Newcastle United: Why Eddie Howe and fans might finally sense a turning point in season

As 'Hey Jude' belted out at a triumphant St James' Park following Newcastle's 3-1 win over Everton, Allan Saint-Maximin could not help but join in.

The Magpies winger held his arms aloft and sang the Beatles hit with fans as they all savoured a moment they had been waiting for since the club's takeover in October.

There have been many new beginnings following the £305m purchase by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium but as Saint-Maximin soaked up the good will after a performance by the Frenchman that Everton boss Frank Lampard called «unplayable», there was a sense this was different.

Despite understandable anxiety from supporters as the new owners promised future riches in the midst of a relegation battle, manager Eddie Howe has kept faith in the prospect of survival.

And he was rewarded with a display that was as much about his transformation of the team as head coach as it was the new signings recruited in January.

«It's funny how quickly the questions switch,» Howe joked in the post-match media conference when it was noted that Newcastle, now out of the relegation zone, were only six points off 10th place.

But he admitted that sealing successive wins for the first time this season «changes the mood and feeling» and said unity in the club was «everything».

For a team that has struggled all campaign, January's 1-0 win at Leeds before the team set off for a training and bonding trip to Saudi Arabia offered hope, but it was very much a result achieved by showing resilience and hanging on.

Most fans believed that the arrival since then of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for £40m, former Brighton centre-back Dan Burn for £13m and left-back Matt Targett on loan from Aston Villa would take them to a new level.

But the