Newcastle United secured one of the most dramatic victories of their season on Wednesday night, edging Leeds United 4-3 at St. James’ Park thanks to a last-gasp winner from Harvey Barnes in the 102nd minute, the latest winning goal in Premier League history.
The Magpies had to come from behind three separate times, showing remarkable resilience and fight, and the win marked their third consecutive league triumph, lifting them up to sixth in the table for the first time this season.
Amid the celebrations, however, there was a moment of personal reckoning for defender Malick Thiaw, who had a challenging first half that forced manager Eddie Howe to make a tactical change at half-time.
Thiaw had a night to forget during the opening 45 minutes. Newcastle trailed 2-1 at the break, with Brenden Aaronson opening the scoring in the 32nd minute before Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Both goals came as a result of errors directly involving the German centre-back. He lost his footing in midfield, allowing Calvert-Lewin to pick out Aaronson for the opening strike, and later conceded the penalty after handling the ball in the box.
Earlier in the half, Thiaw had already picked up a yellow card for a challenge on James Justin, which further limited Howe’s options and forced him to act.
Eddie Howe explained his decision to substitute Thiaw at half-time, bringing on Sven Botman to shore up the defence. Howe said, “I took him off so he wouldn’t get sent off. It was a difficult 45 minutes for him.
He’s been absolutely outstanding for us, but it was a challenging period. The aim was to try and keep 11 men on the pitch.” While the substitution was necessary to protect the team, it also reflected the difficulties Newcastle faced in maintaining control against a relentless Leeds side.
Despite the early struggles, Thiaw’s teammates rallied magnificently in the second half. Joelinton equalised just nine minutes after the restart, and although Leeds regained the lead through Aaronson in the 79th minute, Newcastle refused to be defeated.
Bruno Guimaraes converted a stoppage-time penalty after Aaronson’s handball on Lewis Hall’s cross, setting the stage for Harvey Barnes’ unforgettable winner. The stadium erupted, with fans witnessing a comeback that will be remembered as one of the season’s most thrilling moments.
Thiaw, who had been largely faultless since his £35 million move from AC Milan in the summer, felt the need to take responsibility for his early mistakes. Speaking to fans on Instagram, the 24-year-old wrote, “Incredible mentality from the team THANK YOU +3.
Well that was a total blackout from my side, sorry for that!” His humility and willingness to accept responsibility demonstrated his professionalism and commitment to the team, even in moments of personal disappointment.
Reflecting on the match, Howe highlighted how the chaotic nature of the game actually played into Newcastle’s hands. “In some senses, when you’re the team chasing, you want that chaos,” he said. “If it’s not that way, I don’t think you’ve got a chance of coming back.
The chaos in that moment suited us. If we were leading, you don’t want the transitions and end-to-end feel; you want more control. We just hoped we could fall on the right side of the chances, and I thought the substitutes made a positive difference again, which is great to see.”
The victory was a testament to Newcastle’s fighting spirit and cohesion under pressure, with players stepping up when it mattered most. It also highlighted the importance of depth and tactical flexibility, as Howe’s timely substitutions proved decisive.
While Thiaw’s early errors could have been costly, the team’s collective determination ensured that individual mistakes did not define the outcome.
The Magpies’ ability to claw back from multiple deficits reinforces their growing reputation as one of the league’s most resilient sides and demonstrates that, even when the game spirals into chaos, Newcastle are capable of delivering remarkable results for their fans at St. James’ Park.
In the end, the match was as much about Newcastle’s unity and belief as it was about individual brilliance. Harvey Barnes’ late goal, Joelinton’s equaliser, and Guimaraes’ composure from the spot were emblematic of a squad willing to fight together through adversity.
Thiaw’s apology served as a reminder of accountability, but it also underscored the collective effort that ultimately secured a historic and unforgettable win for the Magpies.
