The HOWE FACTOR
Willock raving about the boss
JOE WILLOCK declared life gets sweeter every day under Newcastle chief Eddie Howe.
The Toon midfielder grabbed his first goal of the season yesterday to stretch the visitors’ unbeaten run to six games and lift them five points clear of danger, temporarily at least.
That was no more than Howe’s depleted line-up warranted as they refused to allow their survival charge be blown off course by highflying West Ham.
Afterwards Willock hailed the amazing revolution taking place since Howe assumed the St James’ Park reins.
The Newcastle hero declared: “Eddie’s a brilliant manager and brilliant person. We trust and buy into his ways. We have a close relationship. I’m so happy he’s here.
“We’re all fighting for each other. We don’t come to places like this and sit back. We now go for the win.”
And that failure to make it four league victories on the bounce was the one irritation for Howe.
The Toon boss said: “I’m satisfied and yet frustrated it wasn’t more than a point. But we saw real resilience from the players that came into the team. Everyone stepped up.”
Meanwhile, Hammers boss David Moyes (below) was rather more downbeat after his team blew the chance to overtake fourth-place Manchester United.
The Scot, with one win from five, groaned. “We’ve scraped another point and that could be important at the end of the season. But I can’t say I’m enjoying it.
“We gave away an incredibly soft goal – with Keystone Cop defending. Some players need to improve their levels again.”
Forget the chaos of storms Dudley and Eunice because that was nothing compared to the one swirling over West Ham in the last 10 days following that video nasty of catkicker Kurt Zouma.
Having missed the Leicester game last Sunday, withdrawing moments before kick-off with a stomach bug, at least the Frenchman had the guts to face the public here.
He need not have worried too much. Even the reaction of the travelling Toon masses to his appearance was half-hearted.
Perhaps, they were just grateful that Zouma’s actions had seen them replaced as the mosthated club in the country.
Certainly, Howe’s men had arrived here optimistic that they were going to beat the drop – thanks to maximum points against Leeds, Everton and Aston Villa.
Not even losing skipper Kieran Trippier to a serious injury had dented the confidence on the evidence of their lightning start here.
They were all over their opponents and almost went ahead on three minutes when Willock’s effort flew over the bar following Jacob Murphy’s initial strike.
Yet despite a flurry of corners and decent possession, the Geordies could not find the net – and were left cursing that after 32 minutes.
Jarrod Bowen had a drive bravely blocked by Matt Targett before forcing a brilliant fingertip save against the bar by Toon stopper Martin Dubravka.
But Dubravka was helpless to stop Dawson moments later when, unmarked, the defender powered in a close-range header from Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick.
That was harsh on Newcastle. Yet their heads did not drop as they would have a few weeks ago.
No chance. With Willock at the
We’ve scraped another point and that could be important at the end of the season. But I can’t say I’m enjoying it
heart of everything good, they went in search of an equaliser and it duly arrived on the stroke of half-time – courtesy of a rare Declan Rice howler. The England man’s attempted headed clearance only went backwards into the danger area. That caught out Dawson but not the lurking Willock, whose fine instinctive finish hit the inside of the post before rolling over the line.
A good first-half then gave way to a dull 45 minutes that contained no shots on target. That sparked huge frustration within the home camp, underlined at the death by Bowen squaring up to giant Toon defender Dan Burn over a late lunge.
The tussle came to nothing - just like the second half.