Eddie Howe has reflected on our ‘excellent’ performance against Brighton, making it known that the players are already focused on Monday and offering an update on injuries to Joe Willock, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier.
While the boss was proud of our ‘really strong’ first half showing, he admitted that things got a ‘bit nervy’ at 2-1 and we were ‘kicking ourselves’ for not putting the game to bed earlier. However, he’s hailed our high-intensity, feeling the ‘risk’ to press from the off paid off on a special night at St James’ Park.
The Toon are now just three points away from securing Champions League football for the first time in two decades and will face relegation-threatened Leicester at home on Monday night to confirm it.
Although Howe acknowledged it would be ‘incredible’ to seal our European fate in front of home supporters, he reaffirmed that we will ‘take nothing for granted’ and try to be the ‘best we can be’ in a few days time.
During the game, Willock was forced off with a hamstring injury while both Joelinton and Trippier were substituted late on, with the 45-year-old revealing that the two midfielders look to be ‘doubts’ for the Leicester game.
Here’s what Howe had to say on all of the above, starting with his reaction to the win:
“The league table doesn’t lie. We are there (3rd) on merit. But this win won’t mean anything if we don’t back it up on Monday. I took great pride in that performance.
“I think we were excellent in the first half. A really strong performance. Probably kicking ourselves we didn’t take some of the chances. It was always going to make it a bit nervy at 2-1.
“That’s how we want to play. Fast action, high-intensity work. To maintain that rhythm throughout isn’t easy, and takes a risk. and sometimes they benefit from that risk. Credit to the players.”
On the injuries, Howe said: “I think we’ve got concerns with Joe Willock, with Joelinton and with Kieran, so we’re hoping that they’re not serious but till we wake up tomorrow, we’ll not know.
“The two Joes are a bit of a doubt for us. Joelinton took a knock, I think, and Willock looks like he’s got a hamstring injury.”
Speaking on wrapping up Champions League in front of home fans, Howe said:
“It would be incredible if we could, but this is the Premier League and we’ll take nothing for granted. We know how good Leicester are, they’re fight at the other end of the table and we have to respect that.
“Our intention is to be the best that we can be in this game.”
