Newcastle United had just moved up to fifth place in the table following a 5-1 win against Brentford at a rocking St James' Park. Yet Saturday's victory only felt like a mere glimpse of the Magpies' bright future on the one-year anniversary of the club's takeover.
There is certainly no danger of this group getting carried away under Eddie Howe, particularly with games against Manchester United, Spurs and Everton to come in the space of just six days, but this hammering was yet another reminder of how far Newcastle have come. Six goals were also scored in the corresponding fixture last season - Howe's first game in charge - but, unlike that 3-3 draw, there was a very different scoreline nearly a year on as Newcastle ran riot at St James'.
Yes, Brentford were poor - so poor - but Newcastle made the visitors look ordinary with the intensity in which they played as the hosts forced Thomas Frank's side into uncharacteristic errors. Howe's mantra is 'intensity is our identity' and the players have certainly embraced those four words; no other side in the Premier League has made more high turnovers (94) this season or had more turnovers ending in shots (17).
