THE NOTEBOOK: Alexander Isak joins a Newcastle club legend in the history books after scoring at PSG while former striker Andy Carroll watches on in the stands… and a star-studded line-up in the press box too!
- Newcastle were cruelly denied a point in Paris after a controversial late penalty
- There were some big names in the press box while Isak entered the record books
- Why it’s NEVER OK to cheer in the press box (even if England win the World Cup!) – Listen here to It’s All Kicking Off
Newcastle were left heartbroken as they left the Parc des Princes with a point despite being on the verge of a famous victory – as Kylian Mbappe netted a controversial penalty in stoppage time.
The Magpies got the point they needed to stay in the Champions League but will feel hard done by after Tino Livramento was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, despite it bouncing up off his chest.
Alexander Isak had opened the scoring for the injury-hit Premier League side and the team looked to be holding on valiantly against a star-studded PSG outfit before the late controversy.
The result means Newcastle are now two points off second-placed PSG in Group F as they bid to make the knockout stages of the competition – but they must win their final match against Milan to have any chance.
Mail Sport’s Craig Hope was on hand to point out some things you might have missed from an eventful encounter in the French capital.
Newcastle were dealt a huge blow at PSG as they left with a point after a controversial penalty
Kylian Mbappe netted the stoppage time penalty to break Newcastle’s hearts in Paris
PARDEW PROPS UP STELLAR TRIO
I was able to build a tremendous press-box midfield in the hour before kick-off. Chris Waddle was the first face I saw, telling stories about playing here with Marseille. There’s our left-winger.
Emmanuel Petit soon wandered in. He can pull the strings in the middle. Next up was Michael Laudrup. Wow. Let’s put him on the right.
Finally, Alan Pardew walked through before taking his place in the radio gantry. And there we have our holder.
There were some big names in the press box as Emmanuel Petit (L) and Chris Waddle arrived
CARROLL WATCHES IN THE STANDS
Another famous face in attendance was Andy Carroll, the former Newcastle striker now playing in France with Amiens, 100 miles north of here.
But he wasn’t in the press box, he was in the away end with his dad.
Given Newcastle’s injury problems, his old team could have done with him on the bench, where they named only seven of nine subs and included two goalkeepers.
Andy Carroll watched from the stands – though the Magpies could have done with him on the bench
NEWCASTLE FANS STAY SAFE
Thankfully, there were no fresh reports of incidents involving PSG ultras before the game.
A gang of around 30 Parisians attempted to storm a bar on Monday night where a group of Newcastle fans were drinking.
A handful of Geordies resisted and the hooded mob ran away. No injuries were reported, which is a first for anyone connected with Newcastle of late.
Newcastle fans thankfully avoided trouble after PSG ultras stormed a bar where supporters were drinking on Monday
ISAK JOINS ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY
Alexander Isak became the first away scorer for Newcastle in the Champions League since Alan Shearer netted a double in a 2-2 draw at Inter Milan.
The 10,000 Geordies present that night never dreamt it would be 20 years before cheering another on the road in this competition.
Maybe they’ll have one or two more when the knockout rounds commence in February?
Alexander Isak became the first Newcastle player to score away in the Champions League since Alan Shearer in 2003
WHY WE DIDN’T GET A CAB TO THE STADIUM
A group of us reporters decided against taking a taxi to the game, given our experience en route to the pre-match press conference 24 hours earlier.
Our cab was stopped in the middle of the road by a police officer and told to wait, while a woman gave birth in an ambulance in front!
The driver told us not to worry, it would only be five minutes. Hmm… we very quickly left the taxi and found another 200 yards down the road. And what did our new driver do? Join the queue of traffic waiting for the sound of crying!
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.
It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify
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