Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hailed one of his side’s best performances of the season against Barcelona despite Lamine Yamal’s last-gasp penalty denying the Magpies a famous victory in first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Magpies dominated for most of the game at a raucous St James’ Park, with Yamal largely a peripheral figure, but Howe’s men consistently failed to take their chances.
Yet it looked as if Newcastle would prevail when Harvey Barnes gave them a deserved lead in the 86th minute, only for Yamal to break their hearts from the spot with the final kick of the game after Malick Thiaw had brought down Dani Olmo, leaving the hosts to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Howe, though, was keen to stress the positives of the display, making it clear Newcastle can afford to travel to Camp Nou believing they can pull off a remarkable upset in the second leg.
“I thought we were outstanding, a really, really good performance,” Howe told Prime Video Sport.
“We kept the intensity up. The moment at the end takes that in a negative light but that was one of our best performances.”
Asked about the penalty, Howe replied: “I think it is soft but Malick makes contact. Once the refree gives it you know it’s not going to be overturned.
“We had our shape, there’s no way we should concede that goal. We will look at it, but I don’t want it to override the 93 minutes before that, in which we were quality.
“I thought we had enough to score before we did. The game showed we are capable, but we know we probably have to give more going to their stadium. We are capable of doing it, but we will need to be at our very best.”
Yamal’s penalty was the latest of several dramatic finishes to have gone against Newcastle, with Liverpool and Arsenal claiming late victories at St James’ Park in the Premier League this season.
“It is my job to try and pick them up,” Howe added of the task of rallying the players from the disappointment of the late goal.
:We have unfortunately had to do that a few times this season, but our strength of character should never be in doubt. We will be ready by the time the next game comes round.
“We believe in ourselves and our capability and we have shown that today.”
‘Strange feeling’ for Newcastle hero Barnes
Goalscorer Barnes, meanwhile, conceded to mixed emotions, Barca’s equaliser coming after he was withdrawn from the action in stoppage time.
“It is a bit of a strange feeling, we are only halfway through the tie, we played really well tonight, kept their dangerous players quiet,” Barnes told Prime Video.
“We got ahead with a good goal, but the way it ended it is a tough one to take, but we have to remember it is only halfway through the tie.
“We played really well in the game. We were on top for a lot of it.
“It will be a different sort of game at their place, but we know what we can do and we know when we are at our level how well we can play.
“What a feeling it would have been to go there 1-0 up but we are level in the tie and all to play for. It is one game, away from home, where we can show what we can do.
“It will be an exciting game for us.”
