Newcastle United advanced their claim to secure a place in the Champions League next season with a 2-1 win over Brentford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.
The Magpies took the lead through their star striker Alexander Isak, who bundled the ball in from around six yards out after Jacob Murphy whipped a terrific cross in.
Thomas Frank’s team found a leveller, though, after Nick Pope gave away a spot-kick and allowed Bryan Mbuemo to score from the spot to make it 1-1.
Eddie Howe’s men eventually found the winner in the second half when Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali scored a bizarre goal to seal all three points for the home team.
How Sandro Tonali scored his wondergoal
The Italy international found himself in a crossing position out by the corner flag on the right flank, with Joelinton, Callum Wilson, and Joe Willock all in the box awaiting a ball in from the former AC Milan man.
Instead of a cross, though, those three players watched a shanked effort fly into the roof of Mark Flekken’s net, as the Bees goalkeeper was caught out by what appears to have been a mishit from the central midfielder.
It caught everyone, perhaps even Tonali, by surprise but it is a piece of fortune that the Magpies will certainly take, as it puts them one step closer to securing a top-five finish in the Premier League.
The former Serie A dynamo may have secured himself a place as one of the undroppable stars, alongside Isak – who has scored 20 goals and started all 26 of his Premier League appearances, after scoring that either unbelievable or fluke of a goal.
Isak and Tonali are not the only Newcastle players who should be undroppable after that performance against the Bees, though, as Joelinton bossed the middle of the park.
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Why Joelinton is undroppable for Newcastle
The Brazil international showcased his quality in and out of possession in the win over Brentford with a terrific display in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali.
Joelinton, who has started all 25 of his outings in the top-flight this season, reaffirmed why Howe has so much faith in him with a dominant defensive showing, winning six of his eight ground duels and six of his nine aerial contests.
The former Hoffenheim ace also won three tackles without being dribbled past a single time by a Brentford player, which shows that he was a man mountain in midfield for Newcastle.
Minutes
90
90
90
Pass accuracy
70%
68%
85%
Dribbles completed
0/0
1/1
1/1
Duels won
4/10
5/7
12/17
Clearances
1
1
3
Tackles
3
2
3
Dribbled past
4x
1x
0x
As you can see in the table above, Joelinton was also far more efficient in possession in comparison to his midfield partners, whilst also outperforming them defensively.
The 28-year-old bruiser has consistently delivered on the defensive end all season with the most combined tackles, interceptions, and clearances (4.7) per game of any midfielder in the squad, providing Howe with an immovable anchor in the middle of the park.
Joelinton’s physicality allows the Magpies to take the game to opposition teams by pressing high and winning the ball back in great areas to create counter-attack opportunities for the likes of Isak and Murphy to make the most of.
He is, therefore, an undroppable cog in Newcastle’s machine, as further evidenced by his sensational display against the Bees, and Howe must continue to select him for the rest of the season.
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