoted side going up from the Championship to the Premier League, the chance of crowning such a campaign with a trip to Wembley and even a trophy almost seemed too good to be true. And so it proved.

Port Vale have endured a tough season in League One, but still found it within themselves to knock out a strong Sunderland side. “Disappointed”, was how Régis Le Bris described his emotions at full time, perhaps masking his true thoughts. Or perhaps not.

“We wanted to go further”, Le Bris continued, lacking full conviction in what he was saying. His side went out in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup on penalties against Huddersfield Town, and now exited the FA Cup against Port Vale. Clearly the Premier League has been the priority, but such results will frustrate supporters.

Le Bris will certainly have been annoyed with his side’s performance. “We didn’t do enough”, he made clear, before speaking about the importance of consistency. In truth, there was indeed consistency between this display and the one at Elland Road in that they were equally lacking in quality. Against Leeds they got the job done, against Port Vale they did not, but valid concerns remain.

The pitch at Vale Park had been a talking point ahead of kick off, with it being less than Premier League standard, to put it nicely. This was not an excuse for Régis Le Bris, however, who had made it very clear that his side would have to adapt to suit the conditions. As a club, Sunderland spent several years in League One not that long ago, with matchday captain Luke O’Nien playing a huge part in it.

And yet, despite his experience at this level, it was O’Nien who almost put through his own net in what was the first real hair raising moment for the Premier League side. A back pass that he played to goalkeeper Melker Ellborg more closely resembled a hoof upfield, or even a conversion in rugby. It was goal-bound until Ellborg, leaping like a salmon managed to head the ball over the bar and out for a corner.

There then came a perplexed smile on the face of Ellborg as he looked at O’Nien following the incident. In truth, there was nothing to smile about as Port Vale took the lead soon after via a source that the Sunderland supporters at least, will certainly not have wanted.

Ben Waine was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but his mother’s family hail from Tyneside. As a result, Waine grew up supporting Newcastle United. It was he, of all people, who headed Port Vale in front, after Sunderland had failed to clear their lines from a corner. It almost felt inevitable.

Waine’s Shearer-esque celebration, with one hand raised aloft, added insult to injury for the Black Cats, but crucially they still had plenty of time left in the match. Surely this would be but a small and temporary embarrassment?

It turned out not to be. Instead Waine’s goal was the defining moment of the match. In the second half Sunderland huffed and puffed, bafflingly trying to play their usual passing game on a surface that would not allow for it. Before Vale’s goal, Eliezer Mayenda had struck the post, but following that their only half chances came either from set pieces or when they eventually they sent the ball long and above the pitch.

Port Vale stood firm though, and on occasion, darted forward on menacing counter attacks. Unlike Sunderland, who wasted too much time passing on the halfway line, the home side played penetrating balls towards the Black Cats’ final third, one of which nearly saw Ellborg sent off.

George Hall sprinted through and in his attempt to take the ball past Ellborg he was brought down by the Sunderland keeper. Referee Anthony Taylor decided that Hall was heading away from goal at the time of the foul, and Ellborg escaped with a yellow card instead of a red.

All of Sunderland’s last ditch attempts were foiled by Port Vale, and by the time the final whistle came, the Black Cats looked very deflated. It represents a huge reality check for many players at Sunderland who have perhaps got by on the adrenaline and excitement that the Premier League has brought them. Port Vale is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of the top flight, but they were enough to see Sunderland come terribly unstuck.

As Newcastle United prepared to take on Manchester City for the fifth time this season across all competitions, the feeling around St. James’ Park was one of quiet expectation. After a brilliant performance against Manchester United in the Premier League in midweek, they now had the opportunity to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, and move a step closer to another trophy and a route back into Europe.

For a club that wants to be one of the best in the world by 2030, continually qualifying for Europe would appear to be a necessity. Returning to the Champions League is, barring a miracle, out of reach this season, but qualification for the Europa League would be a much-needed positive. Via the Premier League that is still possible, but a challenge indeed, meaning that triumphing in the FA Cup seemed like a good alternative.

Certainly, when Harvey Barnes opened the scoring, it felt like the dream was possible, but then Manchester City showed just why they are an elite club, and Newcastle, at present, are not.

The FA Cup as a pathway back into Europe was gone, although Eddie Howe refused to be negative, and said that the upcoming Champions League last 16 encounter with Barcelona is “the biggest game in the club’s history”.

