How Yoane Wissa can fill the Alexander Isak-shaped hole left at Newcastle, writes CRAIG HOPE, as Magpies ease post-derby blues by booking Carabao Cup semi-final spot with 2-1 win against Fulham
Newcastle beat Fulham and yet, for now, the remedy feels only partial, for it will take more than stitches to soothe the wounds of Sunday’s derby defeat at Sunderland. Maybe it will take retaining the Carabao Cup to complete the healing process, such was the depth of the cut inflicted at the weekend.
Even still, in the moment when Lewis Miley rose tallest to head home from Sandro Tonali’s corner in the second minute of stoppage-time, it felt like the timeliest of tonics, especially with this quarter-final just a few clearances from penalties.
After a first goal for Yoane Wissa on his full debut was quickly cancelled out by Fulham’s Sasa Lukic inside the first 16 minutes, chances became as scarce as the nerves were plentiful. And so, after 90 minutes in which Eddie Howe’s side were better than the abject showing at the Stadium of Light without being brilliant, St James’ Park prepared for spot-kicks.
Miley, though, had not accepted such a fate and, when Tonali loaded a devilish delivery in front of the Gallowgate End, the Geordie giant stood far taller than his 6ft 4ins. It was a man’s goal when the teenager’s team and his manager needed it most. He rode a push from Sander Berge and tilted his brow to glance in from six yards. The 19-year-old midfielder was playing as an emergency right back.
‘Lewis was outstanding in that position and he had to take on a lot of information when we told him he had to play there,’ said Howe. ’He could be as good as anyone in whatever position he plays.
‘He’s got goals in him, and that was a big one. After the last few days, I was not looking forward to penalties!’
Lewis Miley’s timely header provided a balm for Newcastle’s derby defeat on Sunday as they edged past Fulham
Yoane Wissa’s first full debut run-out saw him score within 10 minutes – but his effort was quickly cancelled out by the visitors
Before Miley’s intervention, Wissa had been the big positive for the Newcastle boss, the striker starting for the first time since his £55million arrival from Brentford. Twice inside the opening 20 minutes he screamed at team-mates when they chose to pass elsewhere.
He was a nuisance for his own and the opposition, which is what Newcastle have missed in a post Alexander Isak world.
Wissa’s 10th-minute goal was all about instinct – he had the nose to sniff out the chance and the nerve to finish it. Fabian Schar switched elegantly from left to right. Jacob Murphy crossed invitingly from right to left.
And there, in the centre of the goal, was Wissa, snapping in when goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte fumbled his attempt to gather. A No.9 in the six-yard box are co-ordinates Newcastle have not programmed enough of late.
But just six minutes later their entire midfield lost the directions to their own penalty area, and that is why there was a queue of unmarked jerseys waiting to equalise. As it was, Lukic beat his team-mates to Antonee Robinson’s cross and planted a header beyond Aaron Ramsdale.
At 1-1, it felt like a case of one step forwards and one back for Newcastle. For this game was not really about the prospect of a return to Wembley and defending their first domestic trophy in 70 years, it was about the response.
The response to a Wear-Tyne derby defeat that has festered since Sunday. The nature of the loss – two shots on target and a season-low XG of 0.26 – has caused the stench to linger. Another game so soon was both blessing and curse – they had to wait until the death before learning it was the former.
The hosts were keen for a response after a lacklustre effort against bitter rivals Sunderland
Bruno Guimaraes was at his bullish best as Newcastle went hunting the deciding goal late on
Eddie Howe will be pleased that his players made their post-derby feelings known on the pitch
Captain Bruno Guimaraes had labelled the loss at Sunderland both ‘embarrassing’ and ‘a mess’. The latter irked Howe and he threw it back on his players to do their talking on the pitch.
Guimaraes, in fairness, was the noisiest of those in black and white. As they searched for a winner in the second half, he was their lead vocalist.
But Fulham looked the more likely winners after the hosts lost Tino Livramento to a knee injury late on. One goalmouth melee had Howe looking through his fingertips. It was Marco Silva’s turn to hide behind the dugout in stoppage-time when Miley’s snap shot looked destined for the bottom corner before Lecomte flipped it around the post. Silva should have stayed there, for Miley was not to be denied and, from the flag-kick, he settled his manager’s nerves as well as the tie.
