Newcastle United 2-1 Hull City
Newcastle United made a blistering start and then showed the resilience required to see off Hull City 2-1 at a packed St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies had the points within sight before the match had properly settled. Joe Willock opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, giving Newcastle the ideal platform, before Lewis Hall doubled the advantage in the 7th minute. Hull were stunned by the speed and sharpness of the home side’s opening spell, with Newcastle turning early territorial control into a two-goal lead.
Newcastle took that advantage into half-time, having led 2-0 at the break. The home side finished with 56.1 per cent possession and recorded five shots on target from 11 attempts, while their two goals were supported by two assists.
Hull did not fold, however. The visitors produced a far more forceful second-half display and accumulated 21 shots across the match, including four on target. Their persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when substitute Mohamed-Ali Cho found the net to halve the deficit.
That goal gave Hull a genuine route back into the fixture, and their seven corners underlined the pressure they were able to create. Newcastle, though, managed the closing stages effectively to protect their narrow lead and secure the result.
The match also carried a competitive edge, with Hull’s Matt Crooks, Mohamed Belloumi, Konstantinos Tzolakis and Ryan Giles all booked. Jacob Murphy was shown a yellow card for Newcastle.
It was ultimately Newcastle’s ruthless first seven minutes that decided the contest. Willock’s 3rd-minute opener and Hall’s 7th-minute goal proved enough to overcome Cho’s late response and send the 52,647 supporters home with three Premier League points.
Newcastle United next face Coventry City on October 12, while Hull City travel to Everton on October 11.
