Alexander Isak moved onto eight goals in eleven games for the Newcastle United with his stunning curling effort against Brentford, but he admits that Nick Pope gave him a late fright.
With the game drawing to a close, Brentford reverted to long ball tactics and as the Bees keeper lofted a long ball forward. Newcastle ‘keeper Nick Pope came out of his area to meet it with his head, his clearance fell to the feet of another Brentford forward who blasted the ball off Pope’s back and out for a throw.
Isak joked with NUFC TV after the game that Pope almost gave him a heart attack. When he was asked to sum up Pope’s importance, Isak said: “Incredible. He gave me a heart attack near the end, but he plays with a lot of confidence and he’s really a big, big part of the success of this team and makes incredible saves that helps us win games as well.”
Pope was on top form again for Newcastle yesterday
Pope was magnificent for Eddie Howe‘s team yesterday, saving an Ivan Toney penalty in the first half – something which hasn’t been done since 2018 – and then late on keeping out another Toney effort, getting down low to palm away the former Newcastle man’s header to keep the Magpies in the lead.
If only there was a way to crowbar Pope’s name into the Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Isak chant as that spine running down the middle of our team is something else. I genuinely believe that everyone one of them walks into pretty much every other team in the league except maybe Manchester City. I even think each one improves league-leaders Arsenal.
Newcastle players’ belief and confidence was on show at Brentford
I have to admit though, I was a bit like Isak when I saw Pope charging out of his box again, we’ve seen that go horribly wrong for him this season. However, at the same time it shows how much he backs his ability that he’s more than happy to do it again knowing that he can get it right.
That same spirit was echoed by Botman too after conceding a penalty after clattering into Kevin Schade in the first half, he still had no hesitation going in with a crunching tackle on Schade later in the game. Top professionals have to back themselves to get it right in those situations and not backing down due to a previous mistake.
It just shows how much our lads want to win that they’re willing to risk it all without hesitation in order to keep a lead. I love it. It’s a fight we’ve been missing in our team for many years.
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