It never felt like a normal matchday. There was no hum of anticipation in the city centre two or three hours before kick off, and the nervous energy which has driven St James’ Park on some of the best occasions under Eddie Howe wasn’t in the air.
Ultimately, the job had been done inside the opening seven minutes in Baku. By half time, Newcastle knew the second leg back on Tyneside would be little more than a procession. Attention was already turning to the last 16 draw, which will take place on Friday.
