So, strap yourselves in because this may well be a long one and it may also turn into a rant rather than a blog!
I’m guessing you all might know why, but if you don’t, it’s going to be about Becky Langley parting ways with NUFC Women – or as I call it, sacked!
I was more than halfway through my round-up and thoughts at Sunday’s terrific performance in the Subway League Cup at Gateshead International Stadium when the news broke about Becky’s sacking. It changed that article too much and I had to abandon it.
I couldn’t tell you about Lois Joel’s 25-yard rocket that gave Wor Lasses an 11th minute lead and that it was Joel’s second thunderbolt, a week after her late 25-yard equaliser against Bristol City that had secured United a more than deserved point in a 2 – 2 draw.
I speculated after that game that the Welsh International may have saved Langley’s job. It appears not now, nor did Joel’s rocket against ‘Citeh’ that sparked a great performance. But it didn’t matter in the end to Becky as she was summoned and dismissed on Monday.
That despite her players showing grit, determination, togetherness and a never-say-die attitude that certainly reflected the Head Coach’s belief in them. A belief they seemed to share with their boss as three times in as many weeks they came from behind to draw games they refused to lose.
Sunday was that third in a row moment. This time an unbelievable fightback against not just one of England’s best professional outfits but on of Europe’s as well in Manchester City. True, City didn’t start all their superstars but Langley also rested a few players that would normally have started.
3️⃣ goals, 9️⃣ second, enjoy 😁#SubwayWLC pic.twitter.com/0kJtYSZSpu
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) October 20, 2025
After Joel had given our Lady Mags the lead they went toe-to-toe all game and never lost heart nor focus, even after going 3 – 1 down on 63 minutes to a City side who recovered from Newcastle’s excellent start to show their class.
Goals in the third minute of first half injury time from Laura Coombs from 10-yards out with a neat finish from Bunny Shaw’s pass. Then three minutes after half-time Yui Hasegawa ghosted into the box and fired low past Claudia Moan gave City a lead.
Worse was to come for United on 63 minutes when Moan made a mess of a City corner and could only punch the ball behind her, with Gracie Prior getting the credit for the final touch, bundling the ball over the line as a distraught Moan tried to recover.
Two down to a WSL1 side. Surely it was game over? Not a bit of it. Wor Lasses are made of stern stuff and kept going and going and going. They got a lifeline on 82 minutes. Another good pass from Murphy to the excellent Freya Gregory on the left-hand side of the box at an angle.
But not too acute an angle as she smashed her left foot shot past a shocked Khiara Keating in the City goal to give the Lasses hope. Hope they took and converted in the first minute of injury time. This time Murphy’s assist came courtesy of a shot from the edge of the box.
It was on target but substitute Shania Hayles managed to deflect the ball wider and past the despairing dive of Keating to give United a dramatic 3 – 3 draw after 90 minutes and a point in their League Cup group. It was well deserved for their efforts against a higher division side.
The rules of the competition decreed a penalty shoot-out was needed to decide the destination of the bonus point on offer. United’s penalties were decisive and well struck as Hayles, Aoife Mannion, Beth Lumsden, Aoife Mannion, Murphy and Jordan Nobbs all scored giving Keating no chance.
City replied in kind with Moan unfortunate not to keep at least a couple of City’s efforts out after clearly getting hands to three of the spot-kicks. Then up stepped United skipper Demi Stokes a player that appeared for City over 200 times.
Her spot-kick lacked the conviction of United’s previous six and Keating dived to her left to push it away giving Laura Blinkilde-Brown the chance to give City the bonus point and end the day cruelly for United.
In the post-game press conference, which is available on-line, Becky Langley was assured, articulate, honest and positive as she gave her reaction to what she thought was an excellent performance. She even said that in her six years in charge it was probably in the top five moments of her career.
She talked openly about her plans for the squad during the international break and how she felt things were coming together and performances were improving week on week out. She said United had four very important games coming up after the international break that she was looking forward too.
The upcoming derbies against Durham and Sunderland were also mentioned and she gave no indication whatsoever that she was focused on anything else than pushing forward for the rest of the season.
If she knew what was coming she certainly didn’t let on. If she knew what was coming her performance in the press conference was of Oscar winning proportions. If she knew what was coming I certainly wouldn’t play poker against her!
I said it would be long and I said it had changed my whole article. It was and did but, I feel I’ll end this one now and perhaps do another one reflecting the decision my feelings and my thanks to Becky Langley in that one.
Becky Langley’s reaction to yesterday’s 3-3 #SubwayWLC draw against Manchester City. 🗣 pic.twitter.com/Sgs0L5mSm5
— Newcastle United Women (@NUFCWomen) October 20, 2025
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