It's seventh heaven for birthday boy Eddie

AT long last they stood before their supporters on a Premier League ground as victors instead of victims. Those carrying the Geordie flag could smile with bursting pride instead of trying to hide their embarrassment at the end of an hour and a half of examination.

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Anthony Elanga shows his delight

The relief was palpable. Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United troops were PL away winners for the very first time this season on their seventh attempt. Lucky for us!

It was the perfect birthday present for Eddie, 48 this very day, perhaps appropriately at Everton whom he supported as a youngster when his hero was Peter Beardsley, now a neighbour on Tyneside.

After the cold chill of an Arctic winter this was the warmest of feelings, back-to-back PL victories following the defeat of Manchester City. And it wasn’t a scratchy single-goal win but a 4-1 slaughtering.

We now return to home comforts with Spurs tomorrow night and Burnley on Saturday next up. A glorious opportunity to climb the slippery slope.

Tottenham arrive in not too many hours time trying to turn

history - they suffered their first away defeat of the season in the Carabao Cup late October by 2-0 which was their fourth successive loss at St James Park. More of the same please.