Newcastle United 2 Athletic Bilbao 0

Newcastle United moved into the top eight of the UEFA Champions League:group stage with our third CL win and clean sheet on the trot.

After a scrappy opening ten minutes when we constantly gave the ball away and almost invited Bilbao to attack us Dan Burn scored one of the best headed goals I've ever seen from a Kieran Tripper free kick.

Our new set piece coach has clearly brought in a routine where our players make a run to the near post with the plan of leaving Burn either unmarked or in a one on one at the the far post.

We've seen it in other games but last night it worked to a T.

But how Burn managed to put a swerve on his header and keep it that height into the top corner from distance was simply extraordinary.

That goal. like Dan's fantastic header to put us one up at Wembley in the Carabou Cup will live in the memory for years to come.

Joelinton scored the second goal with another header from close range just a few minutes into the second half and I thought my fiver on a 4-0 win was right on target.

Bilbao had the better chances in the second half

Instead of going on to win the game easily it was Bilbao who started to take a degree of control and at times we struggled to get into the game.

They had chances, and Nick Pope yet again pulled off some excellent saves to deny Bilbao a goal that could have changed the atmosphere in SJP from confidence to concern.

It isn't often I disagree with Eddie Howe but his post match comments that we controlled the game left me scratching my head.

I'd be very surprised if I was the only fan who was thinking if Bilbao get a goal, and they are threatening to, this game could go either way. That isn't controlling a game.

However that didn't happen; we won, kept a clean sheet, and went some way - but definitely not all the way - to easing the pain of that West Ham performance and defeat.

Brentford next up away in the Prem on Sunday

Talk about must win games is becoming a cliche - but if we lose this one we'll be well entrenched in the bottom half of the table with five defeats in our first eleven matches.

The Brentford defeat last year was the turning point that saw the Lads turn their form around, go on a long unbeaten run, and charge up the table.

Let's hope this time it's a win there that sets us up for a similar charge, another defeat would mean we need to win 17 out of 27 games to match last seasons win rate.

Add in last season's six draws and we could only afford to lose 4 of our next 27 games to match last season's points total - and that might not even be enough to qualify for the CL again.

As Columbo used to say - something is bothering me

Remember when the murderer thought he'd fooled Columbo into complacency - until he turned around at the door and muttered those words followed by what was bothering him? The murderer then suddenly realised Columbo was on to something.

Well. something is bothering me about the Toon.

Something is not quite right,

We've now played 16 games this season in total and even Eddie accepts we are still "struggling to find our rhythm".

Our form is inconsistent, our away form lower mid table, our high press high tempo game is becoming a distant memory... I'm increasingly not sure exactly what our game plan is.

I know injuries have played their part - how good was Hall when he came on last night and what a difference he and Tino would make to our attacking threat at FB.

But. all teams have injuries and whilst they are a reason, they can't be an excuse.

I have every confidence Eddie will get that rhythm back - but time is running out in the Prem if we want to have a realistic chance of a top six finish.

Rhythm or not, we absolutely must win at Brentford on Sunday.

What do you think of our overall form this season?

Let the blog know in the comments section below.

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Note: Dan Burn image courtesy of the BBC.

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