"I think if you analyse the season we have had a lot of good games. We’ve had high tempo and pushed and created with the ball really well. Today against Wigan we had 18 attempts so we must show more composure on the ball and in the final third.

"The main thing was to get three points. We knew it was difficult, watching Wigan against Aston Villa we knew they do well.

"This mini-league of eight games is now seven and we have won the first. The other teams have made mistakes so we have to concentrate on ourselves.

"The league table for us is that this is three points for us in the league. It was a win, I have to be happy. I would like to score five goals and be amazing, but at the moment we showed character, good reaction and personality.

"If you analyse the players we had (last season) ... in the end we were relegated, so these players don’t have that experience (of being top of the table). The players we’ve bought haven’t won trophies. We’ve been top all season more or less. It’s not easy, and that’s the point. 

"People are saying these players have come from the Premier League: yes, but not from the top of the table or ones winning the league. These players were in the middle or the bottom of the table so we had to create an attitude where they play with confidence and winning mentality, which helps in games like this.

"But we have to be sure we show character, good reaction and personality. We have to improve a little bit on the ball and manage better under pressure. When we have chances we must manage a bit better. 

"There are a lot of things we can still improve and a lot of things we are doing well. If see Brighton winning 1-0 or Huddersfield losing 1-0, it means that it’s not easy for anyone.

"Physically, the team is fine – it's not an issue. You can see the other teams work so hard against us. You have to balance this effort. What we need now is a little bit more confidence on the ball to create more chances, or to take the chances that we have.

"When we are close to the box sometimes, you can see that anxiety is a problem, so to win gives you more confidence, and hopefully we can do a little bit better against Burton."

On the penalty incident:

"I was telling the referee it was a penalty and said it was exaggerated. After I watched the replay and it was a penalty so it doesn’t matter if it was exaggerated or not, a penalty is a penalty."

Goals from Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie gave the Magpies their first victory in four attempts at a relieved St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon.

And although Brighton also won to remain just one point behind Rafa's table-toppers, Huddersfield lost to a 96th minute Burton Albion goal, stretching the gap between ourselves and third to ten.

There were two changes from the starting XI that drew at Birmingham City a fortnight ago, Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey in for Daryl Murphy and Ayoze Perez.

Another 50,000+ crowd at Gallowgate had little to excite them in the opening stages however and it wasn't until almost the half hour mark that visiting 'keeper Matt Gilks easily gathered Shelvey's shot.

A brief period of goalmouth incident then saw the black and whites force a couple of corners, Gayle coming close with a header and Jamaal Lascelles narrowly missing the target with a looping effort.

And the breakthrough wasn't long in coming, Gayle presented with a tap in at the back post in the 36th minute after ex-Latic Mo Diame got ahead of Shaun Macdonald and threaded a low centre through from the right hand side of the area. 

The scoreline was unchanged at the interval and from the restart the home side seemed intent on putting the game out of Wigan's reach as soon as possible.

However, some brainless midfield play allowed the visitors to attack and Michael Jacobs supplied a 50th minute leveller than prompted his side's best period of the game. Toon fan Dan Burn then headed over before substitute Ryan Colclough shot across the face of goal moments later.

Again though, Newcastle had the happy knack of scoring quickly to bury murmurs of unrest in the crowd, retaking the lead within seven minutes when Ritchie - having a more involved second half - headed home the rebound from his own shot.

In truth that was the end of the action, with Wigan unable to seriously threaten a second equaliser, save for a couple of long-distance efforts.

Equally a third Newcastle goal seldom looked on the cards, Ritchie having one sight of goal after Christian Atsu played him but placing his shot too close to the 'keeper. The Scottish international's 84th minute run into the box then ended with him sprawled out on the turf following a trip by Jake Buxton. Referee Coote however waved play on - to the disbelief of home followers.

That incident caused a heated exchange between the two benches that required the fourth official to intervene - Latics interim boss Graham Barrow well to the fore with claims that Ritchie had taken a dive and bawling foul-mouthed abuse. Barrow of course has previous with us, going toe to toe with John Carver at the JJB following that horror tackle on Massadio Haidara back in 2013.

There was a welcome return to action for Isaac Hayden while Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez also arrived from the bench; Gouffran, Diame and Gayle withdrawn with Wednesday night in mind, when Burton Albion make their maiden visit to Gallowgate.

And although we could start that game back in second place, victory over the Brewers would further the feeling of "when" rather than "if" automatic promotion will be mathematically secured.

Until that becomes a reality, everything else is immaterial - including performances and concerns that these lot will be eaten alive next season "up there". Those are worries for another day, the focus is firmly on finishing what we've started - and sharing the collective joy when achieved.   

Biffa