Newcastle must back up their shock win over Manchester City – Eddie Howe
NEWCASTLE, England – Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe urged his squad to carry the momentum from their 2-1 victory over Manchester City into a demanding week that includes matches against Marseille in the Champions League and Everton in the Premier League.
Howe’s side halted a run of two league defeats with an impressive performance at St James’ Park on Saturday, coming from behind through a Harvey Barnes brace to earn their first home win over City since 2019. But with a congested schedule running through January, Howe said the result would only matter if his players sustain that level.
“The real test is Marseille and Everton,” Howe said. “We go away in the Champions League to a very difficult opponent and we need to perform. The rest between games will be minimal, and that’s our biggest challenge.”
Newcastle travel to France on Tuesday before facing Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, entering the stretch boosted by what Howe described as a display that combined technical quality with defensive resilience. Barnes, who had missed earlier chances, struck twice after linking with Bruno Guimarães, while City defender Rúben Dias levelled briefly before Newcastle restored their advantage.
Howe praised the determination shown late in the match, including eight minutes of stoppage time, as his side protected their lead under sustained pressure. “You need that edge,” he said. “For me, that means doing everything it takes to win within the rules. We want to be tough and fair, and I think we showed that.”
Full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento returned to the starting lineup and delivered strong performances before Hall was withdrawn with cramp. Anthony Gordon, recovering from a hip issue, and Kieran Trippier, sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered in training, were both unavailable.
“Anthony is very close,” Howe said. “He wasn’t quite ready today, but he’s working hard and should be available in the next few days. With Kieran, we’re still waiting on medical feedback.”
Newcastle’s victory over the champions offered a lift at a crucial stage of their season, but Howe said consistency would determine whether the club can maintain its push domestically and in Europe during a demanding winter programme.