Lewis Hall believes Matthias Jaissle has already transformed the atmosphere at Newcastle after revealing the club was surrounded by “a lot of negativity” before the new head coach arrived.
The mood could hardly be more different now.
Newcastle continued their unbeaten start under Jaissle with a hard-fought 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Millwall at The Den, with Joe Willock producing the decisive moment late in the contest.
It was far from a comfortable night for the Magpies. Millwall hit the post before Newcastle eventually found the breakthrough, forcing Jaissle’s side to remain patient before Willock settled the tie and booked their place in the fourth round.
For Hall, though, the result was about more than simply progressing in the competition.
The defender believes Newcastle have rediscovered their enjoyment since Jaissle replaced Eddie Howe during the summer, with the German coach quickly winning over his squad.
“There was a lot of negativity before everything happened and as soon as the gaffer came in he’s been top, as well as all of the coaching staff,” Hall told Sky Sports.
“The way he’s got us playing is amazing, and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone. We’re really enjoying playing under him.
“So we’re really excited.”
That excitement is now being matched by results.
Newcastle may not have produced their most spectacular performance against Millwall, but they showed the kind of patience required to survive a difficult cup tie away from home. Hall was particularly pleased that the Magpies protected their goal and eventually found a way through.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” he said.
“We know a lot about this place, a lot about this team and as a football club, and whenever you come away in the cup, anything can happen.
“We’re really proud of the win and to keep a clean sheet is very good as well. We’re buzzing.”
Willock’s late strike made him the hero of the night, earning him the Carabao Cup Player of the Match award. The midfielder admitted Newcastle had created enough opportunities in the opening half but needed to become more clinical.
“We had a lot of chances in the first half, but we went in at half-time and said to ourselves that we need to take our chances,” he said.
“Happy [that] in the second half we did. We got a goal and we won the game.”
The Carabao Cup also carries extra significance for Newcastle. The Magpies lifted the trophy in 2025, and Willock made it clear that they are determined to make another serious push.
“We won it before, so it’s very important to us,” he said.
“But every game is important to us, especially a new coach coming in, a lot of new players, and we wanted to start the season well.
“I feel like we started it really well. We need to continue, and this was a big game in keeping that momentum.”
For Jaissle, the early signs are encouraging. An unbeaten start, progression in the Carabao Cup and, perhaps most importantly, a squad that says it is enjoying football again.
Hall’s comments suggest Newcastle are beginning a new chapter with a very different feeling around the dressing room.
And after a period of negativity, that could be one of Jaissle’s biggest early victories.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
