From Heaven to Brentford, a real-life miracle was witnessed in west London on Saturday.
Christian Eriksen’s return, eight months after suffering a cardiac arrest playing for Denmark in the Euros, was not enough to rescue the Bees against buoyant Newcastle.
But there really are more important things, and it doesn’t get much more life-affirming than this.
The Bees were already 2-0 and a man down when Eriksen came off the bench 52 minutes in.
Josh Dasilva was shown an early red before Joelinton and Joe Willock struck – catapulting Toon from 17th up to 14th.
But with Eriksen back in the cut and thrust of elite football after, as he revealed, being dead for five minutes, there really is nowhere else to start.
In the programme, the Danish midfielder, 30, said: “I remember it all. Except those moments when I was in Heaven.”
After his collapse in Copenhagen last June, Eriksen had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) inserted, which can shock his heart into action if necessary.
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He added: “I don’t see any risk. I have an ICD, if anything would happen then I am safe. With an ICD there are no limits – people can run marathons, deep dive, all sorts.”
And while Eriksen could do nothing to prevent defeat here, their Premier League fate could well hinge on if and when he can get back to his prime best.
The midfield maestro bagged three assists in behind-closed-doors friendlies before making his competitive return.
And while there were some typically classy touches here, the sinking Bees are going to need plenty more if they are to stay up.
They have now lost seven of their last eight and are on a slippery slope down the table.
Just four points off safety, Thomas Frank’s side have played more games than everyone else.
Leapfrogged by the Magpies, Eddie’s Howe’s team are in such unfamiliar territory there will be nosebleeds all round soon.
Their fourth win in five, they are four points clear of danger and, somehow, given where they have come from, looking safe.
Eriksen was joined on the bench by top scorer Ivan Toney after three games out with a calf injury.
And with all the focus rightly on the returning midfielder, it was easy to forget just how big a match this was at the foot of the table.
Howe named an unchanged side after drawing 1-1 at West Ham, with no sign of Allan Saint-Maximin who had spent the week rehabbing a calf knock in Monaco.
Newcastle had only picked up seven points on the road this season, the second-lowest in the Prem.
And there were no excuses not to make it 10 when VAR intervened to send Dasilva off for a horror challenge on Matt Targett.
Jacob Murphy’s cut back missed Jonjo Shelvey at the top of the box, leaving Dasilva and Targett closing on the loose ball.
The Bees man got their first and tried to shield the ball but stamped halfway up the left-back’s shin.
Mike Dean bizarrely gave a free-kick the other way before VAR got involved and the right call was made.
Newcastle were sluggish for the opening 30 minutes but burst into life before half-time with two goals to wrap up victory in the west London sunshine.
Joelinton has got to be one of the most improved players we’ve seen in the Prem for years, and his remarkable transformation from £40million forward flop to all-action midfield beast gathered more pace here.
Goals have been the only thing missing since dropping back, but he put that right here with a magnificent header – his second of the season.
Ryan Fraser dinked it into the mixer from the left and the Brazilian, 6ft 1in of raw power, did the rest, beating Kristoffer Ajer in the air and nodding into the far corner.
And what a celebration too, leaving his team-mates to run the length of the pitch and celebrate with the Toon Army.
The Magpies were purring now, with David Raya doing superbly to get down to his left to deny Fraser.
But it was 2-0 just before the break in as the visitors took advantage of Brentford’s over-hit to ruthlessly strike on the break.
Hoofed upfield, centre-back Fabian Schar was somehow the furthest man forward.
But the Swiss defender was cool as you like as he plucked it out the air before playing an inch-perfect pass through to the onrushing Willock.
And the midfielder, who bagged his first of the campaign last time out at West Ham, continued his hot streak by stroking it over Raya first time.
Desperate for inspiration, Frank summoned Eriksen from the bench 52 minutes in.
His introduction brought about the biggest roar from the home stands all afternoon, with the applause sustained – by the Newcastle fans too – for a good 20 seconds after he came on.
With Eriksen getting plenty of touches and the crowd up, the Bees were knocking on the door.
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Christian Norgaard bent one just over but that was as close as they got until injury time when Vitaly Janelt struk a good chance straight at Martin Dubravka.
At the other end, Target and Shelvey forced smart stops from Raya.
But it didn’t matter as they held on, and while their form is some sort of phenomenon in its own right, there was only one miracle yesterday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
