Toon march clear of trapdoor and eye mid-table finish

EDDIE HowE laughed during the week when asked about Newcastle having eyes on a top-half finish. It remains wildly fanciful, and within the context of the head coach’s remit this season, their current position of 17th would more than do.

But given the five-game form table has his side in the Premier League’s top four, Howe should be thinking about marching clear of the trapdoor rather than keeping one foot pressed upon it.

Newcastle are four points above 18th-placed Norwich with a game in hand after a third straight victory — the first time they have achieved such a sequence since the days of the ever-popular Rafa Benitez in 2018. It says much, however, that the Spaniard’s recent availability has barely warranted mention on Tyneside.

This is a team transformed under Howe, who joked on the eve of the game that a couple of wins had helped accelerate his North-East property search.

with his wife Vicki visiting from the south coast and in the stands, the Howes might well be readying an offer after this, a gritty win owing everything to the work the manager has done since arriving in November. Vicki was left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling towards her husband from the home masses, who again chorused in rejoice of his ‘black and white army’.

Do not be fooled into thinking that money has bought the turnaround, either. Yes, the magnificent January signing Kieran Trippier was the matchwinner, but a group of players who were wanting in fitness, motivation and organisation in the autumn are emerging from winter with a newfound glow.

‘we are in a good place,’ said Howe. ‘They have not been fluent performances but we have been very disciplined, hard-working and together. There is an energy and team spirit.’

For Villa and Steven Gerrard, this was a fifth defeat in 10 to leave them just six points clear of Newcastle. with the hosts losing Trippier and fellow full back Javier Manquillo to injury either side of half-time, you anticipated a far more purposeful pursuit of parity than the one Villa mustered. Philippe Coutinho was subdued and their one shot on target tells its own sorry story.

The winning goal arrived on 35 minutes. There was a groan around St James’ Park when VAR told Craig Pawson to downgrade his award of a Newcastle penalty to a free-kick. It was the right call as Calum Chambers had chopped down Joe willock inches outside the box.

But the groan morphed into a roar of anticipation at the sight of Trippier, who had whipped in his first goal for Newcastle from a more difficult position in midweek, collecting the ball. It was too close to go over the wall so he went straight through it. A nick off Emi Buendia helped take the ball past Emiliano Martinez, but it was a smart strike from a player who looks like the smartest of signings. Howe can only hope his foot injury is not serious.

without Trippier’s goal, a scrappy first half would have been better remembered for Gerrard’s touchline frustration. He turned the air blue after a corner from Douglas Luiz evaded all inside the area, before growling his annoyance when Villa went backwards from a promising position.

The visitors were slightly better after the break and celebrated an equaliser on 61 minutes when ollie watkins turned in a closerange header, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Villa faded after that and, by the end, Newcastle were worthy victors.

They played the Primal Scream hit Movin’ on Up at full time. The title could well be applied to Mrs Howe and the family’s three boys after this latest triumph. NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Dubravka 6.5; Trippier 7 (Krafth 48min, 6), Schar 7, BURN 8, Manquillo 6.5 (Dummett 45, 6.5); Willock 6.5 (Guimaraes 90), Shelvey 7, Joelinton 7.5; Fraser 7, Wood 6, Saint-Maximin 7. Scorer: Trippier 35. Booked: Joelinton, Burn, Shelvey. Manager: Eddie Howe 7. ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez 6; Cash 5.5, Chambers 5, Mings 5.5, Digne 5; McGinn 5 (Chukwuemeka 85), Luiz 4.5, Ramsey 5; Buendia 5 (Bailey 72, 5), Watkins 5.5 (Ings 72, 5), Coutinho 5.5. Booked: McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey. Manager: Steven Gerrard 5.

Referee: Craig Pawson 6. Attendance: 52,207.