MILESTONE MOMENT: JACOB RAMSEY ENDS GOAL DROUGHT TO SINK TOTTENHAM AND THOMAS FRANK
Jacob Ramsey scored his first Newcastle goal to secure a 2-1 win over Tottenham. Read Eddie Howe’s reaction and TNT Sports interview.
Eddie Howe’s team grabbed the lead right before half-time, with Malick Thiaw poking in a loose ball from close range. Honestly, they deserved it. Just a few moments earlier, Joe Willock looked like he’d put the visitors ahead, but VAR stepped in and ruled it out for a razor-thin offside.
So Newcastle went into the break on top. But less than 20 minutes into the second half, the Spurs pulled level. Archie Grey scored from a corner, completely against the run of play. The celebration didn’t last, though. Just four minutes later, Jacob Ramsey fired in a lovely left-footed shot past Guglielmo Vicario. That ended up being the winner.
Ramsey’s goal was a big moment. It was his first for Newcastle since joining from Aston Villa over the summer, and it came just before the Magpies get ready to face his old club in the FA Cup’s Fourth Round. Injuries and tough competition have kept Ramsey from locking down a regular spot at St James’ Park so far, but lately, he looks like someone Howe just can’t leave out.
After the win over the Spurs, Ramsey, who picked up player of the match, talked to TNT Sports about what Howe’s been asking of him. “Yeah, it’s been a while. I’ve been playing all over the place, but today I was a bit higher up the pitch, and the manager kept telling me I need to get my numbers up. Thankfully, I got my goal today.
“I knew I was in the box, played a one-two with Gordon, and it just felt natural. Left foot, nice finish.”
He’s had a rough start at Newcastle. “I got injured in my first start and ended up out for two months. I needed to get my fitness back, and then I was in and then out of the team.
Now, though? “I’m feeling good, feeling fit. I just want to stay in the team, keep scoring, keep getting assists, and help the team out.”
Eddie Howe couldn’t hide his happiness after Ramsey’s goal; his celebration said it all. After the match, Howe praised not just Ramsey’s finish but his whole performance. “Really good goal,” Howe said. “He’s just such a technical player, and you could see that tonight.
“I thought our two number eights, Willock and Ramsey, really stood out. Physically, they were excellent.
“We controlled the first half, partly because of them and Bruno. I’m just so happy for Jacob, because he deserved some recognition for how well he’s been playing lately.”
Next up, Howe and his squad head to Villa Park on Saturday to take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
PRESSURE PEAK: EDDIE HOWE REJECTS EXCUSES AS NEWCASTLE FACE A SEASON-DEFINING MARCH STRETCH
Eddie Howe is fighting back: Read why the Newcastle boss rejects schedule excuses and how the Magpies plan to stun Barcelona.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of the usual excuses about a packed schedule if Newcastle’s 2025/26 season fizzles out. Right now, that’s pretty close to what’s happening in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, over on Warwick Street in Heaton, the road’s shut after a crash.
Newcastle’s been busy in Barcelona away, with big FA Cup ties against Man City. Sure, those sound exciting, but if the cup runs end early (and most bookies seem to think they will), Newcastle faces an uphill battle to save their league campaign.
If they weren’t in the cup competitions, people would probably accuse the team of checking out early, already thinking about the summer holidays. The season could still end in glory, but if they’re not careful, they’ll slip into the bottom half of the table.
Howe isn’t sugarcoating the pressure. “I hate calling anything impossible,” he said. “That just hands everyone an excuse. Yeah, it’s tough. Our schedule this year makes the one from two years ago look like a breeze.
“It’s really stretched the players’ fitness, our resources, our energy, everything. No doubt, some guys have gone into games running on empty.
“I know we’re a good side. We’ve made progress. But sometimes it feels like just when we’re moving forward, we get knocked back.”
Howe’s not thrilled about the recent run of five losses in six. “A blip like this doesn’t feel normal. It hurts. We’re always trying to give the fans what they want, and lately, we just haven’t.”
Still, a couple of years ago, Newcastle would’ve jumped at the chance to play this kind of schedule. Up next: Man United, Man City in the FA Cup, Barcelona, Chelsea, and a trip to the Nou Camp. Sunderland rounds out March, a stretch that could shape not just this season but the future of St James’ Park.
How’s the message? “You look at the fixtures; you’ve got to stay positive. We have to enjoy these games. Can’t play scared.
“We have to go after them, stay aggressive, and keep our heads up.
“A few years back, if you’d told us these were our next matches, we’d have bitten your hand off for it. Well, here we are.
“So let’s not look back. Eyes forward.”
THE WOLTEMADE MYSTERY: WHY DID EDDIE HOWE PULL HIM AFTER ONLY 25 MINUTES?
Newcastle 3-2 Everton: Read Eddie Howe’s reaction to Nick Woltemade’s 14-touch nightmare and the 12-point Champions League gap.
Eddie Howe didn’t hide his frustration after Newcastle’s rough 3-2 loss to Everton. He admitted they just couldn’t get Nick Woltemade involved; he barely touched the ball before Howe pulled him off after only 25 minutes up front.
Woltemade, the club’s £69 million signing, started in midfield, but it just didn’t click. He got shifted into attack in the second half, but that didn’t work either. After just 14 touches, Howe went back to Anthony Gordon leading the line.
Asked about Woltemade’s quiet night, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We moved things around trying to find a spark. Honestly, we didn’t start well and gave up an early goal. The guys needed new energy, especially after halftime, which was our best spell. But with Nick, we just couldn’t get him on the ball enough, even after moving him up front. He wasn’t getting touches or really getting involved near the goal. That’s why I had to make those changes.”
Now Newcastle’s Premier League season is in real trouble. They’re 12 points off the Champions League spots and fighting just to reach the Europa Conference League unless they pull off something big in the FA Cup or Champions League.
Howe owned up to the team’s slump. “Yeah, in the Premier League, our form just hasn’t been good enough for a while. We know it, and we take responsibility. It’s really frustrating. That’s part of playing in Europe, but we’ve tried to go all-in on every game and treat them all as important. With so many games, though, focus slips. Our league results lately just haven’t been anywhere near what they used to be. Home form used to be so reliable, but that’s dropped off too. We need to get that back fast. St James’ Park should be where we collect the most points, the place where players feel free to play. Lately, that just hasn’t happened.”
Howe even ended up taking Gordon off, which didn’t go over well; some boos rang out after Gordon lost the ball and Everton scored the winner.
“I honestly didn’t notice that,” Howe said, about the crowd’s reaction. “But when that happens, we’ve got to stick together. I’ll back him, and I hope the fans do too.”
