Newcastle fall short after valiant display against PSG but here’s why this was a victory in many ways – and one that showed they CAN still go deep in Europe, writes CRAIG HOPE

This was a victory in so many ways for Newcastle. A victory for a brave and daring performance that unsettled the European champions. A victory for overcoming a referee who made you nostalgic for Premier League whistlers. A victory for Eddie Howe, whose selection raised eyebrows but left Luis Enrique with the furrowed brow.

And yet, at the end of a breathless contest that bettered the pre-game fireworks for heat and intensity, Newcastle did not win and did not make the top eight of the Champions League. Nor did Paris Saint-Germain.

But Howe and his players will, and should, take heart from an evening of energy and adventure that suggests they can go deep in this competition – certainly deeper than the play-off round that awaits.

They were the width of a post away from skipping that detour to Qarabag or Monaco. With two minutes to play, and the game level at 1-1, substitute Anthony Gordon – a whirlwind during the final half hour – had PSG in a spin with another run of purpose and precision. He went for the jugular and, when his shot was deflected, it ran to fellow sub Harvey Barnes to apply the kill. Yet somehow, with Barnes slightly off balance, he sliced his effort into the outside of the post. 

The 2,000 Geordies behind the goal were out of their seats and the sound of them crashing back into them felt as much like the full-time whistle. You knew then that Newcastle would be victors in all but result.

Enrique said he had no memory of PSG’s 4-1 defeat at St James’ Park two years ago. This should leave an imprint. In three matches, he is still to beat Howe. It is baffling that there are grumblings among a section of supporters, unrest that is almost exclusively confined to online. As Gordon quite rightly said on the eve of the game, ‘that is the world we live in’. 

Nick Pope saved Newcastle from a poor refereeing decision when he saved an early penalty

Midfielder Vitinha netted a tidy finish after seven minutes to open the scoring for PSG in the tie

But context is important. The five-game Premier League form table has Newcastle top and they will be playing Champions League football in February for the first time in 23 years.

‘We are showing that we belong and I am pleased with what we have delivered this season,’ said Howe. 

‘There is a huge amount we can take from this into future games. We wanted to win and avoid the extra games, but we’ll take this. We go down that route in the best way possible after this performance.’

It was interesting to learn from the locals beforehand that the prospect of that two-legged punishment round was not as unnerving for PSG, given they took that avenue last season. For Newcastle, the incentive to remove two games from their calendar could not have been greater. They have lost players to injury in five of their last six matches. To their credit, they put everything on the line in pursuit on that outcome.

Newcastle left here two seasons ago with the sour taste of a stoppage-time, VAR injustice that denied them victory and ultimately led to a group-stage exit. They were reaching for the mouthwash inside 60 seconds this time. Lewis Miley, decided Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic after a VAR review, had deliberately handled when chasing down Bradley Barcola inside the area. 

The officials chose to ignore the ball first bouncing off the arm of Barcola before clipping that of Miley, who was oblivious to its deviation. It was as scandalous a call as the one that penalised Tino Livramento in 2023.

Justice was served when Nick Pope dived low to his left to keep out Ousmane Dembele’s penalty, but the bar for the standard of refereeing had been set even lower. Vincic later booked Anthony Elanga after he was fouled by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the VAR team determined that a Marquinhos handball in the area was not a penalty, despite its resemblance to Miley’s apparent infringement.

By then, PSG led. Indeed, they needed only four minutes to correct Dembele’s miss. Kvaratskhelia broke down the right and squared for Vitinha, in space 20 yards out. He paused, sent the recovering Lewis Hall for the baguettes, and calmly stroked into the bottom corner.

Eddie Howe’s selection raised eyebrows before the match but the head coach got it spot on

Ousmane Dembele missed a penalty but threatened throughout the early stages of the first 45

Harvey Barnes almost won it for Newcastle at the death but his shot somehow hit the post

It felt as if PSG could score at will and, come the 15th minute, the possession count read 87-13 in favour of the hosts. But then, during the foul on Elanga in the 20th minute, Kvaratskhelia hurt his ankle and was forced off. When he was replaced by Desire Doue – the star of last season’s final – it was hard to make a case for Newcastle gaining from the Georgian’s removal. 

Yet, upon that moment the direction of the half changed. From nothing, Newcastle began to grow in belief and territory. Midfielders Jacob Ramsey and Sandro Tonali, swamped by Vitinha and Co to that point, emerged from the mire of their torrid start to dictate.

The Marquinhos handball was waved away in the 40th minute but then, in stoppage-time and much like Enrique had feared, PSG succumbed to a set-piece. Tonali loaded a free-kick from the centre-circle, Marquinhos’ attempt to clear was weak and Dan Burn headed onto the brow of Joe Willock, who was alive to the likelihood of his 6ft 7ins team-mate winning the dropping ball.

Willock ran clear to score a second after half-time, only to be denied by an assistant’s flag, while Ramsey’s snap shot was saved during a spell in which the hosts were out of breath and answers. Gordon and Barnes went close before the chance for the latter right at the end. A 1-1 win, you might say.