Eddie Howe has heaped praise on the character of his injury-ravaged Newcastle United side following their 4-1 home victory over 10-man Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Magpies entered the international break following back-to-back 2-0 away losses to Borussia Dortmund and Bournemouth in the Champions League and Premier League respectively.
However, despite missing 11 players due to either injury, suspension or ineligibility, Newcastle returned to winning ways in commanding fashion against the Blues, claiming their fifth successive top-flight victory at St James' Park in the process.
Seventeen-year-old Lewis Miley was a standout performer for the Magpies, and the midfielder set up the opening goal scored in the 13th minute by Alexander Isak - who recovered from injury to start - before Raheem Sterling restored parity for Chelsea 10 minutes later with a superb free kick.
Newcastle then capitalised on Chelsea's sloppy second-half display and put themselves back in front on the hour mark with a free header from captain Jamaal Lascelles, before Joelinton netted a third just a minute later following an uncharacteristic error inside the area from Thiago Silva.
Chelsea's afternoon went from bad to worse when Reece James was shown his second yellow card on the 73rd-minute mark for a cynical foul, before Anthony Gordon rubbed salt into the visitors' wounds with a sweet strike into the bottom corner with seven minutes remaining.
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Speaking to Premier League Productions after the match, a delighted Howe said: "It was a real statement of character within the squad. We really asked the players to step up, and we really deserved to win. Big positives from today.
"The leaders within the group set the tone – Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier, Matt Ritchie. They make sure we don't surrender."
"If you are disjointed and go away from your principles, you will be in trouble. We try to be us," Howe added.
Discussing the impressive performance of academy graduate Miley, who started just his second Premier League game, Howe said: "The biggest compliment I can give him is the pass for the first goal - an incredible decision, and he has the right temperament.
"A lot of young players would have wanted to shoot there. We have high hopes for him."
Newcastle's victory has seen them climb to sixth in the Premier League table, two and three points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa and fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur respectively, who lock horns in North London on Sunday.
The Magpies will now turn their attention to next Tuesday's crucial Champions League group-stage clash away against Paris Saint-Germain, before returning to Premier League action against Manchester United on home soil next Saturday.
Oliver Thomas
