YOU sense Newcastle will be just fine without Sandro Tonali.
Up to fifth, the Magpies are now the Premier League’s leading scorers as Eddie Howe’s Toon Express kicks into overdrive.
The Geordies showed their love for Tonali – called a “gambling addict” by his agent – who is set to be banned for at least a year next week for illegally betting on matches when at AC Milan.
The Italian, 23, came off the bench for 21 minutes when it was already 4-0 in what could be his last league game for a long while.
Most clubs would miss their £55million star summer signing, yet purring Newcastle look like they will cope with minimum fuss.
In the programme, skipper Jamaal Lascelles said: “There’s not a team on the planet that can come to St James’ and have their own way. Nobody is going to match our intensity”.
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Well meek Crystal Palace certainly couldn’t handle the heat as Howe’s marauding Mags extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight, shipping just three goals in the process.
Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson bagged the goals, with Murphy the standout.
In for his first Prem start of the season, the right winger – with the ever-excellent Kieran Trippier behind him – ran Palace ragged and picked up two assists as well for good measure.
Yet it’s the midfield where they look certain to be a player light when Tonali’s punishment is handed down by the Italian authorities.
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The Toon Army displayed a ‘Forza Tonali’ flag before kick-off, and he was given a standing ovation when he trotted down the touchline to warm up.
When he came on, St James’ Park erupted in an emotional show of support for the 23-year-old.
Of course, being without a classy international is a blow.
But with Joelinton back from injury and the forgotten Joe Willock on his way back to compete with Bruno Guimaraes – who was brilliant again- Longstaff and Elliot Anderson, Howe is well stocked in the engine room.
With Borussia Dortmund up on Wednesday as they look to strengthen their grip on a Champions League knockout spot, the giddy Tyneside days show no sign of coming to an end.
Any suggestion that the brewing Tonali storm had put the other Toon players off their stride was quashed within seconds as the hosts started where they left off against PSG in that 4-1 mauling in their last outing at St James’ Park 17 days before.
The Eagles’ wings were clipped from the off and Newcastle were ahead via Murphy within four minutes.
Fabian Schar sprayed it to Trippier on the right and the England full-back played a perfectly weighted first-time ball to the onrushing winger.
Murphy then hooked it towards Wilson at the back post but it looped over Sam Johnstone and in.
This was assist-king Trippier’s seventh of the campaign, taking him top of the pile across Europe’s top-five leagues since the start of last season.
Jean-Philippe Matea then nodded inches wide for Palace – what a huge miss that proved to be.
Everything good for Newcastle was coming through Trippier and Murphy, and the latter’s teasing cross was clattered across the bar by Gordon.
An absolute sitter, the Scouser made amends in the 44th minute when bundling home Murphy’s latest devilish ball at the back post.
And it was game over just before the break when Longstaff bagged his third goal in five games, capitalising on March Guehi’s hashed clearance to fire into the bottom corner.
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Murphy was at it again 25 minutes later, haring down the right after being played in by Trippier before squaring to Wilson for his fifth of the season – all in just five touches from back to front.
Nick Pope had been a bystander all afternoon but the Toon stopper made a brilliant late stop to deny Odsonne Edouard’s free-kick and preserve another cherished clean sheet.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