There is “no time to dwell” on the FA Cup exit, as Howe put it, which given the magnitude of the two-legged Barcelona fixture is understandable, but it gives the feeling that Newcastle are placing all of their eggs in one basket. The FA Cup, on the surface at least, would have appeared to be more winnable than the Champions League, but Newcastle are clearly targeting the latter.

And what does it say about the Magpies’ hopes in the Premier League? Their form domestically from now until the end of the season will be telling, but soon enough that may be all they have left to play for.

Both sides were much changed from the start, but Newcastle, desperate to make a success of this season, carried the bigger threat. William Osula should have done better when played through by Sandro Tonali, and Nick Woltemade saw a header cleared off the line.

The only moment the visitors had early on was Tijjani Reijnders firing an effort wide of the post, with Malick Thiaw doing enough to put the Manchester City midfielder off. Pep Guardiola’s side were certainly not playing with their usual swagger, and they were unable to prevent the Magpies from opening the scoring just shy of the midpoint of the first half.

With Sven Botman having done well to retain possession for Newcastle, Sandro Tonali then slid a perfectly weighted pass through to Harvey Barnes. The Newcastle winger drove into the box from the left and made no mistake with his shot, curling the ball past James Trafford.

Unfortunately for the home side, in taking the lead, they fell into their usual trap of dropping too deep and soaking up too much pressure. It felt as if their lead was not sustainable, and that ultimately proved to be the case. Manchester City found an equaliser as half time approached, albeit in rather strange fashion.

Having reached the byline on the left, Jérémy Doku fired a wicked ball across goal, but instead of another blue shirt prodding it home, it ricocheted off Savinho at the back post and just about scrambled over the line, despite Aaron Ramsdale’s best efforts to keep it out.

With the scores level, Manchester City then followed up their equaliser with a barrage of attacks as they looked to turn the game on its head. They penned Newcastle in their own final third, and really should have done better with some of the opportunities that they created for themselves.

Manchester City did not manage to find the lead by half time, but it did not take them long to get themselves ahead in the second half. Once again the visitors got to the byline, Matheus Nunez on this occasion, before pulling the ball back, with Omar Marmoush this time on hand to find the net. It was the worst possible start to the second period for Newcastle.

With Newcastle now behind, it became a question of whether they could wrestle back the momentum of the match, with the juggernaut of Manchester City having assumed total control since the Magpies initially took the lead.

Possession did become less scarce than it had been, allowing Newcastle to at least progress up the field at times, but apart from a Joe Willock shot which fell nicely for him but was fired way over the bar (and probably found its way into the Tyne), the possibility of Newcastle scoring a second looked unlikely. Fatigue was kicking in for a side who have played more games than anyone else in the Premier League this season across all competitions.

It was telling that when Omar Marmoush picked up the ball just outside the box, he had enough space to line up a shot and arrow it directly into the top corner for Manchester City’s third.

The remaining time left in the match became a non event. With the result settled, both sides were looking ahead to their Champions League fixtures in midweek, but for Newcastle this felt like a night of what could have been. Their start to the match had been so good, and their lead was deserved, but the encounter soon became a real showcase of just how far Newcastle need to go to become an elite club.

If CEO David Hopkinson is to be believed, that will be in less than four years time, but at present it feels a long, long way off.

Newcastle United were left reeling after their home loss against Everton on Saturday. Just as it seemed they had turned a corner in terms of both performances and results, Everton scored three goals on Tyneside and came away with three points despite hardly threatening for much of the match.

Once again Newcastle were at a crossroads, and at the worst possible time, with the fixtures to come in March being their toughest run of successive games in recent memory. The first was the visit of Manchester United to St. James’ Park, with the Red Devils currently managed by boyhood Magpie, Michael Carrick.

Since becoming a Head Coach, Carrick had never returned to Tyneside. Would his homecoming be a happy one? The answer was a resounding no. His Manchester United side were deservedly beaten by Eddie Howe’s Newcastle who were brilliant to a man, despite playing for half of the match with ten men.

2-1 was the final score, with Newcastle’s winning goal coming beautifully late on through an unlikely source in William Osula. Howe was full of praise for his match-winner, revealing that Osula “asked after training yesterday for ten more balls. He wanted ten more finishes - [a] carbon copy of the goal he scored today, and he scored eight out of ten.”

Howe continued,“I’m a great believer in [if] you do the work, you get the reward. I’m delighted for him personally.”

A magical moment from Osula, and a reward, not just for him, but for Howe too, whose big calls both before and during the match paid off. “That was us somewhere near our best level again,” he made clear, and at just the right time of the season.

It was a lively encounter from the off. Newcastle were clearly out to make a positive impression in front of their supporters after three losses in succession at St. James’ Park in their last three Premier League games at home. The majority of the early running came from the Magpies, but the closest they came to opening the scoring was a looped cross from Kieran Trippier unintentionally ricocheting off the post.

Such has been Newcastle’s defensive frailties of late, there was a clear sense of fear when Manchester United managed to get into attacking positions, but the Magpies managed to prevent their opponents from really threatening during the opening part of the match.

Eddie Howe was without Nick Woltemade, who has been the subject of much discussion online in recent days, with the German forward ruled out with a sickness bug. It meant that Howe once again opted for Anthony Gordon in attack, in the hope that Gordon’s pace and pressing would be more effective against a Manchester United side who have been expansive under Michael Carrick.

Newcastle were certainly getting into good positions, but what they needed were more shots on target. Both Harvey Barnes and Joelinton had shots from the edge of the box where they really should have done better.

However, the overriding theme of the first half was referee Peter Bankes, slowly but surely, losing control of the game. He booked both Jacob Ramsey and Joelinton of Newcastle for professional fouls, before also carding Bryan Mbeumo and Luke Shaw of Manchester United.

The home crowd were aggravated that more decisions did not go in their favour, and they became incensed when Ramsey was shown a second yellow for apparent simulation in the visitors’ penalty area. The frustration came from the fact that neither Ramsey nor any of his teammates made any appeal for a penalty. There was no contact between the Newcastle midfielder and the Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, but Ramsey did not appear to have dived, instead his foot seemingly got caught in the turf causing him to fall.

The only positive that came for Newcastle in this situation was that it fired up the home crowd even more. As the half drew to a close, the noise drove Anthony Gordon forward into the box, where he was brought down by Bruno Fernandes. Gordon returned to his feet and fired the spot kick down the middle and into the net.

Just as it looked to be a great end to the half for Newcastle, despite the red card, the issue of the Magpies conceding almost immediately after scoring raised its head once again. Bankes seemed to allow play in stoppage time to continue for an eternity, and certainly long enough for Fernandes to whip in a free kick that was headed home by Casemiro.

Strangely, the second half was much less frantic than the first. Manchester United, despite their man advantage, did not immediately look to put Newcastle on the back foot. It was the home side who were the more positive initially, although Michael Carrick’s side eventually began to dominate possession.

Newcastle were relatively comfortable defending, although Aaron Ramsdale was forced into producing two highly impressive saves. They reinvigorated Newcastle and the crowd at St. James’ Park. The ‘us against the world’ mentality reemerged and suddenly it was the home side who looked to win the game.

That they did, in spectacular fashion. William Osula, recently on as a substitute, won the ball back in his own half before laying it off to Trippier. The young Danish forward then galloped off down the line like an Olympic sprinter and was found by Trippier, before taking the ball inside, and firing a curling effort goal-bound. In a flash the net rippled and the roof came off.

Unlike previously, Newcastle did not then concede straight from kick off. They instead defended manfully and saw the game out for a precious three points. The final whistle felt like the start of something big. Newcastle have had many moments where they have failed to build momentum this season, but perhaps this one, ahead of what is going to be a difficult run of games, can be the lift off they have been looking for.

Règis Le Bris has been asked many times this season what Sunderland can achieve in their first season back in the Premier League. Each time the French Head Coach has replied saying that getting to 40 points is their first priority. Whilst that has been a slightly frustrating answer for some in the press room on Wearside, given how often it has been repeated, Le Bris’ stoic nature has been admirable.

Heading into their match at Elland Road, Sunderland finally had the opportunity to reach that target and effectively declare themselves safe in the Premier League for another season. To reach that target in March would be a huge accomplishment given how some had written the Black Cats off at the start of the season in August.

Sunderland have been the best of the newly promoted sides this season, with Burnley, despite some of their determination, likely to go back down, and Leeds still fighting for their survival. Daniel Farke’s side have been much more effective in the second half of the season, but even with Sunderland’s long injury list, the Black Cats got the job done.

It certainly was not a pretty affair, but such has been Sunderland’s determination this season, it was a “proud” night for the club, as Le Bris put it.

