'Very pleased': Eddie Howe gives confusing post-match interview after Newcastle United's huge 3-1 win at Burnley
A 3-1 scoreline on the night certainly flattered Newcastle United after a tough game down at Turf Moor, with Newcastle's goals coming in the first six and last two minutes of the game.
The Magpies roared into a two-goal lead with less than seven minutes on the clock. Joelinton opened the scoring after just 65 seconds, and Yoane Wissa bagged his first Premier League goal on his first Premier League start for the Toon just five minutes later.
Then, as Newcastle tend to do lately, they switched off and let Burnley back into the game for a large portion of the game, and it was only really by luck rather than judgement that the Magpies were able to hang on to their lead for the remainder of the game before adding to it in stoppage time thanks to a Martin Dubravka error.
Burnley had a shot cleared off the line, forced Nick Pope to claw away a shot from under the bar and also hit the woodwork, not to mention the glorious opportunities squandered by Loum Tchaouna.
Eddie Howe was pleased with the performance in the second half ... really?
Speaking to NUFC TV after the game, Eddie Howe spoke about how his side made it difficult for themselves but then declared himself pleased with the second-half performance.
"It was a massive boost to us to score two goals so early in the game. But then we made it difficult for ourselves. In my opinion, we lost a little bit of control in midfield. It was a difficult period until half time.
"The second half was a difficult half, generally, I thought Burnley played well and put us under pressure, but credit to the players and how we defended and our resolve and our steel through the team. I'm very pleased with how we managed that second half.
We should not be satisfied with that level of performance
We get that after a win, the last thing Eddie Howe wants to do is come out and criticise, especially a win as important as that one was, but there's not criticising, and there's being realistic.
Newcastle were all over the place in that second half, they made it far too easy for Burnley, and it was only because of their lack of confidence that they didn't draw level or even take the lead.
We were far from pleased with what we saw in that second half, overall. Against pretty much any other team in the league, we lose that game. We can't be satisfied with that kind of performance, even after a win.
