A lot can change in 322 days. Newcastle United's 5-1 win against Brentford at St James' Park proved as much - nearly a year after a very different six-goal scoreline in the corresponding fixture last season.
That 3-3 draw feels like a lifetime ago now. It was a time before Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier et al. A time where winless Newcastle could not hold onto leads and close out games as the Magpies fought relegation. A time where Matt Ritchie and Jacob Murphy were still being deployed as converted wing-backs. Yet there was still one constant: Newcastle opened the scoring once again from a corner kick on Saturday - just as the hosts did last November.
Alarm bells should have been ringing for Brentford when Miguel Almiron, rather than Kieran Trippier, stepped up to take the set-piece in the 21st minute. Brentford, though, appeared content to leave Trippier unmarked - Bryan Mbeumo did not rush out to close the right-back down until it was too late - and the England international had the time he needed to whip a cross into the box following Almiron's short corner.
READ MORE: Newcastle owners have already found superstar, Bruno's telling choice and Eddie Howe's 4 words
That was the cue for Bruno to smartly set off on a late run from the edge of the area to ghost in at the back post and head Newcastle in front. Newcastle made it look simple but so much detail goes into these routines; Jacob Murphy also made a late run as an effective decoy while Sean Longstaff blocked Ben Mee off so Bruno had the second he required to direct his header into the ground and into the net.
It looked like a clever routine straight from the training ground and the thumbs up from assistant Jason Tindall on the touchline as good as confirmed it. It falls to Tindall, first-team coach Stephen Purches and assistant Graeme Jones to break up set-pieces, come up with innovative plays and ensure the players have the required detail to execute these routines out on the pitch. That level of detail certainly paid off against Brentford.
“We have coaches that deliver that for us," Eddie Howe told reporters. "I have to compliment Jason Tindall on the amount of work he does on the set-plays.
"Today was one right off the training ground. Most games, we have a routine or an idea. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, but it was brilliantly executed today from Kieran’s ball to Bruno’s header. They’re so important because they can swing games and that moment was a huge one in the game."
It was the fifth goal Newcastle had scored from a corner or free-kick in all competitions this season - that total includes Trippier's stunning effort in the 3-3 draw against Man City - and it certainly won't be the last. No other player, after all, has created more chances from set-plays in the Premier League this season than Trippier (11) and no other side has won more corners (70) in the top-flight than Newcastle.
Newcastle should have even more goals considering those numbers, but the towering Magpies' threat from set-pieces is no longer a secret and opposition sides prepare accordingly. Brentford boss Thomas Frank even admitted one of the reasons why he later took off Ben Mee instead of centre-back partner Ethan Pinnock on Saturday was because of Newcastle's 'set-piece strength'. That was despite Pinnock only making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a knee injury.
The improvements Newcastle have made in this area have not gone unnoticed elsewhere in the league, either. Everton assistant Paul Clement previously referred to Newcastle as 'one of the best set-play teams in the country' while Bournemouth coach Tommy Elphick applauded from the touchline each time the Cherries dealt with a corner or free-kick in a 1-1 draw at St James' Park last month. Elphick knows that threat better than most after working with Howe and his staff as a player and the former Bournemouth skipper previously told ChronicleLive that Tindall was 'unbelievable at dead ball situations and getting you organised'.
With Tindall and co's input, Newcastle scored some crucial goals from set-pieces last season, whether it was Mason Holgate's own goal equaliser against Everton; Fabian Schar's header versus Brighton; Bruno's ingenious back heel volley at Southampton; or the Brazil international's leveller against Leicester City.
You suspect there may be a few more to come in the months ahead, too.
READ NEXT
Brentford show class after Newcastle rout with 'pathetic' admission despite Thomas Frank's anger
Newcastle owners get dream present, Bruno Guimaraes' elite reaction and scary truth - 5 things
Newcastle United 5-1 Brentford highlights and reaction
Newcastle have Financial Fair Play aid that could save millions and find right transfer targets
Eddie Howe's brilliant response on Newcastle future after making 'resigned' Unai Emery admission