“I’m happy for the lads, happy for the staff, the club and the fans”, Le Bris said after the one-nil victory, clearly aware of just how significant these three points were in amongst all of the other points won during the campaign.

Sunderland’s unity has been vital this season, and it was again on show in this game. Le Bris referenced the “energy and togetherness” of his team that got them over the line at Elland Road. It may not have been a swashbuckling win, but it was one to remember.

There was a distinct lack of quality in the first half. There were fouls aplenty and there was absolutely no flow to the game. Leeds were the side who looked to take the ascendancy, but they failed to test Sunderland’s debutant goalkeeper Melker Ellborg in any meaningful way.

It was a frustrating watch, given some of the play-acting, wasting of time, and the referee buying far too many soft fouls, whilst failing to spot the wrestling often occurring in the box.

On the subject of the latter, Sunderland’s captain for the night, Luke O’Nien, was extremely fortunate to not concede a penalty during the first period, as he flung his arm around the neck of Pascal Struijk. It’s something that is happening in almost every Premier League match at present, and referees’ failure to clamp down on it is not good for the sport.

That is an argument for another day, however, and on this occasion, O’Nien got away with his attempt at an RKO that Randy Orton would have been proud of. What it did show though, is that Sunderland’s makeshift back line were willing to do anything to not concede in this game. It was as if they were possessed. All they needed was a touch of fortune at the opposite end of the pitch, and they certainly got one in the second half.

Strangely enough, Sunderland’s winning goal came just minutes after the ball had been in their own net. Anton Stach whipped a free kick in from left of the box that was met at the back post by Joe Rodon. The Welshman simply helped the ball into the goal with his head, but his, and Leeds’ celebrations, were soon cut short by VAR ruling the goal offside. The replays showed that Rodon was well ahead of the defence.

Sunderland then went forward, and just as their attack looked to be coming to nothing, Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu handled the ball in the area. The movement of his arm toward the ball did not help his case, and after VAR told Stuart Attwell to go to the monitor, there was only going to be one outcome.

Up stepped Habib Diarra, scorer of a spot kick against Oxford United when Sunderland progressed against the Championship side in the FA Cup recently. The Senegal international’s penalty was poor, not one he will be proud of, but it found its way into the net despite Karl Darlow getting his legs to the effort.

This prompted Leeds to go all out in attack. On came a barrage of positive substitutions from Farke, as the Whites looked for the equaliser. However, it never really felt as if it would arrive. Leeds did increase their intensity going forward, but Ellborg was relatively comfortable between the sticks for Sunderland.

When the final whistle went after 12 minutes of additional time it was the confirmation that Sunderland were once again an established Premier League side. Régis Le Bris, who had overseen a summer of change following their promotion, had worked enough magic to stabilise the club in the top flight.

Le Bris may now answer questions of what can be achieved this season. He will also be pleased to know that League One Port Vale will be their opponents in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. What is certain is that the Black Cats can now relax and enjoy whatever the rest of the season may bring.

Newcastle United have showcased their best performances of the season in recent weeks in a number of competitions. With the season heading into the business end, Newcastle have looked as if they were coming to the boil at just the right time, to salvage a season that has been incredibly up and down, both physically and emotionally.

Ahead of what is to be a season-defining month of March when the fixture list is viewed, Newcastle will have undoubtedly viewed their home tie against Everton as a great opportunity to continue momentum, and provide the foundations to be successful in the month to come.

However, such has been the consistently inconsistent form of Eddie Howe’s side during this campaign, it became another opportunity missed, thanks to the defensive frailties of the Magpies being very much highlighted.

Most frustratingly for Newcastle in the 2-3 loss on this occasion (and during others) was the fact that Everton did not create many chances at all, and yet scored three goals. Teams are coming against Newcastle and not having to play brilliantly to score against them. “It’s something we’ve tried to address, but we haven’t addressed it well enough”, Howe said at full time.

“It’s something we’re going to have to focus on now”, he added, alluding to the fact that he knew full well that the individual errors and sloppiness in defence were becoming increasingly common and indefensible.

Howe made clear that early on in the season, Newcastle had been very watertight at the back, but conceded that something has changed in their ability to keep the ball out of the net. Defensive injuries have not helped them this season, but despite that, such an issue cannot go on if this season is somehow still able to be salvaged.

Both sides made plenty of early running, although it was Everton who looked slightly more threatening. After a couple of instances where they probably should have done better, the visitors took the lead just after the quarter hour, when Jarrad Branthwaite’s near post header from a corner flew over everyone in the six yard box, and went in off the post.

Going behind seemed to kick Newcastle into gear, and they were able to draw level thanks to a deflected effort from Jacob Ramsey. Once again, a match at St. James’ Park had the feel that it was going to be a goal-fest, but who would be on the correct end by the final whistle?

Everton have had a strange season, and have actually been more successful away from home, and the reason why became immediately evident after Newcastle had levelled. Straight from the kick off they looked to attack Newcastle again. Within just two minutes of the restart, Dwight McNeil aimed what appeared to be a relatively tame effort at Nick Pope from range, but Pope somehow, in his attempt to gather the ball in, saw it spin away from him, and into the path of Beto who scored an easy tap in.

Not for the first time has Pope made a high profile blunder this season, and each time it has cost Newcastle points, either domestically or in Europe. Naturally, it frustrated the crowd and the Magpies knew they again had a mountain to climb in the second half.

That second period started in poor fashion for Newcastle, as Jacob Ramsey, despite reemerging, was suddenly taken off after appearing to be feeling sick. That was a bitter blow for Newcastle, given that Ramsey had been their best player in the first half, and had scored their goal.

Joe Willock came on and Newcastle attempted to rescue something after again being behind at the interval. David Moyes and Everton, hoping to hold onto their lead, sat deep and tried to frustrate Newcastle, perhaps in the knowledge that the Magpies tend to struggle against sides who employ such a tactic. Newcastle applied plenty of pressure, but they failed to really test Jordan Pickford during this period, barring one shot from Anthony Gordon.

Then came a strange moment where the ball appeared to have been shepherded out of play for a throw by Malick Thiaw, before Beto prodded the ball forward and ran through on goal. The majority inside St. James’ Park were furious, but Beto proceeded, only for the Everton forward to cannon his shot off the crossbar.

This felt like it could be pivotal, and it appeared to be when finally, Newcastle managed to get a meaningful shot on goal. It came from Jacob Murphy, and took a small nick which was enough to beat Jordan Pickford. Given the way the game had progressed through the second half, it seemed obvious that Newcastle would go on to win the match, but to the frustration of most inside St. James’ Park, the opposite occurred.

As they had in the first half, Newcastle imploded upon drawing level. Within moments of Everton restarting the match, they fumbled the ball over the line thanks to Thierno Barry. It was a catastrophe for Newcastle.

After what had appeared to be a turning point in their season after the loss at home against Brentford, here were the Magpies again making the same mistakes on the same pitch. What should have been a pivotal win for Newcastle turned into another agonising loss, which leaves them once again questioning which direction to go next.

Are Newcastle a cup team? It is a prudent question given that Newcastle have seemingly raised their game in for such occasions. They may have to continue with that, because at present, as difficult as winning a cup may be, it actually seems like their best chance of getting back into Europe.

In playing the Champions League matches they have this season, Newcastle United have moved ahead of Leeds United in the list of all-time European matches played by English clubs. They now sit seventh, behind Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

In their history, Newcastle have won the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, reached the latter stages of the UEFA Cup (which the Fairs Cup became), and had several memorable nights in the Champions League. Never though, had they reached the final 16 teams left in UEFA’s elite European club competition.

That little piece of club history was what awaited the Magpies when they took to the field in the second leg of their play-off knockout round against Azerbaijani side Qarabag FK. Newcastle had done the hard work in Baku the previous week, winning 1-6 away from home to give themselves a monstrous aggregate lead, one which despite their rather lax display back on Tyneside, was never going to be relinquished.

Before even ten minutes in this leg had been played Newcastle had added two more goals, going on to win 3-2 and 9-3 on aggregate. Eddie Howe said “I don’t think it was a great performance”, when reflecting on this tie, but added that he was “really pleased that we won.”

“There’s a positive feel”, Howe continued, looking ahead to the next round, but also hinting that his side’s recent results have reinvigorated their season, which is undoubtedly true.

It has been a campaign of ups and downs for Newcastle, but Howe described this victory as “massive”, and he and his players will know that there is still plenty that can be achieved before it ends.

It did not take long for Newcastle to extend their large aggregate advantage. Sandro Tonali, who has been going through a resurgence of late, managed to direct the ball home after Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski had made an initial save from a header.

Just a minute later Newcastle added a second, this time Joelinton volleying home Harvey Barnes’ delivery in from the left. That made the score 8-1 overall, with Newcastle already looking ahead to whether they will take on Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16.

