Jacob Ramsey grabbed his first goal in a Newcastle United shirt to give us a huge three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last night.
We enjoyed perhaps the easiest half of football we’ll get all season in the first 45, but just couldn’t make our chances count until Joe Willock slotted home, only to be cruelly denied with a remarkably narrow offside call.
But Malick Thiaw poked home in the last minute of additional time to give us a deserved 1-0 lead. Despite Archie Gray’s equaliser midway through the second half, Ramsey’s immediate response was enough to give us all three points and a 2-1 win in the capital.
Here’s what Eddie Howe had to say after the game, discussing the performance, our standout performers, Bruno’s injury, Miley’s absence and his post-match celebration in front of the away end.
It wasn’t pretty at times, as we didn’t make the most of our dominance for much of the first half and were scrapping to protect our lead late on, but it’s a huge win in our search for European football.
Howe praised our dominant display, hailed to player’s response from losing the lead and insists we’re “still fighting” in the Premier League after a bounce-back win from last weekend’s defeat at home to Brentford.
“It was one of our best performances of the season. A dominant display, we showed our quality. Big credit to the lads for responding from 1-1.
“We had players going down with cramp at the end and showing signs that we had maxed out on the pitch, that’s all I ever ask. I’m very grateful to have the group of players.
“The lads have had to do it the hard way – full credit to the mentality of the group. Europe has to be our aim. Tough season for us in the Premier League. Inconsistent but we’re still in there fighting.
“Really good goal for Jacob Ramsey – such a technical player. Delighted he scored because he needed the recognition for his recent performances.”
Last night we witnessed the rare combination of Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock in the midfield, with Sandro Tonali dropping to the bench and Joelinton still out injured along with Lewis Miley.
And the trio certainly delivered, with Howe lavishing praise on the two young Englishmen in particular, also hailing Anthony Elanga’s display and the importance of our two centre-backs.
“JJ (Jacob Ramsey) was excellent, takes the ball in any moment, takes the ball under pressure and is really reliable with it and in that position you need to score. It was a great finish from him with his left foot and a fitting reward really because I think he has improved.”
“I thought the two number eights today for us, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey, were excellent. Physically really good.
“I thought we controlled the first half in part due to them and Bruno’s performance. So I was really happy and delighted he scored, because I think he needed that sort of recognition because his recent performances have been very good.”
“I thought Anthony Elanga was really good. I could go through the whole team today. I thought Malick (Thiaw) and Sven (Botman) were also outstanding at the back.”
Anthony Gordon returned to the no.9 spot ahead of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, who were both on the bench tonight.
Although the England international couldn’t get himself on the scoresheet like he did against Liverpool, his pressing was key and he did superbly to create Ramsey’s winner.
“Anthony’s legs, his desire to press, makes the team play better. It had a really fluid look to it.
“We wanted to play with a fluid frontline. We wanted to press aggressively. You need quick & mobile players (to do that).”
As the pressure eases slightly on Howe, it only intensifies for the under-fire Thomas Frank. Winless in the Premier League in 2026, the Dane seems like a dead man walking at the moment.
But Howe was very sympathetic for his Spurs counterpart, highlighting the injury blows he’s had to endure and how no one should envy his position
“The fine reality of this job is it could be any one of us at any moment. It’s not nice. When you look at Tottenham and the size of their injury list you can see how difficult it is. Thomas is an outstanding manager and I hope he gets the time to show that.
“It’s not easy because momentum is very tough to get and so easy to lose. The main times I haven’t got results are when there’s injuries and that’s where Tottenham are so I have sympathy for them.”
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