Newcastle United have secured another massive three points tonight, beating Everton 3-1 at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies are out of the relegation zone, after putting in a simply fantastic performance for Eddie Howe. An own goal, Ryan Fraser and Kieran Trippier got the goals for the hosts.
After beating Leeds United before the winter break, the question was whether Newcastle could build on that result.
Fans were nervous when they saw Howe’s starting XI.
It featured just one of the club’s last three January signings.
Matt Targett started at left-back, with Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes on the bench.
But Howe’s selection was justified, with Newcastle much the better side over the 90 minutes.
Everton actually took the lead in the game thanks to a really lucky own goal from Jamaal Lascelles. Fabian Schar made an excellent clearance off the line, but the ball just hit Lascelles and bounced in.
The captain responded immediately though, getting up for a corner and hitting the bar. The ball then hit Mason Holgate and went in.
Throughout the game, Allan Saint-Maximin was a total menace.
The Frenchman is so often the source of inspiration for Newcastle, and he rose the occasion tonight.
At times he was just too hot to handle for the Toffees, and it was he that delivered the ball into the box for Fraser to score Newcastle’s second, after good work from Joe Willock to win the ball back.
In the 59th minute as BT Sport 2 showed replays of Fraser’s goal, co-commentator Sutton couldn’t help but gush over the 24-year-old.
He said: “Saint-Maximin, brilliant from him. He’s been excellent all evening. He’s carried a threat, drives to the outside. Coleman tries to stop the ball, floats it up, Newcastle 2-1 up.”
In the 76th minute, after more fantastic wing play that resulted in Chris Wood scoring an offside goal, Sutton described Saint-Maximin as ‘unplayable’.
And in injury-time, just before naming him as his man of the match, Sutton said he was another planet to everybody else.
Newcastle have amazing chance of survival if Saint-Maximin can find consistency
Saint-Maximin was simply breathtaking at times tonight.
He was a constant threat, and as Sutton says, at times he was unplayable.
Newcastle made some great additions to their squad in January.
But the form of Saint-Maximin might well be the thing that proves most key for Newcastle in their survival bid.
If he can play like this week in, week out, there will be absolutely nothing to worry about.
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