A look at the national media take on Newcastle United's win over Crystal Palace.
'Richly deserved' as Newcastle close in on Premier League safety
Matthew Howarth of the BBC says Newcastle' reaching 40 points with five games to spare is a 'magnificent achievement' given the position Eddie Howe inherited the Magpies in. They said: "Considering the position Newcastle were in when Howe took over in November - 19th in the table and five points from safety - reaching 40 points with five games to spare has to go down as a magnificent achievement. Many will point to the Magpies' January outlay of more than £90m as the chief reason behind their march up the table, but that is an oversimplification.
"Howe has had to make do without England full-back Kieran Trippier - who the Newcastle boss described as "inspirational" following an impressive start to life on Tyneside - and 2020-21 top scorer Callum Wilson through injury, while the talismanic Saint-Maximin has been frustratingly inconsistent since returning to fitness in March. Others have stepped up to the plate, of course - chief among them former Lyon midfielder Guimaraes, who was heavily involved in the game's only goal.
"The Brazilian's looping ball over the Palace defence was collected in his stride by Almiron, who darted into the penalty area from the right before directing a sublime finish into the top corner - his first Newcastle goal since scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Southampton more than 14 months ago. It was a richly deserved opener for the home side, who dominated midfield in the first half in particular and restricted Palace to just one tame Edouard effort before the interval.
"Palace improved after half-time and pinned the home side back in the closing stages, but other than Zaha's two efforts off target they rarely looked like leaving St James' Park with a share of the spoils."
Newcastle eying up 'barely believable' top-half finish
David Coverdale of the Mail claims Eddie Howe could some day have a statue outside of St. James' Park if he keeps up the fine run of form shown this season. He said: "It was an evening when Newcastle's white knight emulated the club's knight of the realm. If Eddie Howe keeps this up, Sir Bobby Robson's statue could one day have company at St James' Park.
"Thanks to Miguel Almiron's fantastic first-half goal, Howe became the first Toon boss since the late great Robson in 2004 to oversee six straight Premier League home wins. It is a remarkable run of results which has seen Newcastle, who were second bottom on only five points when Howe took over in November, hit the magical 40-point mark with five games still to go.
"Now, rather than fearing relegation, the Magpies are eyeing up a barely believable top-half finish having drawn level on points with 10th-placed Brighton.
"'It is incredible because you are talking about an absolute legend of the football club,' said Howe on matching Robson's milestone. 'I never met him but he was somebody I always admired from afar. He is the benchmark around anything you try and do here - so it was great to have done that."
Newcastle closer to top-ten finish than relegation zone
Lukee Edwards of the Telegraph wrote: "He is one of the nicest and happiest footballers in the Premier League but Newcastle United supporters really like Miguel Almiron when he gets angry.
"Annoyed by Wilfried Zaha, amongst others, Almiron was uncharacteristically argumentative all evening, and it was some pushing and shoving from the Palace winger that prompted a sensational individual goal that secured Newcastle a sixth successive home win in front of a delirious home crowd, as well as chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
"Al-Rumayyan has not been seen at St James’ Park since the home defeat to Cambridge in the FA Cup back in January. He must have wondered what had happened to the team dumped out by a League One side and who had won just one game all season the last time he was on Tyneside - because this one is recognisable.
"Newcastle are closer to securing a top-ten finish than the relegation zone three months since Al-Rumayyan's last appearance at the club he runs on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund - which is down to manager Eddie Howe. The team’s form since the middle of January has been sensational."
