Sean Longstaff scored his first goal of the season during Newcastle United’s 4-1 win over Fulham on Saturday, and couldn’t hide his excitement.
The midfielder was the quickest to react to Bernd Leno’s wonder-save to deny Sven Botman, pouncing in the six-yard box to put the Magpies 3-0 up.
Longstaff’s goal put the result beyond doubt for Newcastle during the first-half, with Eddie Howe’s side cruising towards their second win of the season. It was a good outing from Longstaff, who was praised for being a ‘talented lad‘ by his manager.
Performances have been largely brilliant by the Magpies, and they are currently seventh after eight Premier League games.
The club has been completely turned around in the past 12 months, with the takeover leading to change at every level.
On the pitch, Newcastle now have the potential to be a threat to the elite. We have seen this season that Howe’s men can hang with the best.
On Saturday, Newcastle put Fulham to the sword. And the photo of Longstaff below is a sight to behold. The local lad’s smile is beaming. And he’s joined by another Geordie in Dan Burn, the future of our defence in Botman and a revitalised Fabian Schar.
It’s an incredibly different sight to the one fans witnessed just 12 months ago.
Sean Longstaff photo from October 2021 is very different
While Newcastle were celebrating a 4-1 win on Saturday, one year earlier there was despair.
On October 2nd 2021, Steve Bruce’s Newcastle went to Molineux. The Magpies were abject in the West Midlands, losing 2-1 in the pouring rain.
It was a grim afternoon for Toon fans. For many, it was the end of the road. Bruce was going nowhere, and neither was the club under Mike Ashley. There was no hint of a takeover breakthrough, and relegation felt inevitable.
After seven games, they didn’t have a single win. The situation was desperate. And that is summed up by the picture of Longstaff below.
Longstaff was every Newcastle fan at that moment in time. Gutted and helpless. But then the tide turned.
Less than a week after that picture, the Magpies had new ownership. The Saudi-backed takeover was suddenly approved, and better times were on the horizon.
We are already witnessing those better times, with Howe building an exciting team that fans enjoy watching. And the most exciting thing is that the best is yet to come.
The owners are laying the foundations for a bright future. Dan Ashworth has arrived as Sporting Director, while exciting young talent is joining the club. We are being geared up for success.
And all of this has happened in the space of a year. Considering how good it is now, it’s staggering to remember how bad it was just 12 months ago.
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