Eddie Howe heaps praise on “brilliant” Jacob Ramsey after 2-1 Newcastle win vs Tottenham | OneFootball

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has heaped praise on matchwinner Jacob Ramsey after Tuesday night’s 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Magpies took the lead through Malick Thiaw, who bundled home a rebound after his initial header was kept out by Guglielmo Vicario.

Talented teenager Archie Gray pulled Spurs back level in the second half with his first goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, Ramsey restored Newcastle’s lead just minutes later with a well-taken strike. His goal proved to be the match-winner that took the Magpies back into the top half of the Premier League table.

Speaking after the game, Howe was impressed with Ramsey’s “brilliant” performance and praised his side’s performance against Spurs.

He was also impressed by Joe Willock, who was heavily linked with a move to Fulham during the winter transfer window.

“It was a good performance from us tonight. It was a really strange game,” Howe said (via BBC).

“Tottenham score against the run of play, but credit to the lads because we responded well.”

On Ramsey’s goal, he said: “Really good goal. He’s such a good technical player. Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey were brilliant today.

“We’ve played really well today, we had a number of shots and chances. We dominated the first half. The lads kept going and had to do it the hard way. That’s credit to the mentality and feeling in the group.

The win against Spurs snapped Newcastle’s four-match winless streak in the Premier League (D1, L3), but they still have some way to go in the race to qualify for Europe.

The Magpies are now nine points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and eight adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea in case England gets five Champions League slots.

However, Howe believes his side still have what it takes to gatecrash the top five in the second half of the season.

“It [qualifying for Europe] has to be our aim,” he said. “It’s been a tough season for us in the Premier League. We’ve had good results, but we’ve been inconsistent.”