soccer

'Tonali close to his best - again'

[BBC]
Sandro Tonali
[Getty Images]

What to talk about after this weekend... The magic of the cup? The horror of the officiating? The possible corner turned for Newcastle United? Sandro Tonali? Nick Woltemade?

I want to write about all of the above and then some, because winning games makes me feel floaty and poetic, and winning games in the FA Cup even more so.

I don't actually think I can add much to the discourse about the officiating on Saturday.

It has opened up a(nother) debate on VAR that I don't care to wade into.

I might, had we lost. But we won! Away from home!

We won despite Aston Villa being a difficult opposition that have already had four points from in our league fixtures this season.

We won despite Bruno Guimaraes being out for eight weeks.

We won because of two delicious strikes from Sandro Tonali, and one neat little chip from Woltemade.

A sweet Valentine's Day gift for our fans.

Tonali's second goal in particular was a thing of beauty.

He found himself outside the box, as he was with the first. Where the first goal took a slight deflection (but was still obviously brilliant, and a nice slice of justice after being denied a clear penalty), the second goal is exactly what you dream of in a cup competition.

The power and precision behind the strike to send it through four outfield players and Emi Martinez cannot be underestimated.

This was Tonali close to his best - again.

Midweek, after we beat Spurs (subsequently making Thomas Frank available to industry), the players pushed Eddie Howe out in front of the away fans for his applause.

At Villa Park, Tonali got his applause first, then Woltemade.

We seem more unified than even one week ago. The team feels cohesive. Fans are with them.

Now it's just a case of a casual 6,500 mile round trip to Azerbaijan, then on to Manchester City away.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast

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