Joleon Lescott was one of a number of pundits who were impressed by what they saw from Newcastle United in their 3-1 win against Everton.
It was arguably the best performance of the season so far and moved the Magpies out of the relegation zone for the first time this term.
The visitors initially went in front through an unfortunate Jamaal Lascelles own goal but just a minute later and another own goal, this time from Mason Holgate, ensured Eddie Howe’s side were back on level terms.
Second-half goals from Ryan Fraser and Kieran Trippier ultimately wrapped up the points for the hosts who could have further extended their lead in the closing stages.
One Newcastle player came in for some real praise on Tuesday evening despite not managing to get his name on the scoresheet.
Allan Saint-Maximin was a thorn in Everton’s side all night and showed the very best of what he can do with the ball at his feet.
Speaking as part of BT Sport’s panel covering the match, Lescott admitted his admiration for the Frenchman.
He said: “Saint-Maximin was outstanding, unplayable at times. He was causing so many problems going forward.
“He is so unpredictable, I certainly would not want to play against him!
“He is a joy to watch as a fan and ex-player because when he runs at you, he has great balance, great speed, and in terms of his outcomes, they are becoming more consistent and if he keeps creating chances and players are in the right positions, Newcastle will score lots of goals.
“If he continues to produce that every game, he won’t be playing at Newcastle, he plays for one of the best teams in the world because he has got that much talent, he is a remarkable player.”
Saint-Maximin was a key component in a thoroughly dominant Newcastle performance, something Howe has been looking for ever since arriving at St James’ Park.
The intensity and desire of every player in a black and white shirt to win the ball back at every opportunity for each of the 90 minutes would have been particularly pleasing for the manager.
“I think the organisation was the most impressive thing,” claimed Lescott. “Especially in the first half. It was also how much they wanted to win the ball back from Everton in their half, but Everton helped them and gave it away poorly at times.
“The organisation from Newcastle was there for all to see and they continued that into the second half. Newcastle fully deserved the win, they created more opportunities to score goals.”
The most important thing for the Magpies now is to ensure that they maintain the same level of performance in their next few matches, starting with the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday.
Another victory would significantly boost the growing hopes of Premier League survival on Tyneside as, while the two-point cushion is welcome, Newcastle still remain in a precarious position.
