Newcastle United are living the dream after their impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, which has boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. The win was especially sweet for Dan Burn, a lifelong Newcastle fan who was only three years old when the Magpies narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Man U in 1995-96. The victory was also a chance for Newcastle to avenge their Carabao Cup final defeat earlier this year, in which Burn played all 90 minutes.
The goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson, who came off the bench to seal the win, have propelled Newcastle into third place in the Premier League, above Man U on goal difference. Wilson said that the cup final defeat had “left a sour taste” and that the team had to “put it right in front of our fans”.
The win is part of a three-game winning streak for Newcastle, which has halted a run of two draws and three defeats. Wilson said that the team is now starting to find momentum, but cautioned that there is still a long way to go until the end of the season.
Eddie Howe, who was appointed by the club’s Saudi owners in 2021, has been trying to keep his team grounded despite their success. Howe has never played or managed in European competition, but is close to guiding Newcastle to their first European campaign since 2012-13. However, with 29% of their league campaign still to play due to the winter World Cup break, Howe has urged his team to focus on their next match against West Ham on Wednesday.
Chris Waddle, former Newcastle and England winger, praised the team for their performance, saying that they “deserved to win” and that they had “worked their socks off”. He added that Newcastle have the momentum and the fans on their side, giving them an advantage over Man U. Shay Given, former Newcastle goalkeeper, said that it was a “massive result” and that Eddie Howe deserves credit for his work.
It is clear that Newcastle have put their cup final disappointment behind them and are now firmly focused on achieving Champions League qualification. With a passionate crowd behind them and a determined attitude, they are certainly on a mission to make their dream a reality.