Jason Tindall on 5-0 win, Eddie Howe update and talking points from Palace
Jason Tindall has lauded Newcastle for another dominant performance as we swept aside Crystal Palace 5-0 on Wednesday night at St James’ Park.
Goals from Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Fabian Schar and Alexander Isak, as well as a handy own goal from Marc Guehi, capped off a truly five star performance from the lads as we opened the gap over our Champions League-chasing rivals.
Here’s what Tindall had to say after the huge win:
On a big performance and result
Heading into the game, we knew that three points was absolutely crucial with how tight the race for top five is this season.
And with how strong Crystal Palace have been in the league as of late, this game was, at least on paper, always going to be a challenge.
On the win, Tindall said “It was a great performance. We asked the players to deliver the same level as what they did against Manchester United on Sunday, and personally I feel they went out and delivered a better one.”
“We know we had to be our best to stop a really dangerous Crystal Palace side. And, you know, full credit to players, they went out there and delivered a really good performance.”
On Nick Pope’s penalty save against Eberechi Eze
Sitting at 1-0 after 30 minutes, the visitors were controversially awarded a penalty after Nick Pope was judged to have collided with Chris Richards in our box: a very harsh call that took VAR an over-extended amount of time to call.
But Pope more than redeemed himself with perhaps the easiest save he’ll have to make all season, as Eberechi Eze’s soft effort was comfortably met by Pope’s waiting hands.
“It was a real big moment for us. Obviously we was 1-0 up at the time, and you know momentum can change if that one goes in but full credit to Nick.”
“I wasn’t sure if it was a penalty at the time myself, I thought he might have got a touch on the ball, but not really seen it back.”
“But, you know, full credit to the lads to go and then deliver and bounce back the way they did. You know, testament to the guys.”
On Jacob Murphy’s stunning opener
In terms of goals scored, Wednesday night was our biggest win of the season yet!
Like Sandro Tonali against Brentford earlier this month, Murphy opened proceedings with a strike from a seemingly impossible angle but with such power that no keeper in the world could stop it.
“I asked him if he meant it, but you know it was a great strike from Jacob and delighted it ended up going obviously in the back of the net, but you know, know that we scored some really good goals. We played some good football tonight, I’m really delighted with the performance.”
“Crystal Palace don’t concede many goals, I think they’ve conceded the second lowest goals prior to tonight all season. So you know it just goes to show what tough opposition they are.”
“So for us to go out and deliver the performance we did and score five goals, full credit and testament to the players.”
On the current squad mentality
With European football already guaranteed for next season, owing to our Carabao Cup win, it wouldn’t be unexpected for a side to put the brakes on and be accept the positives they’ve achieved this season.
Not us however, as the pursuit of Champions League football remains a key motivator for Tindall, the players, and everyone at the club to accept nothing less than top class performances between now and the end of the campaign.
“It only seems like yesterday (that we won the cup final). But the cup final gave us huge confidence, we know that, we went and delivered a great performance in the cup final against a top team in Liverpool.”
“We enjoyed that moment, but we knew it was important that we focused on what our next objective was: and that was to win as many games as possible, to finish as high up in the table as possible because everyone wants to be in the Champions League.”
“That’s our aim, and we know what we have to do to try and deliver that.”
“That’s why I say we’ve got six cup finals now remaining, now we have to go out there and deliver those performances that we have done in recent weeks.”
The latest on Eddie Howe
After it was announced earlier in the week that Howe was dealing with pneumonia and that contingency plans were reportedly being drawn up in case the gaffer couldn’t return to the dugout this season, Tindall informed us that there’s no real update to report on at this moment in time.
”We know he’s in the best possible hands, and the most important thing at this moment in time is that he rests and he recovers.”
“The more he rests and recovers, the quicker he will be able to get back to lead the team. That’s the only focus at the minute, and I’m sure as and when he’s ready, he will be in contact and we will speak.”
“The last thing Eddie needs or wants is the stress of having to think about football and tactics and everything else that he would need to try to manage from home because that won’t get him better in a quick enough period.”
“We know the expectations, we know the demands, everybody. We’ve been working together now 17 years, so we know each other like clockwork, we know what’s expected to be able to go out there and deliver performances that we pride ourselves on.”
On keeping standards high in Howe’s absence
It’s a sixth straight win for us in all competitions, and at such a crucial point of the season, Tindall has lavished immense praise on the squad for keeping things to a consistently high standard under the momentarily difficult situation the club finds itself in without our head coach.
“The lads have delivered two excellent performances in the space of a few days.”
“I would never have believed that we would have taken six points and scored nine goals, so full credit to the players and staff. I said at the weekend that the fans also play a part in that, especially here at St James’ Park.”
“The players’ attitude, mentality and the delivery of the tactical gameplan has been excellent, to go out there and execute it in the way they have, to deliver the performances they have, and to score those goals and get those points.”
