Newcastle United owners share surreal moment as Eddie Howe’s heroics silence Steve Bruce jibe

Newcastle United moved onto 40 points following their 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, a tally which all-but guarantees Premier League safety.

Miguel Almiron’s 33rd-minute strike was enough for the win - the Magpies’ sixth home victory in a row that saw them climb to 11th in the top-flight table.

Here, our writer Jordan Cronin picks out five key talking points from another special night under the lights at St James’ Park:

Wor Flags’ tribute to Allan Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin regularly checks social media, so there is absolutely no doubt he would have seen the debates from supporters in recent months.

Why is he out of form? Can he play in a Howe team? Should Newcastle cash in this summer?

Well, all those questions were put aside on Tuesday night as Wor Flags paid tribute to their French magician ahead of kick-off against Palace.

With gold foil in the Gallowgate End forming the number 10 and a flag of the 25-year-old, it was a display that would have made Saint-Maximin feel a million dollars again.

Indeed, the former Nice winger is going through the toughest time in his Newcastle career since arriving in August 2019 and Wednesday evening was a timely reminder of how much he means to the fanbase.

At which other football club would you get that by the way? No fanbase quite loves a player like Newcastle fans do.

Saint-Maximin saluted the Gallowgate before getting down to business. And while he was still a few yards away from his best, you couldn’t fault his willingness and desire.

“I will never be able to thank you enough for this,” Saint-Maximin tweeted after the game. “I will remember this day for the rest of my life! Thanks for everything!”

That’s more like it, Miggy Almiron

Almiron struggled to get in the team when Howe first arrived but having started four of the last six matches - including an early introduction against Wolves - we’re beginning to see that the Paraguayan is another player to benefit from Howe and his backroom team’s coaching.

His goal was a fine example of that. Yes, the Bruno Guimaraes assist was sublime as the Brazilian took the ball down on his chest to then spray the ball out right but Almiron still had lots to do.

Almiron showed composure that has often evaded him on Tyneside to pace past Tyrick Mitchell before producing a finish of the highest quality into the top corner and net his first goal since February 2021.

Only a few weeks ago were supporters talking about potentially offloading the 28-year-old in the summer as he watched Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser start ahead of him. But over the last fortnight, Almiron is making a case to remain at St James’ Park.

Certainly, the appreciation and love for Almiron, similar to how it was when he joined for a then club-record fee, has returned in recent games. The flag-waving and throwing himself into the crowd after scoring certainly helps with that, mind.

Hitting the 40-point mark

Rewind back to the day Howe was first appointed on November 8, the club sat 19th in the Premier League table, on five points and five from safety and without a victory in their opening 11 matches.

OK, so there was no new manager bounce that people had hoped for, and the situation perhaps worsened before it got better but the turnaround since January has been nothing short of incredible.

United’s record of nine wins from 14 matches in 2022 is bettered only by title-chasing Liverpool,

A reminder... no team in Premier League history had ever survived relegation after failing to win any of their opening 14 matches.

No-one could have imagined hitting the 40-point mark, or being 15 points above the relegation zone and being joint 10th, or being safe with games to spare.

Outsiders will say the Magpies have spent their way out of trouble after signing Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn in January for a combined £90m.

But those who watch and cover Newcastle week-in, week-out will know that only tells half the story.

This is a tale of Howe and his ability to get the best out of the squad he started with. The likes of Emil Krafth, Joelinton and Ryan Fraser were written off under the previous head coach but look at them right now.

In the words of Steve Bruce, “that fella who got Bournemouth relegated” is a contender for manager of the season.

Howe matches Sir Bobby Robson’s achievement

Following the win over Palace, Howe became the first Newcastle boss since the late great Sir Bobby Robson in 2004 - when Champions League nights were around - to win six home games in a row.

To be mentioned in the same bracket as Robson is a big indication of the job Howe has carried out so far.

“It is incredible because you’re talking about an absolute legend of the football club and quite rightly so,” Howe said after the game. “He was someone I always admired from afar greatly for everything he achieved in the game.

“He’s the benchmark for anything you try and do here. It’s great to have done that today.”

Perhaps it’s too early to talk about Howe ending United’s Champions League absence but with the ambition of the new owners, that could accelerate VERY quickly.

Third time lucky for Yasir Al-Rumayyan

It was third time lucky for non-executive chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who witnessed a Newcastle win from the directors’ box with previous visits ending in defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Cambridge United.

Things couldn’t be more different now, especially after that embarrassing FA Cup exit. That was even more evident as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia governor soaked up every ounce of the good feeling.

Moments before kick-off, Al-Rumayyan was pictured waving a black and white flag before enjoying a kickabout on the St James’ Park turf at full-time with co-owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben.

Even as a member of the press pack, it was quite surreal to see the custodians of the football club enjoying a kickabout only a few yards away, just as though they were normal people - a stark contrast from Mike Ashley’s non-existence.

That was after Al-Rumayyan & Co entered the dressing room at full-time to congratulate Howe, his backroom staff and players before posing for one of those symbolic dressing room photos.

For the first time in a long time, Newcastle is United. And as Ghodoussi said himself, sealing Premier League safety is just the beginning of the journey.