Eddie Howe had made several changes to the Magpies’ team that had started in Baku a week earlier, but despite this they were again too much for Qarabag to handle. The pace, power and physicality of Newcastle dominated the Azerbaijani side, who looked out of their depth for a team playing at this level of European football. They tried to stay rigid and compact but it was to no avail in the early stages.

As the first half progressed Newcastle gradually took their foot off the gas, even conceding a couple of half chances to their opponents. Such a drop off was understandable given the context of the tie at that moment, with Newcastle players probably not wanting to fully exert themselves. However, it likely won’t have pleased Eddie Howe too much.

The second half started how the first half had ended, with Newcastle playing with a very relaxed style. Such was their laid back nature that Qarabag managed to get themselves a goal on the night. Camilo Duran burst through the middle, outpacing Dan Burn, and finished well past Ramsdale. Such was Newcastle’s commanding position, it brought the strange phenomenon of Newcastle supporters applauding the goal. Some might call that patronising, but it seemed to be done with good intentions.

The home fans soon had another goal of their own to celebrate, Sven Botman this time powering home a header from a corner. The second half certainly had more life about it than the first, and the visitors were determined not to make the long trip home without a whimper, and they grabbed their second thanks to a rebound from a penalty.

Handball was given against Dan Burn in the Newcastle box, and despite Aaron Ramsdale saving the spot kick, Elvin Jafarguliyev managed to squeeze the ball home when it fell to him. Ramsdale made a good save with his legs from the penalty, but did not cover himself in glory in his attempt to keep out the rebound, which will have frustrated him.

That was just about the last bit of real action the second half had to give. There were various moments where both sides could have done better in the final third, but in all honesty the game had become a non event. Qarabag were clearly satisfied with their two goals on Tyneside, and Newcastle, despite being nowhere near their best for large parts, were making club history by progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time.

There is no doubt that Sunderland have been a valuable and worthy addition to the Premier League this season. At the Stadium of Light especially, they have served up some stellar performances, full of physicality and passion. The synergy between the players in red and white, and those adoring the same colours in the stands has been something to behold.

Certainly, the Black Cats have bucked the recent trend of being a newly promoted side who were simply happy to be in the Premier League before returning to the Championship with barely a whimper. It has been very impressive to say the least.

In recent weeks however, some of that never-say-die attitude and bullish physicality has been slightly lacking, which has been reflected in the losses that the Black Cats have suffered. This came to the forefront again, as Fulham took all three points from the Stadium of Light.

Régis Le Bris admitted himself that Sunderland are “a bit less dominant physically”, at present.

“It’s probably a bad period at the moment”, Le Bris continued, seemingly hoping that the current lack of aggression will not persist for the rest of the season. Sunderland will have to find a momentum-breaking win from somewhere though, and rediscover the bite that made them so formidable earlier on in the season.

Le Bris, clearly aware of that notion, made clear that “we have to find solutions rather than searching for excuses”, which will appease supporters, during what is quite clearly a rough patch on Wearside. It is one that needs to be navigated to make sure that Sunderland are indeed comfortable come May.

The only way to describe the first half was sloppy. Quality was at a minimum from both sides, who instead of trying to win the match, were seemingly having a competition to see who could give the ball away the most. It did not make for brilliant viewing.

On top of the dire play, there were an unusual amount of injuries. Sunderland saw both Nordi Mukiele and Jocelin Ta Bi forced off because of knocks, with Fulham having to replace Kevin. Perhaps the only moments of slight excitement from an otherwise forgettable first period were Sunderland making some blocks high up which invigorated the crowd, and Fulham pushing forward for the odd counter attack.

It was certainly nothing to write home about, but surely the second half would not be as poor? Well, Sunderland made an attempt to get things going at the start of the second half. They started the period with much more energy and really should have taken the lead via Romaine Mundle. With only the goalkeeper in his way he somehow managed to put his shot wide of the post.

The miss from Mundle was undoubtedly a bad one, and Fulham punished Sunderland for it, by finally delivering a good ball into the box. It was a corner swung in by Alex Iwobi and headed home by Raúl Jiménez. The second for the visitors followed soon after. After VAR review Brian Brobbey was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Calvin Bassey in the Sunderland box and a penalty was awarded by Craig Pawson. Jiménez, after a stutter, sent Roefs the wrong way for his second.

