Newcastle's Commanding Victory in Baku
Newcastle United delivered a stunning 6-1 away victory against Qarabag in the Champions League play-off on Wednesday night, firmly positioning themselves for a place in the competition's last 16. The Magpies' dominant performance in Baku has left manager Eddie Howe optimistic about his team's capabilities on the European stage.
Howe's Vision of an Outstanding Team
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Howe expressed hope that this resounding win would reinforce the squad's self-belief. "My hope is that it just re-affirms our belief that we can be an outstanding team," he stated. "When we're at our very best, we can be a match for anybody."
Howe emphasized the importance of consistency, noting that the intense focus from players was evident from the early stages of the match. "It's a really useful time for us to produce a display like this to hopefully just tell ourselves that we can be a top team again," he added.
Gordon's Record-Breaking Performance
The victory was spearheaded by Anthony Gordon's remarkable four-goal haul, marking his first senior hat-trick and surpassing Alan Shearer's club record of six goals in a single Champions League campaign. Gordon now has 10 goals in the competition this season.
Despite his individual achievement, Gordon remained team-focused in his post-match comments. "The records are nice, of course, but football is about the team," he told UEFA. "Individual moments only matter if the team succeeds and tonight, that was the most important thing."
Additional goals from Malick Thiaw and substitute Jacob Murphy sealed the comprehensive win, with Qarabag's lone reply coming from Elvin Jafarguliyev.
Team Dynamics and Looking Ahead
Howe addressed a minor half-time disagreement between Gordon and captain Kieran Trippier over penalty duties, describing it as a positive situation. "Kieran's only ever trying to help the team, so I think it's a positive situation rather than negative," he explained.
With Thiaw suspended for the second leg due to accumulation of bookings, Howe cautioned against complacency. "Yes, we've had a good game today, but we take nothing for granted in the second leg," he warned.
Newcastle will carry a commanding 6-1 lead into the return fixture at St James' Park next Tuesday, where they will face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16 if they advance.
