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Newcastle Secure Away their Mark in UCL with Convincing Triumph over Belgian Side

Lotto Park had started to thin.

Yet the vocal Newcastle United fans remaining in the away end did not want to go home after watching the visitors overcome Union SG 4-0 in the Belgian capital.

"That was the best journey I've personally been on," the travelling fans repeatedly sang at the final whistle.

They had only observed their side achieve their most significant Champions League success due to two penalties from Gordon and finishes from Woltemade and replacement Barnes.

That a prospect once felt unthinkable for supporters when the Magpies were battling the drop not so long ago.

But the manager's side have secured entry for the Champions League in two of the previous three years.

And this was a night where the manager's squad demonstrated they were worthy at the continent's elite level with an emphatic on the road victory, the side's first in the event after 2003.

"They ought to [believe] and there's no reason why we can't win games at such a stage home and away," Howe commented. "We have developed the players and the team to succeed.

"Possibly you must do it to trust it yourself, but I’ve now confident. I believe we can."

Readiness Proves Effective

Why 'outstanding' Anthony Elanga was the Magpies' Standout Performer against the Belgian side

The tone was established prior to kick-off.

Howe has rotated his side while competing on multiple competitions in the early period of the campaign.

Yet it was rather notable that the United boss just made 2 changes for that fixture – and one was enforced after Tino Livramento suffered a joint setback.

The domestic league's poorest scorers needed to find form.

"There has been a shortage of good play in general," Gordon told TNT Sports. "We have organized exceptionally, been organised, but have lacked that flair and creativity. We really intended to focus priority on restoring that revived this evening."

There was definitely little likelihood of Newcastle overlooking Saint-Gilloise as the visitors sought to respond from the recent disappointing loss against the Gunners.

These Belgium's winners may be first-timers in this tournament, but they beat PSV in their first ever European game last month and had avoided defeat a single of their opening several domestic games.

This has been Union's advancement in European tournaments in recent years, they in fact have a markedly greater ranking than United.

That made it hardly a surprise, then, that the visitors prepared thoroughly before facing a side who had an extra 24 hours to recover and get ready.

As well as directly reviewing his opponent, as always, Howe familiarised his squad with their different environment by training at Lotto Park on the night prior of the game.

This did not go overlooked by Union boss Sebastien Pocognoli.

"Perhaps the adversary at times can be dismissive, to look down on you," he commented. "They refused to. They showed us full regard. They performed a important match with their qualities.

"They operated high standard, each the Magpies individuals played elite, so it demonstrates that they had significant regard for us."

'Our team is a Forward-thinking Football Team'

Newcastle Outscored their Expected Goals against Union

Union actually had as many shots on target (6) as the Magpies, but the traveling side were deadly.

While the Magpies were facing a defensive line, they understood there would be opportunity in wide areas for the speedy Elanga and Anthony Gordon – and so it proved.

Anthony Elanga, the player of the match, had a role in each of the Magpies' opening goals.

That proved to be Anthony who sent a ball into the box in the build-up to Sandro Tonali's shot taking a deflection off the forward for the Magpies' opening.

That winger then earned the initial 45 foul, which Anthony Gordon scored for the guests' additional.

Along with scoring another penalty for Newcastle's third strike, Gordon additionally regained the possession back instants before replacement Harvey Barnes completed a precise counter-attack finish late on.

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