Newcastle on the rise after resilient win over Everton

NEWCASTLE: Win ugly. The sign of a good team is getting the job done when performances elude you. And Newcastle United, game by game, are in danger of becoming a very good team.

In a contest that lacked any semblance of quality for the most part, one moment of “Miggy magic” was enough for the Magpies to claim all three points on Tyneside.

A caressed Miguel Almiron finish, right out of the top drawer even by his standards, left England No. 1 Jordan Pickford flailing and helpless, and the packed-to-the-rafters, raucous home following in raptures. It was also enough to see Newcastle climb to 18 points — a tally they failed to achieve until February during the previous season.

“The performance was very good, in a different way to how we have been at times this season. It wasn’t free-flowing football, it was a very competitive game, a lot of fight in midfield, very physical. I am delighted with the character shown and how we defended as a team,” said Howe.

“For the whole team that (fifth clean sheet of the season) should give them enormous pleasure because that was a real team performance today. We defended our goal and goalkeeper very well. Everton are a strong team. They put a lot of balls into our box, a lot of direct play, and we had to deal with that.”

Why change a winning(ish) team? Howe is a man of habit this season, and rarely does he shuffle his pack when the points are flowing.

The draw at Manchester United was not without fault, but Howe stuck with the group who ground out that result — and again they produced the goods for him.

It was a bright opening for the Magpies, with Jacob Murphy showing he can get the better of Seamus Coleman down the United left and while he beat the Irishman at will, his final