Newcastle United unveiled new signing Nico González, progressed to the next round of the Carabao Cup and are finalising the details of a new contract for England full-back Lewis Hall.
It means a difficult, testing summer of upheaval and uncertainty is ending with positive momentum. The signing of González from Manchester City feels like a statement and he was paraded on the pitch before kick-off, looking genuinely thrilled to have arrived on Tyneside.
Tying Hall, who has been extensively linked with Manchester United this summer, to a new deal will be another big boost to Newcastle. The club has been adamant that the 21-year-old would not be leaving and intend to show their appreciation for the player with an improved long-term deal.
For the second game in a row, Hall conceded a penalty when he handled in the area, gifting West Brom a route back into this Carabao Cup tie. The visitors had been outplayed and overpowered in the second half but when Isaac Price scored his second of the game, the Championship side set up a frantic finale.
Hall hit the post with a shot from outside the box minutes later, Yoane Wissa somehow missed from six yards before Harvey Barnes scored Newcastle’s third – and his second of the night – to secure passage into the third round.
Newcastle controlled things at the start, with a speed and intensity – you will be hearing and reading that word a lot under Matthias Jaissle – that pleased the home crowd.
The fast start, in which Bazoumana Touré and Joe Willock both had half-chances and Hall had a shot saved, did not last. Newcastle struggled to break down low block defences last season, a cause of much frustration under Eddie Howe, and the same issues appeared here.
When West Brom took a shock lead through Price’s clever free-kick, lining up to cross, only to curl a low shot beyond a flat-footed Ewen Jaouen, Newcastle were in their first predicament of the Jaissle era.
Loose passes drew moans, players losing the ball were heckled. Jaissle gestured to his players to keep going, constantly waving his hands around as if he could transfer his touchline energy to his players. The crowd – and he will have to get used to this – were edgy.
It was hard work, but Newcastle were level before half-time: a surging run and cross on the move from new full-back Amar Dedić turned in by another summer signing, Touré. It was a well-worked goal and a nice moment for the young winger who had drifted in off his flank for the close-range finish.
Touré was replaced at half-time and it was substitute Barnes who won this cup tie. He scored his first of the game, smashing the ball into the roof of the net after following up his own blocked shot.
Newcastle dominated but after Price’s penalty, they needed Barnes to get them out of trouble again, finishing off a sweeping move down the right involving the impressive Dedić and Anthony Elanga.