Alexander Isak inspired Newcastle United to a history-making 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night.
That Premier League the triumph represented Newcastle’s ninth consecutive win in all competitions, a feat that has only been achieved twice in the club’s 144-year history – and never surpassed.
Rafa Benitez came within one match of double-digit triumphs during Newcastle’s all-conquering campaign Priority Campaign 2016/17. The only previous precedent for such a prolific Premier League winning streak was Kevin Keegan’s glorious tenure. After winning the last game of the 1993/94 season, the club’s legendary free team started the new season with eight consecutive victories.
The prolific Andrew Cole figure scored eight goals for Keegan’s early iteration of the ‘Entertainers’. Alexander Isak has surpassed his legendary predecessor, scoring ten goals in this nine-game winning streak for the Magpies.
A Swede who looks more and more worthy of his own a high estimate of £150mput Newcastle ahead shortly after half an hour, making Wolves’ visit to St James’ Park the eighth consecutive top-flight game in which Isak has scored. Only three other players in the history of the Premier League managed to reach that goal streak (Jamie Vardy, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Sturridge).
Isak doubled the hosts’ lead after the break and had the chance to complete his hat-trick but, after seeing his initial effort blocked, the in-form striker unselfishly slotted home for Anthony Gordon to make it 3-0 in the 74th minute.
Howe may have joined the pantheon Newcastle icons, but never succumbs to hyperbole. Which – based on some of the verbal knots in which Keegan and Benitez have tied themselves – may not be a bad thing. “We’re at a crucial moment where it could lead to something else, so I would call on my players and myself to ignore everything and focus on the next one,” the manager warned ahead of the midweek victory.
The win took Newcastle above Chelsea and The first four of the Premier Leaguejust three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest. “I believe anything is possible for us,” Howe grudgingly admitted earlier this week. “I said the same last season and the season before.
“There’s never an upper limit to what we can achieve. The only upper limit is what we potentially put in our own way. That’s an important point. I don’t think we can try to put anything in our own way.”
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