What Eddie Howe said after Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona – Watch post-match presser

Much like back in September, we were the thoroughly better side across the 90 minutes, and were just a clinical finisher away from putting the game to bed by the hour mark.

But when it looked like Harvey Barnes had grabbed the winner just minutes from time, a moment of madness from Malick Thiaw saw him foul Dani Olmo in the box with seconds to go, and Lamine Yamal converted the resulting penalty with the last kick of the game.

Here’s what Eddie Howe had to say after the game St James’ Park, followed by some of his key quotes from his post-match press conference.

There was a lot to be pleased about regarding last night’s performance, and Howe feels that everyone turned up and delivered in our biggest game of the season to date.

“I thought we were outstanding, a really, really good performance. We kept the intensity up. The moment at the end takes that in a negative light but one of our best performances.”

“The last attack of the game, last kick of the game [for Barcelona to score]. A tough one to take.

“They didn’t look like scoring today. We have to believe we are still very much in the tie. The draw is harsh on us.

“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.

“For me, it’s a great performance, I don’t think that should be lost. We played really, really well, I was proud of the players.

“I think it was one of those special St James’ Park nights, I don’t think there’s any complaints from me about the performance.”

On a night where a lot of decisions didn’t go our way from the referee, the moment Thiaw made contact with Dani Olmo was clear and a call VAR were never going to overturn, even if Howe felt it was ‘soft.’

“I think it is soft but Malick makes contact.

“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.”

For what feels like the umpteenth time this campaign, fans will feel aggrieved about the quality of the refereeing performance on display, this time from Italian Marco Guida.

Most notably holding back on carding Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez for two fouls on Lewis Hall in quick succession, which would have ruled both men out of the second leg, it was an inconsistent performance throughout the 90 that has left Howe disappointed.

“Over the 90 minutes yes, of course I think from a Newcastle perspective we were on the wrong end of a lot of 50/50 calls, but I don’t really want to focus on that.”

Yamal may have etched his name on the scoresheet in the dying seconds of the game, but tonight will have been a performance the teenager won’t have been too fond of after Lewis Hall kept arguably the best player in the world under wraps for the entire evening.

“It was an interesting battle wasn’t it? I think Lewis defended very well, supplemented and supported by his teammates, but he also attacked really well and that’s part of Lewis’ DNA.

“I think we can be pleased with a lot of aspects of our game.”

Even if we have a difficult trip to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea at the weekend, Howe has insisted that the second leg at the Nou Camp is our top priority, and has backed the players to deliver another top performance at what’s been a fortress for Barcelona this season.

“Well nothing was going to be decided either way tonight. I think of course the second game takes priority. We have to believe how good we are, take the positives from today, and of course it’s a totally different game and it’s a bigger challenge for us.

“But football’s a very special game, it produces moments, sometimes goals and things happen that you don’t foresee what the future holds, and I think you have to hold that belief.

“When we turn up and bring our A game, like we did tonight, we can compete with anybody home and away. Wherever we go, we’ll be ready.”