Eddie Howe, the Newcastle manager, was full of praise for his side’s fitness after they secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United that saw them move up to third in the Premier League table. The Magpies put in a dominant performance and took the lead through a goal from Miguel Almiron in the first half. The second goal came from Joe Willock late in the second half, which sealed the win for Newcastle.
Howe was delighted with his team’s performance and said: “I’m really pleased with the way the players applied themselves today. We had to be at our best to get the result and they showed great energy and commitment throughout the game. It was a really good team performance and I’m delighted with the result.”
The win was Newcastle’s fourth in their last five games and has seen them move up to third in the table, just two points behind leaders Manchester City. Howe was quick to praise his side’s recent form, saying: “It’s been a great run of form for us and it’s testament to the hard work and dedication of the players. We’ve been playing some really good football and it’s been great to see us get the rewards for our efforts.”
The win over Manchester United was also a big boost for Newcastle’s hopes of qualifying for Europe next season, with Howe saying: “We know that this is an important period for us in terms of our ambitions for the season. We want to finish as high up the table as possible and this win has given us a real boost in that regard.”
The victory over Manchester United was a huge statement of intent from Newcastle and Howe will be hoping that his side can continue their impressive form in the coming weeks. With a top four finish now within their sights, Newcastle will be looking to make the most of their current momentum and push on towards European qualification. With Eddie Howe at the helm, they certainly have the right man to lead them there.