The atmosphere at St. James’ Park was a mixture of joy and relief last night as Newcastle United comfortably handled PSV Eindhoven. The 3-0 victory was more than just a win; it secured the club a spot in the Champions League play-offs, keeping their European dreams very much alive.
However, while the fans on Tyneside were celebrating a professional performance, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor was busy offering a more skeptical take on the proceedings.
Never one to shy away from a bit of controversy, especially when it involves the Newcastle faithful, the pundit took to the airwaves to suggest that the Magpies were perhaps a little luckier than the scoreline suggested.
Agbonlahor’s main point of contention was not that Newcastle didn’t deserve the victory, but rather how easily it was handed to them. By the half-hour mark, Eddie Howe’s side was already cruising with a two-goal lead, thanks to strikes from Yoane Wissa and Anthony Gordon.
To the casual observer, it looked like a dominant display of high-pressing football. To Agbonlahor, it looked like a comedy of errors from the Dutch visitors. He pointed out that both of those early goals were the result of massive blunders by the PSV defense.
For the first, the goalkeeper completely botched a clearance, allowing Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton to quickly combine and set up Wissa for an easy finish. For the second, a poorly hit pass from a center-back left Wissa with an easy interception to set up Gordon for a simple tap-in.
When discussing the night on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor noted that at the Champions League level, you simply don’t expect to see such high-profile gifts, especially in a stadium as intimidating as Newcastle’s.
He compared it to Liverpool’s win on the same night, suggesting that while both English teams had comfortable evenings, Newcastle’s path was made significantly smoother by PSV’s self-inflicted wounds. It was only in the second half that Harvey Barnes added a truly clinical third goal to put the game beyond any doubt.
While the pundit acknowledged the result was fair, his focus on the “gifted” nature of the goals was clearly designed to stir the pot among the Newcastle supporters who felt their team’s tactical pressure forced those mistakes.
The timing of these comments is particularly interesting because Newcastle is set to host Agbonlahor’s former club, Aston Villa, this Sunday. St. James’ Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the Birmingham side lately, as Newcastle has won their last four home encounters against them.
Agbonlahor admitted that the upcoming fixture will be a massive test for Unai Emery’s men, especially given the injury problems currently plaguing the Villa squad. He expressed hope that some new signings, such as the rumored pursuit of Tammy Abraham, could be finalized in time to provide a boost. He also mentioned the return of Leon Bailey from his loan spell at Roma as a potential game-changer.
On the other side of the fence, Eddie Howe was much more complimentary of his team’s individual efforts. In his post-match comments, the Newcastle manager chose to focus on the intelligence and work rate of his players rather than the errors of the opponent.
He was particularly pleased for Yoane Wissa, noting that the striker moved to the club specifically to experience these big European nights. Howe argued that while PSV is a tactically difficult team to break down, his players rose to the challenge and produced some of their best individual performances in recent memory.
He also singled out Anthony Gordon for praise, highlighting how much the winger has excelled in European competition this season.
| Match Event Summary | Timing | Description | Aggie’s Take |
| Wissa Goal | 18′ | Tap-in after GK error | “Shanked clearance” |
| Gordon Goal | 29′ | Empty net after short pass | “Gifted early goal” |
| Barnes Goal | 65′ | Clinical low finish | “Secured the points” |
| Result | FT | Newcastle 3–0 PSV | “Comfortable night” |
Ultimately, the debate boils down to a classic footballing question: did Newcastle force the errors through their intensity, or was PSV simply not up to the standard? For the fans in the Gallowgate End, the answer doesn’t really matter as long as the club is moving forward in Europe.
For Agbonlahor, it’s another chance to poke the bear before a big Premier League clash. As both teams prepare for Sunday, the noise coming from the media will only add more spice to what is already a highly anticipated top-half battle.
Newcastle will be looking to prove that their European form is no fluke, while Villa will be hoping to quiet the home crowd and prove they are still serious contenders for a top-four finish.
