Newcastle weren’t perfect yesterday, but they started 2026 with exactly what we needed: three points.
Eddie Howe spoke to the media after the match, discussing our performance, a big win over Crystal Palace, the ‘special’ Bruno Guimaraes, another strong Joelinton display and Lewis Miley’s spotless showing at right-back.
The boss also touched on his thinking behind those second-half substitutions that seemed to work a treat, his delight at a first clean sheet after 12 games without and the return of Tino Livramento, Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier from injury.
Watch Howe’s post-match presser below in full after yesterday’s 2-0 win:
Howe: Bruno is special
As impressive as both Lewis Miley and Malick Thiaw were on Sunday, it felt like Bruno Guimaraes was the catalyst to another vital home win once again.
Like he’s done so many times this season, the Brazilian popped up again at the Gallowgate and dragged us over the line, with that now seven goals in 19 games for the skipper.
Howe issued some significant praise for his captain as he followed up on his late goal against Burnley with another one at the Gallowgate, praising not just his quality but his character, positivity and energy:
“Bruno is a very special player, person and character. He is very positive and he’s got great energy.
“He played a captain’s role because that game was always going to be decided by very key moments in the game and he’s come up with a big one for us.
“Your big players often decide big games. This was a big game for us and it was decided by a huge player.
“He’s done it countless times and I think your big players normally decide big games. And today was a big game for us, decided by a huge player in our recent history.”
Howe hails “incredible” Miley
Another game, another stellar performance from Lewis Miley, who is looking very comfortable as our makeshift right back at the moment.
With a 100% pass accuracy rate, completing all 59, and a big assist for Bruno’s opener, Howe knows he can definitely rely on the youngster now Tino Livramento is back from injury.
“Again he was superb. Very, very good performance again. On the ball, he was very composed, although you come to expect that from him, but it’s the defensive performance…I tip my hat to him.
“Tactically we asked for something different for him today, and he delivered it really well.
“He’s been incredible since he came into the team. You wouldn’t know it (that he’s not a natural right back). He’s excelled in this position. He’s doing a great job in the team.”
Miley may have shone at right-back, but he will soon be vying for a place in our midfield now Tino is fit again, and there is a strong argument to say he now has to start regularly in Howe’s XI after taking his all round game to new heights over the past month.
