Howe Cautions Newcastle Despite 6-1 Qarabag Rout in Champions League
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has issued a stern warning to his players, insisting their Champions League play-off tie against Qarabag remains undecided despite a commanding 6-1 first-leg victory in Baku. The Magpies delivered a stunning performance away from home, with Anthony Gordon netting four goals to propel the team to a massive advantage ahead of the return fixture at St James' Park.
Gordon's Record-Breaking Display
Anthony Gordon emerged as the standout performer in Azerbaijan, scoring twice from the penalty spot and adding two more in open play during a blistering first half. His four-goal haul not only secured his first senior hat-trick but also saw him eclipse Alan Shearer's club record of six goals in a single Champions League campaign. Gordon has now become the first Newcastle player to score four times in a Champions League match, taking his European tally this season to an impressive ten goals.
Howe praised the striker's all-around contribution, highlighting his defensive work as key to the victory. "He was really, really good in that first half," Howe told TNT Sports. "He started the press – a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball. I was really pleased with his first goal as well because that was a key moment. It was a really good finish. He could have had more, but a very good display."
Howe's Cautious Optimism
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Howe emphasised the need for professionalism and focus ahead of next Tuesday's second leg. "We know the tie is not dead or over, but we've put ourselves in a great position," he said. "We've got to be professional in every moment. We know how football can change – we've just seen that, we've won three games in the blink of an eye and the feeling is very different. But we respect every opponent and we have to be very good in the next game."
The victory marks Newcastle's third consecutive away win in all competitions, a significant turnaround after a challenging run of fixtures. Howe noted with satisfaction, "It looks like with the run of away games, we've worked out how to play away. It's been a really good return, the last three games. We've had really tough games, navigated them really well and I think we've shown that we're a good team, so I'm really happy with where we're at at the moment."
Match Highlights and Debut
Newcastle dominated from the outset at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, racing into a 5-0 lead by halftime with goals from Gordon and Malick Thiaw's header. Although Elvin Jafarguliyev pulled one back for Qarabag early in the second half, substitute Jacob Murphy restored the five-goal cushion with 18 minutes remaining.
The comfortable margin allowed Howe to hand a senior debut to 18-year-old striker Sean Neave as a late substitute. "Sean's deserved it," Howe said. "He's been with us for a while now and he's trained with us every day. His attitude is exemplary, he's a really humble lad, wants to do very well. He's also talented and you could see when he came on, he almost got a goal. I'm really pleased for him and his family."
Newcastle now turn their attention to a Premier League clash against Manchester City on Saturday before hosting Qarabag in the second leg, with the winner set to face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round.
