There have been some simply superb Premier League goals from Newcastle United players over the years. After hours of deliberation, the best five have been carefully selected and ordered. Here is a step by step guide to how each goal was scored and how important it was in the context of the respective season.
5) Cheick Tioté v Arsenal (St James’ Park, February 2011)
The late Cheick Tioté is perhaps most fondly remembered by Newcastle fans for his equalising goal in one of the most thrilling Premier League games ever played.
After 26 minutes, Arsenal had stormed into what looked an unassailable 4-0 lead. However, Newcastle provided one of the greatest comebacks of all time, scoring four goals in the last 22 minutes.
With three minutes left it looked like they were going to come up just short and lose 4-3 until a headed clearance dropped to Ivorian midfielder Tioté. He produced a well controlled low volley into the bottom corner of the net to send the home fans into raptures and stun the Gunners who had looked so comfortable midway through the first half.
4) Laurent Robert v Tottenham Hotspur (St James’ Park, December 2003)
Laurent Robert had already scored one good goal to give Newcastle a slender lead before half time. In the second half he outdid himself, dribbling from the halfway line to about 30 yards out from the goal before unleashing a fierce strike that flew into the top corner and left Kasey Keller with no chance.
He then went on to assist Alan Shearer with two goals to complete a 4-0 victory. The win moved Newcastle up to fifth position in the table and that is where they would finish, securing a UEFA Cup (as it was known then) qualification place in the process.
3) Philippe Albert v Manchester United (St James’ Park, October 1996)
Arguably one of the Magpies’ best performances under Kevin Keegan came against defending champions Manchester United during the 96/97 season. Newcastle were top of the league going into the game and a dominant display saw them put the Red Devils to the sword to consolidate their position further.
With seven minutes left on the clock and the score at 4-0, it didn’t look like things could get any better. Then, Rob Lee laid the ball off to Philippe Albert and as the Spaniard strode towards the edge of the area, he noticed Peter Schmeichel was off his line. He then produced an instinctive left footed lob that sailed over the Danish goalkeeper’s head and dipped just in time to nestle under the crossbar and cap a perfect afternoon’s work for Keegan’s men.
Unfortunately for them they couldn’t quite hold onto their league lead and were reeled in and overtaken by Manchester United late in the season. They did hang on to second, beating Arsenal and Liverpool on goal difference. It equalled their best Premier League finish from the previous season, and remains the last time Newcastle finished second in the top flight.
2) Alan Shearer v Everton (St James’ Park, December 2002)
Newcastle welcomed in form Everton to St James’ Park in December 2002. The Toffees were looking for a seventh consecutive win to take them second in the table and led 1-0 for much of the match courtesy of an early Kevin Campbell goal.
With six minutes left the Magpies’ captain and star marksman Shearer produced a sumptuous volley to pull the toon army level. Newcastle pumped the ball long from the halfway line to the edge of the area where Shola Ameobi out jumped his man and nodded the ball down into the path of the on running Shearer.
From 25 yards Shearer connected sweetly with the ball on the volley and it soared into the top right hand corner of the goal leaving the ‘keeper no chance. This proved the catalyst for a great comeback as Craig Bellamy scored a late winner. Shearer went on to win the ‘Player of the month’ award for December and Newcastle ended the season third with 69 points, their best finish under Sir Bobby Robson.
1)Papiss Cisse v Chelsea (Stamford Bridge, May 2012)
Newcastle arrived at Stamford Bridge in the hunt for a top four finish and were looking to hold off the attentions of a reinvigorated Chelsea side who were under the caretaker management of Roberto Di Matteo.
Papiss Cisse had arrived at St James’ Park in January for £10m from German side SC Freiburg in the January transfer window and made an instant impact. He had scored 11 goals in his first 11 games for the club but in this game he moved his strike rate above one in one. Having scored what looked to be the only goal of the game, a glorious left footed volley (perhaps the second best goal he ever scored for the Magpies), Cisse and Newcastle were forced to see out ten minutes of added time due to a long injury delay.
A Ryan Taylor throw down the line was chested down by Ameobi, on the left hand side of the penalty area. The ball bounced right into Cisse’s path and with the outside of his right foot on the half volley he bent the ball high over the head of goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was virtually on his line, and in at the back post.
It was a goal that almost seemed to deny physics but at the same time was a piece of aesthetic beauty that rewarded quick thinking. It is surely the most iconic goal Newcastle have scored during the Premier League era and that is one of the main reasons it tops the list.