Matthias Jaissle picked up his first win as Newcastle United head coach as his side edged West Brom 4-3 in a five-goal thriller at St James' Park. The German boss was a bundle of energy on the touchline, celebrating all three of his side's goals and rowing with officials in stoppage time over a disputed free-kick.
Early pressure and a shock lead
Newcastle started brightly, with Joe Willock forcing a corner inside the first two minutes, but West Brom twice cleared their lines. Willock then sent an effort wide on six minutes, and Lewis Hall tried his luck with a shot that was easily gathered by Matt Ingram.
The Baggies took a shock lead on 18 minutes when Isaac Price swept a free-kick past debutant Ewen Jaouen from 25 yards after Sean Steur was booked for a challenge on Jimmy-Jay Morgan. Newcastle responded on 38 minutes when Steur rolled the ball out to Amar Dedic, whose cross was poked home by Bazoumana Toure to make it 1-1.
Barnes makes an impact
Jaissle's side emerged fired up after the interval, with Harvey Barnes replacing Toure. The former West Brom player took just three minutes to make an impact, firing home from close range after Malick Thiaw poked the ball to him following a corner. That put Newcastle ahead for the first time on the night.
A flurry of changes followed, with the likes of Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Lewis Miley pressing West Brom. But a failure to convert pressure into clear-cut chances left the door ajar, and West Brom equalised from the penalty spot when Lewis Hall was adjudged to have handled the ball. Price calmly sent Jaouen the wrong way with 13 minutes left.
Late drama and a winning finish
Newcastle regained the lead with nine minutes to go when Elanga found Dedic, whose cross allowed Barnes to fire home his second of the night. But West Brom hauled themselves level again after another Hall handball, with Price again scoring from the spot. Yet their joy lasted no longer than four minutes as Newcastle broke forward again, with Woltemade playing in Elanga, who slipped the ball to Dedic. He cut the ball across for Barnes to finish well and net his second.
With a minute to go, West Brom earned another dangerous free-kick, but Jaouen made a fine stop to deny substitute Jayson Molumby. Six minutes of added time followed as Newcastle saw out the tie to earn Jaissle his first home win. Referee Bobby Madley (South Yorkshire) oversaw the match, with an attendance of 51,405.
