What Eddie Howe’s players did to Newcastle away fans in Azerbaijan says it all about this club
Newcastle United and their fans broke a record as part of their 6-1 win away at Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The travelling fans covered 2,529 miles to be at the game at the Azersun Arena, and they received their just rewards as they saw their team turn in a commanding display from start to finish.
Anthony Gordon hit four goals for the Magpies, as Malick Thiaw’s header and a second-half strike from Jacob Murphy capped off a memorable evening for them in Azerbaijan.
The victory was also the Geordies’ biggest ever winning margin in a Champions League clash, and has effectively already put them through to the last 16 ahead of next week’s return leg at St James’ Park.
Newcastle players show their togetherness with the fans
Eddie Howe’s men haven’t had the easiest of seasons, as a lack of consistency and a difficult away record has seen them fail to reach their lofty ambitions in the Premier League so far.
Fans have been frustrated with the way that the campaign has played out at times, not least at the way in which the defence of the Carabao Cup title was ended by Manchester City at the start of February.
Injuries have torn their way through the team, with a staggering six senior players sidelined for the gruelling trip across to Azerbaijan in midweek.
Nevertheless, the victory in Baku was yet another sign of the togetherness that typifies Newcastle as a football club.
The fanbase will stop at nothing to be there to watch their team, and they have made a habit of travelling over land, sea and air to get behind their boys.
That was appreciated in excellent fashion by Howe’s players on Wednesday night, as they all took a break from their warm-up to go and applaud the travelling contingent ahead of kick-off, according to TNT Sports’ Jules Breach.
It was a gesture that showed that the group remain tight-knit, despite all the recent struggles, and it was also an acknowledgement that they know that nothing can be achieved without the supporters.
Newcastle’s Champions League progression to hinge on the fans
Newcastle have effectively already booked their place in the Round of 16 for the Champions League after their first leg demolition job, and that will set them up with a date with either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round.
Howe and his men need to effectively prioritise this competition from now until the end of the season, in a bid to push as far as they can towards the trophy.
However, if they are to get beyond either of their potential upcoming opponents, then they will need the fans to create a typically formidable St James’ atmosphere.
The Magpies’ home leg will be crucial to their tie against either opponent, and it is vital that they come out on top in that half of the clash, or they will face a mountain to climb.
St James’ can be one of the most intimidating away grounds in the business when it truly gets going and gets behind the team, and it will need to be at its raucous best if Howe’s men are continue progressing in Europe.