Newcastle United fought back from two goals down in the second half to secure a 4-4 draw against Luton Town in an utterly chaotic encounter at St James’ Park.
A first-half brace from Sean Longstaff was cancelled out by goals from Gabriel Osho and Ross Barkley, with the visitors — inspired by the imperious former Everton and England midfielder — maintaining their momentum after the interval to force themselves 4-2 ahead just after the hour.
Carlton Morris converted from the penalty spot at the second time of asking, having initially taken the kick before the referee was ready, after Dan Burn fouled the dangerous Chiedozie Ogbene in the area, then Elijah Adebayo then scored a fourth on the break three minutes later.
Yet Eddie Howe’s substitutions changed the game, with Kieran Trippier grabbing Newcastle’s third on 67 minutes and Harvey Barnes, making his return from a four-month injury absence, grabbing the eighth goal of a wildly unpredictable afternoon 10 minutes after coming on.
George Caulkin and Chris Waugh break down the big talking points from a madcap game.
Why are Newcastle so fragile at home?
Rumours of Newcastle’s resurrection proved to be a little premature. In a complete reversal of one of this strange, bitty season’s dominant themes, Howe’s team now find themselves away-day specialists and fragile at home.
The impressive midweek victory at Aston Villa, who had been unbeaten in the Premier League at Villa Park since February last year, was followed by this messy, pulsating draw with Luton Town — a game in which they twice took the lead, twice let it slide and finally came back from two goals down to draw.
Not too long ago, Newcastle had not lost back-to-back Premier League home games under Howe. That statistic was put to bed by defeats to Nottingham Forest and Manchester City and, although they avoided a third, their performance was desperately haphazard as well as dramatic.
Newcastle have conceded 10 goals in those games and the four they let in against Luton equalled the total for the first nine home matches in the Premier League this season. The comforts of home? Not right now. They are squirming.
George Caulkin
Anthony Gordon darts down the wing during the pulsating draw with Luton (George Wood/Getty Images)
What are Newcastle missing?
While it was easy to revel in the raucous entertainment, there was a lack of cohesion in what Newcastle were trying to do at times.
Devoid of a striker fit enough to start — Alexander Isak’s groin problem kept him out of the squad, while Callum Wilson returned to the bench following a calf injury — Anthony Gordon was deployed as a false nine. He interchanged with Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron as a fluid front three and, when Newcastle were able to attack in transition, as they did for Longstaff’s second goal, they caused Luton problems.
However, there was no real focal point in possession. As willing as Gordon is, he naturally drifts wide looking for the ball, leaving gaps through the middle. At the break, Gordon departed and Wilson came on.
A crestfallen Jacob Murphy as Luton celebrate their second goal (George Wood/Getty Images)
They also lack physicality, particularly in midfield.
Joelinton is sidelined for four months and Howe spent the second half of the January window attempting to bring in an athletic, powerful midfielder who could win duels. Howe has been left with just three fit senior midfielders. Bruno Guimaraes is a creator, while Longstaff and Lewis Miley are excellent in their own way but they do not disrupt opposition sides in the way Joelinton can, even if the 17-year-old did steal possession for Barnes’ equaliser.
Eddie Howe would concede that this game was far too open, just as it was during the defeat against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day. That is an issue Newcastle are going to have to address over the coming months.
Chris Waugh
GO DEEPER
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Has the cavalry arrived?
For much of this season, Newcastle might as well have played their home fixtures at the Royal Victoria Infirmary rather than St James’ Park. Injuries have been a constant companion to Eddie Howe and his players, limping behind them and nibbling at their hamstrings.
At the end of a week when Jonny King arrived as their new senior physio, are they finally through the worst of it? While Gordon’s departure at half-time was a counter-point, Newcastle’s substitute bench made a persuasive case; no need for two goalkeepers, the return of Wilson and a first sighting of Barnes since September 24.
Barnes made an instant impact on his return (George Wood/Getty Images)
Barnes has started just two games since joining from Leicester City for £38million ($48m) last summer, damaging his foot as he pushed off to run at Sheffield United. The England international was bought to replace Allan Saint-Maximin and provide goals and direct running, both of which have been missed.
Barnes and Tino Livramento came on to the pitch in 63rd minute when the score was 2-4. His goal, a dribbling, long-range shot made it 4-4. Belatedly, the cavalry has arrived, but what the hell was this chaos they were walking into?
George Caulkin
Longstaff has found sound bite
Sean Longstaff has always been the kind of midfielder you truly notice when he is not there. He is not the glitziest, most expansive player, but his energy and dynamic running are pivotal to Howe’s Newcastle and the way they play.
There has only been one thing missing.
“I know I can add more goals and assists from midfield and hopefully when I do that it will elevate my game again,” Longstaff told The Athletic late last season. “I’m still learning. I feel like I’ve missed out on a couple of years of learning so I’m playing catch up in that way.”
Longstaff converts the hosts’ first goal (George Wood/Getty Images)
Elevation has duly followed.
Twice against Luton, Longstaff found himself at the right place at the right time, driving into the area to anticipate the ball, and twice he finished crisply. He had scored eight times for Newcastle before this season, but has six goals this time round — four in the Premier League and one apiece in the Champions League and FA Cup.
With Newcastle’s forwards so fragile, this burst of productivity has been necessary as well as welcome. Less welcome was the way Ross Barkley sped away from him in the build-up to Luton’s second goal, but the learning never stops.
George Caulkin
What did Howe say?
We will bring you the thoughts of the Newcastle head coach after he has recovered his poise and spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Newcastle?
Saturday, February 10: Nottingham Forest (A), Premier League, 5.30pm GMT, 12.30pm ET
It’s never fun when a team beat you 3-1 in your own ground with a player you sold to them scoring a hat-trick, but that’s what happened when Forest and Chris Wood came to St James’ Park just after Christmas. Howe will be hoping this more closely resembles last season’s two meetings, which Newcastle won 2-0 at home and 2-1 at the City Ground.
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(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images))
