Steve McClaren: Newcastle’s six-goal win over Norwich can be a turning point for our season
Newcastle United 6-2 Norwich City
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren has challenged his team to reproduce the display that saw them end their wait for a first Premier League win of the season in spectacular, six-goal fashion.
Midfielder Giorginio Wijnaldum scored four and strikers Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez struck the others as the Magpies finally claimed three points at the ninth attempt.
Forward Dieumerci Mbokani and winger Nathan Redmond kept Norwich in contention during the first half but the hosts ran away with a frenetic contest after the interval.
“It’s relief, and then thinking we have got to prepare and we have got to do it again next week,” said McClaren, who faces a north east derby trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
“The feeling is very short. Football is all about momentum and you can have momentum going the other way, which we have had. We want this one to go forward. There’s a long way to go, a lot of work to do, but today showed the potential and showed the supporters at home that this is what we are capable doing.”
Victory lifted Newcastle to 18th in the table, two places and three points behind Norwich, who have failed to win their last four league games and have conceded a division-high 20 goals.
“It was a bit like a basketball match,” said Canaries boss Alex Neil, whose side hit the post twice and had another effort cleared off the line. “It could have ended 8-8.”
Wijnaldum, a £14m summer signing from PSV Eindhoven, slotted the hosts ahead and headed them back in front after Mbokani had briskly equalised.
Perez extended their lead only for Redmond’s volley to peg Newcastle back instantly, but Mitrovic’s full-blooded strike re-established the cushion and Wijnaldum added two more with his head and a deflected shot.