'I was crushed': Eddie Howe was left heartbroken for £25m Newcastle star in the first half last night

By Shamanth Jayaram

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he was ‘crushed’ for Chris Wood last night after his goal in the first half was ruled out for offside.

The Magpies went into the game yesterday on the back of three consecutive defeats in the Premier League. Howe’s men were finally back at home for the first time in over a month and that gave them the belief they needed to bounce back.

A fantastic exchange of passes between Bruno Guimaraes and Miguel Almiron led to a cross by the former into the path of Wood, who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

That goal, however, was ruled out due to a very tight offside call, and Howe was devastated by that as he knew how important that was for the 30-year-old, who joined the club from Burnley for £25 million in January. (Sky Sports)

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Eddie Howe: I was crushed for Chris Wood after his goal was ruled out

Speaking to Newcastle United’s official website after the game against Wolves last night, Howe said: “We got into really good areas in the first half.

“That was epitomised by the goal we scored that wasn’t given. That was probably our best passage of play and best decision making around the box.

“I haven’t seen it back but if it was millimetres, it’s crushing. I was crushed for him (Wood). It was a great team move, Bruno and Miggy were involved, Chris poached the goal close to the line and it seemed like a big moment for us.

“Then, the players had to mentally deal with thinking they had scored and then it’s taken away. It’s always a difficult one to get your head around.”

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Wood has worked his socks off ever since he joined Newcastle United in January and it is a shame that he had only been able to score one goal before last night.

The New Zealander, like his boss, was crushed when VAR ruled his goal out for offside, but thankfully for him, he got another opportunity in the second half, and he took it brilliantly.

Newcastle now sit comfortably in 14th, 10 points above the drop zone. They are very close to securing safety now and Howe deserves immense praise for getting them to this position.

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