{"id":43451,"date":"2026-02-19T01:49:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T06:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T01:49:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T06:49:36","slug":"newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle&#8217;s Jewel is now as hard to drop as Gordon&#8217;s"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons\/#Anthony_Gordons_great_performance_against_Qarabag\" >Anthony Gordon&#8217;s great performance against Qarabag<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons\/#Newcastles_star_is_now_just_as_irresistible_as_Gordon\" >Newcastle&#8217;s star is now just as irresistible as Gordon.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/newcastles-jewel-is-now-as-hard-to-drop-as-gordons\/#Newcastle_target_does_not_rule_out_a_move_to_Sunderland_instead_of_Barcelona_after_transfer_talks\" >Newcastle target does not rule out a move to Sunderland instead of Barcelona after transfer talks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Newcastle United took a big step towards qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 after demolishing Qarabag FK 6-1 last night.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>Eddie Howe&#8217;s side held off their Azerbaijani opponents away, with the Magpies boasting a five-goal lead ahead of the return fixture at St James&#8217; Park.<\/p>\n<p>In the away win, the team had 22 shots, of which 14 were on target, seven times more than the hosts.<\/p>\n<p>    Howe&#8217;s side achieved an xG of 5.56 during the win and also created 13 big chances. This is further proof of how lethal the Magpies produced away play.<\/p>\n<p>But after a performance like this, there is no doubt that some players&#8217; names will be talked about more than others, especially after their individual performances in Baku.<\/p>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"anthony-gordon-rsquo-s-incredible-performance-against-qarabag\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Anthony_Gordons_great_performance_against_Qarabag\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Anthony Gordon&#8217;s great performance against Qarabag<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Attacker Anthony Gordon has been a player who has been highly divisive among Newcastle&#8217;s fan base in recent months, but he certainly succeeded in silencing a few critics with his performance last night.<\/p>\n<p>The 24-year-old started in the central striker role, a decision that paid off hugely as he scored four goals before going on to score his first hat-trick for the Magpies.<\/p>\n<p>    The forward became the fastest English player to score a hat-trick in the competition&#8217;s history, scoring twice from the penalty spot against Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond his goalscoring numbers, Gordon also managed to impress with his basic performance, which included 11 touches inside the opposition box, four of which were his goals.<\/p>\n<p>He also completed 100% of his attempted dribbles and created two chances, further highlighting his impressive performance with the ball at his feet.<\/p>\n<p>It was certainly a night to remember for the Magpies star. Manager Howe has finally confirmed the form of his forwards, who have been largely lacking throughout the 2025\/26 season.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-newcastle-star-who-rsquo-s-now-as-undroppable-as-gordon\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Newcastles_star_is_now_just_as_irresistible_as_Gordon\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Newcastle&#8217;s star is now just as irresistible as Gordon.<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In addition to Gordon, a number of players managed to grab attention in the impressive win, including winger Harvey Barnes, who once again started on the left.<\/p>\n<p>    The 28-year-old played 87 minutes of the victory and then assisted Jacob Murphy&#8217;s late shot, creating the most chances of any player on the pitch.<\/p>\n<p>He also completed 88% of his attempted passes and took 12 touches inside the opposition box, underscoring the attacking threat he always possessed.<\/p>\n<p>However, he did not reach the level produced by Azerbaijan&#8217;s Sand Tonali, and the midfielder managed to once again command attention in the heart of the team.<\/p>\n<p>The Italy international has now started back-to-back games against the Magpies and Howe appears to trust him to deliver after his double against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n<p>    The manager&#8217;s decision to keep the 25-year-old in the central midfield was certainly the right decision, and his basic stats were proof of the quality he produced against Qarabag.<\/p>\n<p>He completed 64 passes during the 6-1 win, the most of any player on the pitch, and did so with a passing accuracy of 93%.<\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned figures highlight his dominance with the ball at his feet, with his quality of possession setting the tempo of the Magpies&#8217; latest European win.<\/p>\n<p>Tonali completed five passes into the final third and created one chance, allowing the likes of Barnes and Gordon to wreak havoc inside the final third.<\/p>\n<p>    But even without the ball, the former AC Milan star was just as impressive, achieving a 100% tackle success rate and making two interceptions in the process.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of his performance, Tonali was given a match rating of 8\/10, and with such a result there is no doubt that he has solidified his position heading into the return leg.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Newcastle player rating against Qarabag<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>evaluation<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>nick pope<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>5\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Kieran Trippier<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>7\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Malick Thiau<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Dan Burns<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>lewis hall<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Sandro Tonali<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Joe Willock<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>7\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>nick waltemade<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>7\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Anthony Elanga<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>6\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>harvey burns<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>anthony gordon<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>10\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>Gordon will undoubtedly steal most of the attention with his four goals, a feat that will surely earn him a place in the Champions League record books.<\/p>\n<p>But Tonali&#8217;s cool-headed personality at the heart of the side made him an unsung hero during the win, and Howe couldn&#8217;t overlook him for now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"marcos-senesi-newcastle-sunderland-barcelona-talks\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mixcollage-13-jan-2026-02-03-pm-3909.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/mixcollage-13-jan-2026-02-03-pm-3909.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Newcastle_target_does_not_rule_out_a_move_to_Sunderland_instead_of_Barcelona_after_transfer_talks\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tNewcastle target does not rule out a move to Sunderland instead of Barcelona after transfer talks<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">He&#8217;s keeping all options open.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Newcastle United took a big step towards qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 after demolishing Qarabag FK 6-1 last night. Eddie Howe&#8217;s side held off their Azerbaijani opponents away, with the Magpies boasting a five-goal lead ahead of the return fixture at St James&#8217; Park. In the away win, the team had 22 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5237,40,8847,1595,5899,2031],"class_list":{"0":"post-43451","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-drop","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-gordons","11":"tag-hard","12":"tag-jewel","13":"tag-newcastles"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}