"It was a really important for us, and them, so to get three points here in the way that we did, with a big effort from every player, is always something you have to be satisfied with.

"Against a team so close to us in the table, and to get three points, it was a good achievement. This group of players deserves credit and today they came together and worked hard. 

"The pitch was very fast with the rain and we needed to be precise with passing the ball but they were on top of us and we didn't have the control.

"We adjusted a bit in the second half and I said that with two or three passes we can get in behind - that's what happened.

"We gave the ball away a little bit in the first half, but in the second half we were better organised. The idea was to exploit them on the counter-attack and exploit the space behind them.

"(Isaac) Hayden did well because we needed some legs - we were a little bit tired - and the second ball could help them sustain their attacks so we needed to make sure that we could press.

"He was not playing too many games so to come here and do well - (I am) really pleased with that.

"The main thing for strikers is to create chances for them. In this case, he (Rondon) is working really hard for the team.

"We had to adjust the shape of the team at half-time, and we had more control in the second half. He did a great job and finished with a great goal.

"He is doing what we expected a striker of his experience to do – score goals and hold the ball up well, especially away from home.

"We scored a great goal and afterwards, had another one disallowed. But it was the only way against a team that is so strong physically and pushing all the time.

"Be sure you defend well and, when you get the chance, try to cause them some problems. 

"It is an important win because we were playing a team close to us. We felt the pressure, and they did too.

"It's very clear: I have said since August, we have problems and we'll be fighting at the bottom of the table. Every time you get three points, you have a little more confidence."

For the second time in 2018, a single goal success over Huddersfield Town was enough to earn Newcastle three priceless points in their bid for top-flight survival.

A nervy encounter on Tyneside last March was settled by a close range finish from Ayoze Perez - clinching the victory that ensured we'd stay up - and at a dark and damp John Smith's Stadium it was the turn Salomon Rondon to take the plaudits for netting from only slightly further out.

The Venezuelan striker hadn't had sight of goal before that, but had no trouble in rounding off what was the best move of the game to give United a lead they maintained with something to spare. 

Further goals could have followed; Perez harshly given offside when lobbing Lossl ten minutes later and substitute Matt Ritchie spurning a glorious opportunity in the closing minutes of normal time.

However the home side never looked like getting back into the game once behind and have now scored just three goals in nine home games so far this season.

Aside from one exemplary intervention by Dubravka to tip over Philip Billing's 35 yard effort, the main danger had come from the stadium floodlights that blinked twice in the first half. Thankfully though, they remained illuminated - although the stadium clock reset itself. Perhaps someone behind the scenes had accidentally put them onto their yuletide flashing setting.

Appearing in their red and blue change kit for the first time in a competitive game, the Magpies were without the suspended DeAndre Yedlin and injured Federico Fernandez, Matt Ritchie dropping to the bench. 

Again deploying a three man central defence, United struggled to maintain possession on a slick pitch, with Kenedy particularly wasteful in the early stages and ultimately hobbling off the field.

Christian Atsu and Fabian Schar both proved unable to beat Lossl from United's only two first half chances while home fans grew quieter as Town's best raids were correctly foiled by offside calls. 

It always looked like one goal would settle this contest - as it had in both meetings last season - and after Lossl denied Atsu again on 53 minutes, Rondon made absolutely no mistake.

Five minutes later Dubravka denied Chris Lowe with a worthy block, but from that moment onwards United defended their lead without much concern to secure their second away win of the season.

Unbeaten on the road in four games since the 2-3 loss at Old Trafford in October, Rafa's side took points from visits to Southampton and Everton in addition to the victories at Burnley and now Huddersfield - our best Premier League away form since back in 2012.  

It moved us back up to 14th, four points off a bottom three place and with a far superior difference goal difference to five of the six sides below us (Crystal Palace are the odd one out).

Propping up the table after losing at home to West Ham are Fulham, our opponents at Gallowgate this coming Saturday - a prime opportunity for Rafa's side to address home form that remains markedly inferior to that away from Tyneside. 
 
Biffa