Newcastle United bounced back from its 4-1 defeat at Leeds with a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Hull City at St James’ Park.
Joe Willock and Lewis Hall scored inside seven minutes before Mohamed-Ali Cho pulled one back after halftime, forcing Newcastle to survive a difficult finish.
The response Matthias Jaissle demanded following the trouncing at Leeds was immediate, to say the least.
Harvey Barnes helped create the opener
after three minutes, collecting possession following a blocked Willock effort and finding the midfielder inside the area. Willock drove a left-footed finish beyond Konstantinos Tzolakis to give Newcastle the perfect start against newly-promoted Hull.
Four minutes later, Barnes supplied his second assist. Hall won possession deep in Newcastle’s half, pushed forward and eventually received Barnes’ pass on the left before sweeping a low shot across Tzolakis into the far corner.
Newcastle controlled much of the half, with Willock and 18-year-old Sean Steur particularly influential in midfield. Hull occasionally threatened, while Lukas Hornicek recovered after Mohamed Belloumi dispossessed him close to goal.
Newcastle then wasted a major opportunity to make it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time. Sorba Thomas was penalized for bringing down Jacob Murphy, but Tzolakis got down to save Yoane Wissa’s penalty.
Newcastle began the second half positively, but its growing injury problems and tiring legs gradually changed the match. Jaissle introduced Fabian Schar for Steur and switched to a back three, with Lewis Miley moving from right back into midfield as Hull began applying greater pressure.
The visitors struck in the 67th minute, making for a tense ending. Miley was caught in possession, and Belloumi released substitute Cho, with the forward firing a left-footed effort past Hornicek. Hull then pushed Newcastle deeper, sending repeated crosses into the area, while Tim Iroegbunam came inches from equalizing with a close-range volley.
“We showed an incredible reaction after the defeat at Leeds,” Jaissle said. “The first half was excellent, we could have killed the game with a third goal for sure.” With nine players unavailable, Jaissle added: “I am really proud and I want to show them respect for what they did at the end of the game when it was tough.”
Newcastle ultimately held on for three more valuable points, ending Hull’s unbeaten Premier League start and moving to eight points from its opening five matches. The Magpies closed Saturday sitting eighth in the table on a three-way tie with Leeds and Hull, while Everton and Brentford are above at nine points each.
The international break will offer Jaissle much-needed time to recover injured players before Newcastle returns to action away to Coventry on Monday, Oct. 12.
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