Eddie Howe said:

"Yes, it’s a big win. It’s a big win for a lot of reasons, but I think this week with two home games and the importance of both games, to start well gives us a massive lift.

Ruud van Nistelrooy - making his sixth-ever visit to SJP* - said: 

"We know what St James’ Park is like. It can ignite and then it will be intense. Also the profiles of the players of Newcastle, they have a lot of strong players, high intensity in pressing and in counter -attacks.

"A 4-0 defeat, we defended bad. On the ball was our challenge. We weren’t structured enough to get some good possessions going and we had some ball losses that cost us in the counter-attacks. Set-pieces was a heavy influence today on the result.”

"The domination of Newcastle was clear. The team tried and did the best they could. The game was decided in the detail. The first half was a set-piece and the second one too, straight after half-time. Those are details. Then you’re 2-0 down away at Newcastle. If you want to have a chance on the result, you have to take care of these things. If not, it’s going to be a really hard afternoon.

"From defeat, you’re always going to learn more. We also spoke about the thin margins in the Premier League, where everything has to be right to get results. We managed to do so in the two home games. In the set-up and in the structure on the ball, things have to improve. 

"In the second half, you saw some spells of what we wanted, but I think it was too little too late."

* beaten 4-3 when in the Manchester United side in the 2001/02 season, the striker returned to participate in four successive league wins on Tyneside for the Red Devils in as many seasons. 

Two Jacob Murphy strikes book-ended headers from Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, as Newcastle ended their five game wait for a victory on Saturday in some style.

The visitors were unbeaten in both games since Ruud van Nistelrooy's installation as manager, but his first away fixture in charge saw City cement their position as the most generous top-flight defence on the road this season.

At the other end meanwhile, Martin Dubravka had only the bare minimum to do on his first Premier League outing since the 2-3 loss at Old Trafford May, deputising for knee injury victim Nick Pope. 

Having struggled to penetrate sides with a so-called low block, United steadily accumulated scoring opportunies against a Leicester city side with virtually no block - Anthony Gordon and Dan Burn both coming close within the opening ten minutes.

To the anguish of the crowd, Murphy twice shot wide of the Gallowgate goal before finding his range on the half hour, driving into the bottom right hand corner of the net after a smart corner routine involving Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. 

His celebration involved shouting at home fans, in a similar spirit to the fingers in ears mime Ayoze Perez used to trot out. Whatever inspires him is fine with us: setting aside his wasted chances, this was a flawed performance in terms of losing possession in midfield, but like his assists at Brentford, Murphy walked off the field knowing the statistics will record a concrete contribution.

Isak then looked a certain scorer as he ran on to Joelinton's through ball, only to shoot weakly into the arms of City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen - who failed to return after half time due to injury, his replacement Danny Ward playing a Premier League game for the first time since March 2023.

The Welsh international was soon retrieving the ball from his net after another set piece routine; Gordon lofting his free kick to Hall at the back post and his header across goal nodded in by Bruno.

The Foxes recovered from a two goal deficit to salvage a point against Brighton last week, but 2-0 almost immediately became 3-0 after Hall's deflected centre sat up nicely for Isak to head home.

More seasonal cheer was then provided by Murphy, who did rather better with a 60th minute chance than he had moments earlier from similar range for 4-0. He'll never have a better opportunity of notching a hat-trick for the Magpies than in this game though.

Further goals could and should have followed, but the inevitable rash of replacements saw the tempo drop as Eddie Howe sought to protect his squad ahead of the Carabao Cup quarter-final here against Brentford on Wednesday night.

The only blemish - aside Bruno from losing the toss yet again - was the caution earning Joelinton a one match ban at Ipswich on Saturday; momentary fears when the returning Joe Willock went down following a strong challenged quickly allayed when he got his feet unassisted. 

A timely victory then with something to spare; worthy shouts from different observers of messrs Hall, Tonali and Gordon as man of the match indicating the freedom we were afforded and reveled in.

The trick of course has been stringing results and performances together and retaining momentum on and off the pitch. In a season of inconsistency, that Carabao Cup tie remains crucial in our eyes in terms of edging towards something tangible under this administration. Going into it in rather better heart than a week earlier is a bonus, but as ever with this lot, all outcomes are possible. 

Biffa