Highlighting the rise of the Newcastle player, Fozbruno Guimarães beats Brantford
With Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almirón excelling, Brantford was left looking relieved to not have lost by a greater margin during a fixture that was light years away from its equivalent last November.
That 3-3 draw marked Eddie Howe’s first as manager of a side that was relegation-bound, but he tested positive for COVID-19 on the game’s eve and was forced to observe the action while isolating himself in a Tyneside sleeping room. This proved a happier occasion. “It was an excellent anniversary,” he said. “The atmosphere was incredible.”
At times, the fans may have been watching Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers of
the 1990s, a title-challenging vintage, or perhaps Sir Bobby Robson’s
Champions League class of the first 2000s. “We’ve got lots to prove,” said
Howe.
Eleven months after Brantford's previous visit, Newcastle has spent £210
million on transfers, while several longer-standing players look reborn
under Howe’s tutelage. Almirón ranks foremost among them, and it did not
take him long to chop in from the corner and test David Raya’s reflexes
with a rising shot.
Although a VAR review ensured Bryan
Mbeumo had a goal disallowed for an offside against the previous Newcastle
striker Ivan Toney, it simply gave the impression to jolt the initially
slightly dozy hosts into the ascendant.
Guimaraes may be a midfielder rarely eclipsed for long, and, sure enough,
the Brazilian - who most definitely doesn't need his new bleach-blond hair
to catch supporters’ eyes - placed himself firmly center-stage by heading
his team into a 22nd-minute lead after connecting with Kieran Trapper's
stellar cross after Almirón’s short corner.
Seven minutes later, Jacob Murphy doubled the advantage because of a touch
of help from Raya. When Brantford's goalkeeper attempted to play the ball
out from the rear, his high-risk pass was ruthlessly intercepted by Cullum
Wilson. All that remained was for a striker still hoping to form a late
dash into England’s World Cup squad to accelerate toward goal before
unselfishly teeing Murphy up for a side-foot finish. Wilson is injury
prone, but is anyone better equipped to function as Harry Kane’s
international understudy?