'Incredible - Eddie Howe agrees with Alan Shearer's Newcastle United claim after Fulham win

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe hailed his side’s “incredible” character following the 1-0 victory at Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Bruno Guimaraes’ 81st minute goal earned the Magpies their fourth Premier League away win of the season and in turn boosted their European qualification hopes, but the outcome might have been different.

Alan Shearer said United were “miles off it” during the opening 45 minutes and Howe agreed that his team were fortunate to go in level. In the same period, Newcastle suffered another injury blow as Joe Willock withdrew and was replaced by Elliot Anderson.

But despite the first-half struggles and the injury list increasing to 12 players, the Magpies found a way to win, leaving Howe to hail his side’s “incredible” efforts.

“It was a very difficult opening 25 minutes, we were second best to be honest,” said Howe. “We managed to find a way of staying in the game and I thought Fulham were very good probably until their final action.

“We suffered because of a mixture of things. We were tired, stretched and we weren’t where we needed to be but I thought it was an incredible response from the group. From that moment onwards and to the end of game I thought we were back to ourselves.

“I think it is up there with one of our best wins of the season because of the circumstances.”

Howe added: “It was a change of attitude that was required. We needed to look at things differently. We were a little bit reactive, late on things and that’s not like us. We were lucky to come in 0-0 we realised that.

“It was an opportunity for us really, the fact we were still in the game when probably we didn’t deserve to be, it felt like a second chance. Thankfully we took it.”

Newcastle remain eighth in the Premier League table but keep tabs with West Ham United, who came from 1-0 down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers.