'One of those things': Eddie Howe reflects on game-changing miss late on in Paris
Newcastle United came within a whisker of qualifying for the Champions League knock-out phase last night as Harvey Barnes failed to guide the ball into the back of the net on 87 minutes.
It would have been a well-deserved winner for the Magpies, who recovered well from a very dodgy start to the game in which the Slovenian official started to make up his own rules to suit PSG.
An early penalty decision clearly rocked Newcastle, and it took them a while to grow into the game, but grow they did, thanks in no small part to Nick Pope's penalty save.
PSG did take an early lead on eight minutes, but that just seemed to galvanise Newcastle, who grew stronger as the game went on. After Joe Willock had levelled things right before the break, the Magpies were in control for much of the second period.
Eddie Howe has no problems with Harvey Barnes' late miss last night
Other than some speculative long-range efforts from the likes of Vitinha, PSG never really looked as threatening as they had in the opening moments and if anyone was going to snatch a winner, it was Newcastle.
Joe Willock actually had the ball in the net at one point but was flagged for offside. Substitutes Anthonye Gorodn and Harvey Barnes injected some urgency into the NEwcastle attack and both came close a few times, but it was Harvey Barnes miss on 87 minutes that felt like the biggest chance wasted. However, Eddie Howe refused to hold it against the winger who has been Newcastle's biggest goal threat this season.
"He has nothing to say in a sense where he has to apologise. That's football, he will miss plenty of chances. What we know with Harvey is he is such a good player that he will get into positions where he will score as well. It was just one of those things, he was unlucky with the spin of the ball."
Newcastle are hoping for a carrier bag on Friday
In Barnes' defence, it was an awkward ball to get on the end of, and the spin took it off the wrong side of his foot and ultimately on the wrong side of the post.
Had that gone in, Newcastle would have qualified for the knock-out stage at the expense of Manchester City, but as it transpired, Newcastle now face a play-off against either Monaco or Qarabag.
The Magpies will learn their fate on Friday, with the draw to take place at midday live on TNT Sports 1.