The Stadium of Light has been a fortress all season long for Sunderland but all of a sudden the walls were falling down. The damage done by Liverpool in Sunderland’s last outing on Wearside in penetrating the defences, was now allowing Fulham to knock them down entirely.

Of course, regardless of what has been thrown at Sunderland this season, they have never backed down. This occasion was no different, and thanks to a spot kick scored by Enzo Le Fée, they found themselves back in the game when their performance really did not merit it.

Ultimately though, the Black Cats were unable to draw level this time. After the initial excitement of Le Fée’s goal, they quickly returned to the disjointed display that had plagued them all afternoon. Iwobi then grabbed Fulham’s third in the 85th minute, lifting the ball over Roefs from a tight angle to seal the victory. After having not lost a game at home all season before Liverpool visited Wearside, they had now lost two in a row.

Some may call this defeat a bad day at the office, but the more sobering truth is that Sunderland have not played well for several weeks now. Their only recent league win against Burnley was just as much a result of Burnley being extremely poor as it was Sunderland being good.

It could be argued that the absence of Granit Xhaka in that time has been a huge factor, and that is undoubtedly true, and that his return off the bench in this match may pave the way for better performances to come. However, that does infer that Sunderland are simply not the same team without him in it, something which is quite concerning.

Xhaka will need time to get up to full speed in the games to come, and whilst that occurs, Sunderland must be more effective as a cohort. They cannot rely on their Swiss star to constantly pull the strings for them, otherwise their season is at real risk of petering out.

Away matches have been a big stumbling block for Newcastle United this season. The widely acknowledged truth is that they have lost too many of them, and played poorly in the vast majority. And yet, three away wins on the bounce in three different competitions in their last three matches has brought confidence to a Newcastle side who badly needed it when not playing at St. James’ Park.

Their fourth away game in succession brought them to the Etihad Stadium, a venue that has not been a happy hunting ground for many, many years for the Magpies. Their last win there in any competition came in 2014, in the Capital One Cup as it was back then, thanks to goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko. It was therefore going to be a challenge for Newcastle to extend their winning run.

In the end it was not to be for Newcastle. Their barren run in the blue half of Manchester continued, but it was certainly not a poor performance from the travelling Toon.

“We gave everything we had”, said Eddie Howe, “but we switched off a couple of times”. Those moments were enough for Manchester City to just about get over the line, highlighting that it was not the usual formality for those in sky blue when facing Newcastle on home turf.

The biggest compliment of Newcastle’s performance came from Pep Guardiola following the full time whistle. “Newcastle are an incredible team”, he said knowing full well that his team had been involved in a proper Premier League encounter. Another loss it may have been for Newcastle on the road, but it was one they could take credit from.

Manchester City were quick out of the traps and forced Newcastle into defending early on. The Magpies were desperate not to experience a repeat of the three early goals they conceded at the Etihad in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi final. Frustratingly for Eddie Howe, Manchester City found an opening before the quarter hour mark had been reached.

The goal, scored by Nico O’Reilly was a well-struck shot from outside the area, but for a keeper of Nick Pope’s experience, he really should have pushed the strike past the post. It has been an interesting season for Pope. At times he has produced top class saves, but they have been sandwiched by too many errors that have cost Newcastle points.

When the sides met only a couple of weeks ago, Newcastle knew they had to push hard to find a way back into the two-legged tie, which ultimately left them open, leading to the second and third goals. That was disappointing from a Newcastle perspective, but there was slight encouragement that despite the goals conceded, the Magpies had created big opportunities on the night which they failed to take.

This time was different. Instead of capitulating, Newcastle showed some of the quality that saw them win their last three games in succession, all of which have been away from home. This was typified by Lewis Hall scoring the equaliser less than ten minutes after O’Reilly’s opener. Hall’s goal took a big deflection off Rayan Aït-Nouri; enough to see it creep past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Following that, Newcastle demonstrated some of the away day problems that have plagued at times this season. Only five minutes after drawing level, Eddie Howe’s side were behind again, with O’Reilly heading home his second. Erling Haaland, who is so often the scorer, turned provider to pick out O’Reilly in the middle.

Just before the interval, Newcastle again had the ball in the net. Dan Burn headed past Donnarumma which appeared to have brought the Magpies level again, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Replays then showed that Burn was physically pushed into an offside position by Rúben Dias. It begs the question as to why this incident was not looked at further? Anywhere else on the pitch a push of that nature would have brought a foul, so why not in this instance, especially given that it caused Burn to be offside from a cross he went on to score form?

