As Newcastle United headed into the locker room at half-time with an overwhelming 5-0 lead against Qarabag, one might have presumed the team would be in a celebratory mood. Handshakes, high-fives, and maybe a few playful quips about their near-certain advancement to the Champions League’s last 16 would have been expected.

However, the scene was quite different. Instead of relishing their commanding lead, Anthony Gordon and captain Kieran Trippier were in a heated discussion about the penalty that secured Newcastle’s fifth goal just moments earlier.

Gordon, who had already notched a hat-trick and won the penalty himself, seemed to be at the center of debate over who should take the kick. Trippier appeared to be suggesting that another player, perhaps Nick Woltemade, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, or Anthony Elanga, should have a chance.

Ultimately, it was Gordon who stepped up to the spot, adding a fourth to his tally and Newcastle’s fifth of the match. In truth, a touch of selfishness is a trait often desired in a striker, and Gordon, leading Eddie Howe’s team in Baku, demonstrated the kind of assertive mindset expected from top goal-scorers. His performance echoed the idea that forwards sometimes need to possess a certain level of greed on the field.

As discussions continue over who should act as Harry Kane’s understudy for Thomas Tuchel at the upcoming World Cup—names like Ollie Watkins, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Danny Welbeck, and Dominic Solanke are in the mix—Gordon is quietly making a compelling case for himself as a potential false nine.

Anthony Gordon scored four in the 6-1 demolition of Qarabag by Newcastle on Wednesday

Thomas Tuchel may consider Gordon as a back-up option to Harry Kane up front 

Tuchel, watching from a distance, was likely impressed by Gordon’s performance, especially his first goal. It was a display that could very well influence future decisions regarding England’s attacking lineup.

That came after 123 seconds when Dan Burn received the ball in his own half but drove forward with it. 

He poked a delicate pass in behind with the outside of his boot for Gordon, who scored with an accurate first-time finish into the opposite corner for 1-0.

It involved masterful movement from Gordon in the build-up as he looked over his shoulder to see if his defender was following him. 

He purposefully pulled Kevin Medina out of position by dropping towards Burn before spinning and sprinting into the box without his aforementioned marker.

It was an elite opener from Newcastle with Howe rewarded for packing his front line with so much speed. Qarabag – the disruptors of this season’s Champions League who held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw in Baku and beat Benfica, Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt – could never follow their opponents’ give-and-gos with Gordon forever on the move especially.

It should be noted that Gordon and Trippier hugged when the former was substituted after 67 minutes, at least, suggesting they had settled their differences over the half-time oranges.

Gordon had a row with Kieran Trippier and it appeared to be about him taking the penalty

Baku Buffon stopped it being 10  

It is not often a 6-1 scoreline in the Champions League is flattering to the losing side, but then Newcastle would have won by so many more goals had Qarabag’s goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski not regularly resembled a prime Gianluigi Buffon behind a bunch of Keystone Cops defenders.

Were it not for Kochalski, it could have been 10. It should have been 10, arguably. Gordon and Barnes failed to beat the stopper after breaking through Qarabag’s back line, while Kochalski produced a remarkable double save to deny Burn then William Osula towards the end.

He conceded six goals and yet, bizarrely, Kochalski was Qarabag’s best player here because he was nowhere near as generous as those team-mates surrounding him.

Mateusz Kochalski was Qarabag’s best player and the scoreline could have been worse 

Handball rule is tough in Europe 

While we love to complain on the use of VAR in the Premier League, Newcastle’s third goal came from a contentious penalty, and one we might not have seen awarded in England.

Barnes’ shot was blocked by the arm of Matheus Silva but there were mitigating circumstances. The defender had dived to get his body in the way of the attempt. He was using his arm to break his fall. His back was to Barnes. 

Referee Espen Eskas was sent to his pitch-side monitor, from where he penalised Silva for placing his arm in an apparently unnatural position. Gordon made use of the ruthless interpretation of handball in the Champions League by scoring for 3-0.

Newcastle’s keeper quartet 

While Newcastle had more than enough talent to terrorise Qarabag, their substitutes’ bench was unusual in featuring three goalkeepers. Well, you never know. Had Nick Pope picked up an injury, Aaron Ramsdale might have been required. If Ramsdale then got injured, there was John Ruddy. If Ruddy then got injured, there was always Aidan Harris.

Pope will be disappointed with conceding. Elvin Cafarguliyev simply smashed the ball across goal and it flew between his body and arm. 

While none of Howe’s spare goalkeepers were needed – travelling 2,529 miles from Tyneside to Baku is a long old journey knowing you will likely go unused – 18-year-old academy boy Sean Neave was introduced.

Nick Pope started in goal for the Magpies and there were four goalkeepers who travelled 

That was a nice touch by Howe at the end of the easiest of evenings for Newcastle with them knowing their stay in Europe will be extended.

Eddie Howe had to be respectful towards Qarabag when speaking afterwards, but he will not be fooling too many with his quotes on this tie still being alive. 

‘We know the tie is not dead or over,’ Howe insisted. ‘We’ve got to be professional in every moment. We know how football can change.’