Newcastle United returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hull City at St James’ Park, producing exactly the response supporters wanted after the disappointing defeat at Leeds.
It wasn’t perfect, particularly during a nervy second half, but right now the three points are what matter.
Electric Start From Newcastle
Newcastle came flying out of the blocks and were ahead inside just three minutes.
Joe Willock gave the Magpies the perfect start, before Lewis Hall doubled the advantage in the seventh minute as Newcastle threatened to blow Hull away early on.
Harvey Barnes provided the assists for both goals and caused Hull plenty of problems during Newcastle’s excellent opening spell.
At 2-0 after only seven minutes, St James’ Park was bouncing.
Newcastle also had an opportunity to make the game far more comfortable before half-time, but Yoane Wissa saw his penalty saved.
That miss ultimately ensured the game remained alive heading into the second half.
Hull Fight Back
Hull arrived on Tyneside having made an impressive start to life back in the Premier League, and they showed why after the break.
The visitors began asking more questions of Newcastle and eventually got their reward in the 67th minute.
Substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho, who had only been introduced four minutes earlier, found the net to reduce Newcastle’s advantage to 2-1.
Suddenly the entire atmosphere changed.
Hull pushed forward looking for an equaliser and Newcastle were forced to dig deep. Goalkeeper Vitezslav Hornicek was called into action, while Hull continued to send efforts towards the Newcastle goal.
It wasn’t comfortable, but Newcastle stood firm.
Three Points Were What Mattered
After the heavy defeat at Leeds, this was always going to be about Newcastle showing a reaction.
They did exactly that.
There are certainly things for Matthias Jaissle to work on. Newcastle probably should have put the game beyond Hull after that blistering opening, and allowing the visitors back into the contest made the closing stages far more difficult than they needed to be.
But there was also plenty to like.
The opening seven minutes showed just how dangerous this Newcastle side can be when they play with intensity and attack quickly. Willock produced an important performance, Hall took his goal brilliantly and Barnes was heavily involved in both early goals.
Perhaps just as importantly, when Hull came at them late on, Newcastle found a way to get over the line.
Newcastle Move Forward
The victory takes Newcastle to eight points from their opening five Premier League matches, with two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Considering the amount of change at the club this summer, there is still plenty of time for this side to develop under Jaissle.
Nobody should expect everything to click immediately.
There is a new manager, a different style of football and several new faces still adapting to life at St James’ Park.
What Newcastle needed after Leeds was a win.
They got it.
It might not have been comfortable, but sometimes these are exactly the type of victories that help build confidence and momentum.
Full-time: Newcastle United 2-1 Hull City.
Three points in the bag.
Now Newcastle need to build on it.
HOWAY THE LADS! ⚫⚪
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