Things are going very well right now for Newcastle United.
The club have managed to move up to 14th in the Premier League table, and are four points clear of the relegation zone.
Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brentford was the club’s fourth win in the last five, and confidence is clearly coursing throughout the team right now.
There is lots of football still to be played this season.
But a lot of Newcastle fans are now feeling much more confident about the club’s prospects of staying in the top-flight.
Part of the reason Newcastle are so good at the moment, is the newfound solidity at the back.
Prior to the January transfer window, Newcastle were leaking goals left, right and centre.
It was difficult to watch a game without criticising the backline.
But it is a completely different story now.
Newcastle arguably have had ‘easier’ fixtures, and new signings have had a big impact, but Eddie Howe has really got things to click.
Remarkably, the Magpies are now one of the very best teams in England defensively.
Since the start of 2022, Newcastle have conceded the joint-fewest goals out of all teams in the Football League.
They have shipped just league goals three, which is as many as League One outfit Rotherham United.
It was the biggest thing that needed addressing, and Howe appears to have done that.
Eddie Howe deserves enormous credit for Newcastle’s new defensive solidity
This is extremely encouraging data.
Newcastle were alarmingly porous not so long ago, but Howe – with the help of a few new faces like Kieran Trippier (now injured of course), Matt Targett and Dan Burn – is really getting a tune out of everyone.
It isn’t just down to the newbies.
Fabian Schar has been immense recently, while Martin Dubravka and even Emil Krafth have been solid.
One of the worries some people had about Howe when he came in was his tendency to concede goals.
During his time in the Premier League with Bournemouth, his team conceded a lot.
But he is allaying those fears, and giving Newcastle a fantastic chance of staying up.
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