Welbeck wins it for Albion

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Newcastle United 0, Albion 1: Welbeck's first-half goal sends Fabian Hurzeler's side into the top five.

Bruce Talbot

2024-10-19T17:00+01:00

Danny Welbeck's opener was his 28th Premier League goal in an Albion shirt. 📷 by James Boardman.

Danny Welbeck’s fifth goal of the season earned Albion a standout success at St James’ Park.

Welbeck struck ten minutes before half-time with a confident finish but he was stretchered off with eight minutes of normal time to go – the only disappointing aspect of a fine afternoon’s work by Albion who were diligent and disciplined without the ball all over the pitch. And when Newcastle did create, Bart Verbruggen made a trio of top-class saves as a second successive win lifted Albion to fifth in the table

Fabian Hurzeler had made three changes to the side which came back from 2-0 down to beat Spurs. Yankuba Minteh, Adam Webster and Kaoru Mitoma dropped out and in came Igor Julio, Yasin Ayari and Evan Ferguson, on his 20th birthday and making his first League start since 10 March.

Bart Verbruggen pulled off a wonderful save to deny Alexander Isak in the first half. 📷 by James Boardman.

For once it was the opposition rather than Albion who dominated possession but for all they had of the ball Newcastle struggled to create clear chances.

Alexsander Isak had a great early opportunity but missed his kick six yards out and Fabian Schaar headed wide at the far post from a deep cross by Anthony Gordon, who was often double marked by Joel Veltman and Lewis Dunk.

Verbruggen was called up on 33 minutes when Isak beat the offside trap but our Dutch keeper stood up until the last moment before diverting Isak’s shot wide with his right hand. A world-class save.

Two minutes later Albion struck. Dunk, just inside Albion’s half, threaded a long ball into Welbeck who exchanged passes with Rutter then held off Tino Livramento before steering a right-foot shot past Nick Pope. A great team goal.

Goal number five of the Premier League campaign for Danny. 📷 by James Boardman.

When the dangerous Gordon chopped inside onto his right foot Verbruggen was equal to his shot, pushing it away for a corner. So far so good at the break.

Albion began the second half brightly. Yasin Ayari’s pick-out of Dunk 15 yards out from a corner came straight off the training pitch but the skipper volleyed over from a great position. Pope got down to deny Welbeck whose shot was heading for the left-hand corner before Newcastle responded and the unmarked Gordon headed Isak’s cross over from eight yards.

Albion defended heroically when necessary. Isak and Joelinton had close-range shots blocked then Igor got across to make a superb clearance to deny Joelinton when it seemed certain he would equalise. Verbruggen blocked Isak’s low drive as Newcastle pushed.

Ferdi Kadioglu was left frustrated when Albion began to threaten again on the counter. Subs Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan combined on the left and when Estupinan crossed Kadioglu was unmarked ten yards but, but Schaar got across to deflect his volley wide.

Former Albion man Dan Burn fist bumps Danny Welbeck after the striker is forced off through injury. 📷 by James Boardman.

Welbeck was stretched off with eight minutes to go and it was now a case of whether Albion could see out the remainder of the 90 and nine additional minutes. They could have made the closing stages stress-free but Mitoma’s drive was deflected over and his stoppage-time volley didn’t miss by much. Newcastle had one more chance in the final seconds but Isak’s free-kick was deflected wide and when Verbruggen confidently claimed the corner – and the final whistle followed – it summed up a great afternoon’s work, duly celebrated with a sold-out away contigent high in the stands.

Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, Dunk, Igor, Kadioglu, Rutter (Estupinan 71), Baleba (Wieffer 71), Hinshelwood, Ayari (Enciso 81, Welbeck (van Hecke 81), Ferguson (Mitoma 60).