Eddie Howe hails ‘MASSIVE step forward’ as Magpies surge towards safety

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes Friday night’s win over Wolves to go 10 points clear of the relegation zone was a ‘massive step forward’. 

Chris Wood‘s second half penalty ensured Newcastle took all three points and ended a run of three straight defeats.

Howe, speaking after the win, said that there was still a ‘job’ to do this season but that the win represented a ‘massive’ step forward in the club’s pursuit of survival. 

Eddie Howe said that the win was a ‘massive’ step towards survival for Newcastle

He said: ‘We’ve still got work to do, I said that to the players in the dressing room.’

‘But that was a massive step forward tonight, that brings us closer to safety, but it’s not there [yet],’ he added. 

The former Bournemouth manager went on to defend his side’s current style of play, saying it was a necessary evil to ensure results. 

‘There will be a different Newcastle I hope in the future,’ he said. ‘But at the moment we’ve got to play a certain way to get the results we need.’

Chris Wood’s second half penalty proved the difference after an impressive Newcastle display

Meanwhile, goalscorer Wood hailed the ‘different’ atmosphere created by the support at St James’ Park after scoring his second goal for the club. 

He told reporters after the game: ‘There’s something different about St James Park, playing in front of them. 

‘We want to get them (the fans) up for it and luckily today we did.’

He added: ‘We’ve known it over the course of the years to be like this. Tonight it’s been absolutely bouncing. It was a big part of it [the win].’

The Newcastle players wanted to hit the ’40-point’ to ensure Premier League survival

The New Zealand international, who became his country’s all-time leading goalscorer during the most recent international break, said the Newcastle players were aiming for the ’40-point’ mark and to take the club to the ‘next level’. 

‘It’s getting closer [survival], let’s put it that way. That’s what we want. [We] want this club to go to the next level, and it can only do that when it’s in the Premier League.

‘It’s a start, we need to make sure we get to the 40-point mark, stay up and then we can build.’