The break brought changes from Manchester City, clearly keen to protect their lead. Perhaps Newcastle sensed that Pep Guardiola was slightly nervous about holding onto the win, because it was the visitors who had the ascendancy in the second period. It was Newcastle, who have for so long struggled at the Etihad, who were pushing forward and making Manchester City defend deep.

Emotions ran high for the Magpies, and they became increasingly incensed at decisions made by referee Thomas Bramall that went against them. They argued that Bernardo Silva should have seen a second yellow card for a foul on Dan Burn, as well as Bramall blowing his whistle for challenges on Manchester City players that appeared soft on first viewing. Of course, whilst there were frustrations, Newcastle knew they had to push past them and attempt to gain something from the game.

The question was could they find another goal? The answer was no they could not, but they certainly gave a great account of themselves, considering the long-distance midweek travelling they had endured. Despite the fatigue that would have undoubtedly crept in, the likes of Anthony Gordon, Joe Willock and Sandro Tonali all performed well and were unlucky to be on the losing side.

In what feels like an unrelenting period of the season, Newcastle are again in action on Tuesday evening, in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Qarabağ. Positively for Eddie Howe, such was the margin of their victory in Baku, they will likely be able to rotate a few players in this fixture to come, before they then face Everton at St. James’ Park a few days after that.

Heading into their match against Oxford United at the Riverside, Middlesbrough knew that a victory of any type was what was required. Monday night’s loss against promotion rivals Coventry City will certainly have hurt the Teessiders. They played well against the Sky Blues on the ball, but were lacking physically and conceded sloppy goals.

The loss at the Coventry Building Society Arena put Frank Lampard’s side just one point ahead of Kim Hellberg’s Boro, a lead which was extended to four points by Coventry winning away at West Bromwich Albion before Middlesbrough kicked off. The incentive of remaining hot on the heels of Coventry was there for Boro to grasp.

Opponents Oxford, on paper, would have appeared to have been the perfect side for Middlesbrough to play when needing a win. The fixture pitted second top in the Championship against second bottom. Only Sheffield Wednesday, languishing on minus seven points (as a result of entering administration) sat below Oxford.

Football is never that predictable, however. The comfortable win that some may have predicted did not occur. “It was very difficult”, Boro boss Kim Hellberg admitted when reflecting on the first half.

“We should have moved them [side-to-side] a little bit more. That is the thing we could have done better”, Hellberg added.

“The second half we should have scored”, the Swede made clear, clearly aggrieved that his side had not managed to get over the line against Oxford, who despite their lowly league position, were dogged and determined throughout.

Boro’s attacking play in the opening exchanges was certainly attractive. They found space with such ease, even against Oxford who were quite happy to sit deep in an attempt to make life difficult for the Teessiders. A goal however, did not come.

It was obvious that Middlesbrough were intent on responding to their loss at Coventry and get ahead in this match, so much so that they were playing almost constantly in Oxford’s half. This did allow for the visitors to pose some threat on the counter attack though, with Stanley Mills crashing a shot off the crossbar halfway through the opening period.

This was a warning for the home side, who themselves, despite their fluid passing game, were starting to become frustrated at Oxford’s rigid back line holding firm. Just as the first half seemed to be petering out, Oxford again struck the woodwork. This time it was Myles Peart-Harris, who prodded the ball off the upright from close range. If that had found the net it would have been the ultimate sucker punch right on the stroke of half time.

Boro started the second half brightly, but as they had towards the end of the first 45, soon fell into the trap of trying to walk the ball into the net. Their intricate passing in tight areas worked up to a point, but they continued to lack intensity, and ultimately, someone to pull the trigger at the right moment.

Hayden Hackney should have opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark, as he received the ball in space, bearing down on goal. Having swept inside of the defender he then took too long to shoot and the ball was cleared.

It was clear following that, that it was not to be Boro’s day. They grew more desperate as they ran out of ideas and lacked the composure required in the final third to find an all-important winner. Luckily for Middlesbrough, Ipswich were on the wrong end of a thrilling match against Wrexham, and Millwall lost at home against Portsmouth, meaning their buffer to the play-offs actually extended.

That will not dispel the frustration of the day though. It should have been a reassuring victory but it was not. However, such is the nature of the Championship, Middlesbrough have another opportunity to right the wrongs of today, when they welcome Leicester City to Teesside on Tuesday.