Eddie Howe praises “massive win” as Newcastle end miserable away record with 4-1 victory vs Everton

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has lavished praise on his troops following their thumping 4-1 win against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Magpies went into the game with a miserable run of form away from home. They had failed to win any of their six Premier League games on the road (D3, L3).

Newcastle had also lost each of their last four away defeats across all competitions, so there was hardly any conviction that they could come away from the trip to Everton with a win.

However, the Magpies defied the odds in spectacular fashion, with Howe rewarded for his bravery in the team selection.

The English manager is now renowned for chopping and changing his preferred starting line-up, but he knew something had to give on Saturday.

He made bold changes to the starting line-up, dropping key players Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for Anthony Elanga and Lewis Miley.

Both players rewarded the manager’s faith, with Elanga bagging an assist while Miley notched a goal and an assist to spur Newcastle to a massive victory.

Howe, who celebrated his 48th birthday today, couldn’t hide his delight at picking up a crucial win against a dogged Everton side.

“Massive win,” Howe said during his post-match interview. “We needed it, and we finally won away from home, which is a great feeling.”

“We tweaked things tactically, and we have been doing that regularly to try and find a formula.

“But sometimes it’s not necessarily that – it’s the players, the ones that are able to execute and play well, and I thought they did today.”

The win against Everton wasn’t enough to move the Magpies into the top half of the table, but it’s a massive step in the right direction.

Newcastle have struggled for consistency this season. They have alternated between a win and a defeat over their last seven outings in all competitions.

However, Howe’s side will hope they can buck the trend when they host Tottenham Hotspur at St. James’ Park on Friday night.