Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has lauded Alexander Isak’s composure and clinical edge following the forward’s crucial late goal in their 1-1 Premier League draw against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The result helped keep Newcastle’s Champions League hopes alive, with the Magpies remaining in fourth place, level on points with Chelsea.
Isak, a 25-year-old Sweden international of Eritrean descent, calmly converted an 89th-minute penalty to earn his side a share of the points in what proved to be a tense and hard-fought contest at St. James’ Park.
The strike took his tally to 22 goals in 32 league appearances this season, reinforcing his importance to Newcastle’s attacking line.
Speaking after the match, Howe highlighted Isak’s mental strength and instinct in pressure situations.
“He’s got that ruthless mentality to scoring goals,” Howe said. “To have the coolness of mind to just take a step back and go, ‘right, this is what I need to do’ and deliver it for the team—it was a brilliant penalty in a big moment because we needed something from the game.”
The penalty came after a series of controversial VAR decisions had earlier denied Newcastle two spot-kicks.
Isak’s successful conversion finally gave the home side the breakthrough they had fought for, capping off a strong personal performance under pressure.
Howe continued: “I’ve not been there myself, so I can’t put myself in his shoes. But I can only imagine the process he is going through and then he has to stop, and that’s why he did very well because it would be very, very easy to miss that moment. But he didn’t.”
Newcastle’s draw, coupled with Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool later in the day, keeps the battle for the final Champions League spot finely poised with just a few games remaining.
