Analysis: Howe's calls pay off
This was an afternoon when Eddie Howe's big calls paid off when he needed them most. The head coach justifiably kept faith with the bulk of players who put in an improved performance in a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal last week. Having again decided to name £124m worth of forwards on the bench, in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Osula repaid the faith of his manager once more with the opener.
[Getty Images] This was an afternoon when Eddie Howe's big calls paid off when he needed them most. The head coach justifiably kept faith with the bulk of players who put in an improved performance in a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal last week. Having again decided to name £124m worth of forwards on the bench, in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Osula repaid the faith of his manager once more with the opener.
Burn, meanwhile, who was preferred to Lewis Hall, doubled his side's lead against his former club. It felt like Newcastle were in a commanding position, after taking a rare two-goal lead, as the confidence flowed through the team. But how would they respond when Hinshelwood pulled one back?
Were Newcastle about to squander another victory? Howe made a triple change in an attempt to prevent just that as he threw on Hall, Barnes and Yoane Wissa. Newcastle had to ride out a nervy period, but those changes eventually paid off when Wissa was denied by Verbruggen and the ball fell to Barnes, who lashed it into the net.
It was clear how much that goal meant to Howe, who was mobbed by assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones on the touchline. They have to build on it.