Fabian Herzeler -who is younger than the matchwinner - said: 

"The first half was what we expected from Newcastle with a lot of intensity and rotation and we suffered a lot. They were better in the first half and we had a bit of luck, but we showed a brilliant reaction in the second half. 

"My team suffered together and defended together and that is why I am happy for them that they got the result. I loved the clean sheet and I always say that defences win championships. We got smashed against Chelsea but we learned from that. 

"Not everything was perfect today but in the second half our structure was much better, but the luck will come to you if you work hard and follow the process.

"At the time he scored we didn’t deserve the goal, but Danny (Welbeck) showed his quality. We worked the move well. It’s impressive how Danny works for the team and counter presses. He is a role model for the younger players and when you work hard like he does you get what you deserve.

"Of course, you focus on the process but you also need results for belief. Today wasn’t perfect but it was important to get a result. I think we can improve in all phases. 

"The result was good, the performance was okay but the players on the pitch did a brilliant job and suffered together.”

On the absent former Magpie, Yankuba Minteh:

"We had to deal with some issues with him coming back from long travel with Gambia (on international duty) with a small issue. We have a responsibility to take care of the players and take care of the availability of the players.”

Dan Burn was close to heading another goal against his former club but arrived at the far post slightly too late to convert a corner.

Any chance to regroup at the break seemed to be ineffective as United emerged unchanged and looking hesitant and lethargic against a visiting side happy to sit back and soak up pressure.

Chances came and went with Isak again wasteful but when Gordon raced into the box with a clear sight of goal an awful scuffed effort resulted that was easily saved.

The substitutions didn't improve things; Sandro Tonali and Jacob Murphy no more effective than Miggy Almiron and Sean Longstaff. The latter duo had arrived once Welbeck had left on a stretcher with a back injury - the 33 year-old embarrassing Newcastle on a day when rookie Yankuba Minteh had been predicted to do so, but in the event wasn't chosen to face his former club.

The break in play for Welbeck's treatment and subsequent hospitalisation allowed nine extra minutes (that ended up being 11) but arrival of William Osula was too little, too late: free-kicks and corners both wasted as hopes of a late leveller ended- Burn's last-ditch effort rightly denied for offside.

Albion were far from worthy victors, having done very little other than take their one real chance but neither side deserved the three points in a game best forgotten. A daunting trio of games against Chelsea (twice) and Arsenal now lie ahead, before Elliot Anderson's (and Chris Wood's) Nottingham Forest - another potential banana skin.

A second defeat of the season in our eighth league game left United languishing in eighth; Spurs going above us after their victory over West Ham. Victory for Nottingham Forest over struggling Crystal Palace on Monday then left the Magpies ninth - their lowest position since March.

Newcastle's first four games of the season yielded ten points from unconvincing performances. The next four have brought two points from arguably better displays, Fulham apart, but a famine in front of goal. 

It's tempting to dismiss that as being part of the game, but repeated examples of our failing to break down teams when given ample time and opportunity to do so cause concern, adding credence to the narrative that the last transfer window was a failure due to our preoccupation with trying to sign an expensive defender.

If there was a positive today, at least we made opportunities to miss, but the only consistency we've shown to date seems to be that of looking collectively unconvincing and being continually suckered into blind alleys.  

With set pieces lacking purpose and forward play anything but dangerous, the prospect of Callum Wilson finally climbing off his sick bed again to cover a multitude of sins seems very timely.

Returning to score the three goals he needs to reach a personal club milestone of 50 PL strikes for Newcastle would give a boost to his colleagues and manager alike, regardless what part of his anatomy connects with the ball. Goals change games, just ask Danny bloody Welbeck...

Niall MacKenzie/Biffa