He is one of the nicest and happiest footballers in the Premier League but Newcastle United supporters really like Miguel Almiron when he gets angry.
Annoyed by Wilfried Zaha, amongst others, Almiron was uncharacteristically argumentative all evening, and it was some pushing and shoving from the Palace winger that prompted a sensational individual goal that secured Newcastle a sixth successive home win in front of a delirious home crowd, as well as chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Al-Rumayyan has not been seen at St James’ Park since the home defeat to Cambridge in the FA Cup back in January. He must have wondered what had happened to the team dumped out by a League One side and who had won just one game all season the last time he was on Tyneside – because this one is recognisable.
Newcastle are closer to securing a top-ten finish than the relegation zone three months since Al-Rumayyan’s last appearance at the club he runs on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which is down to manager Eddie Howe. The team’s form since the middle of January has been sensational.
Al-Rumayyan was joined by co-owners Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben in the home dressing room after the match – and then on the pitch for a kickabout – to congratulate the players and offer wholehearted thanks to a manager who has done wonders with the resources at his disposal. This is the first time Newcastle have won six on the spin at home since Sir Bobby Robson was manager back in 2004.
“I think sometimes it is important to look back and remember where we were,” said Howe. “That Cambridge game really wasn’t that long ago… desperate to win a game, any game and that defeat was extremely hard to take.
“The chairman came to see me after that [defeat] and was excellent with me, and the players…really supportive, we kept our heads, supported each other and we want to repay it.
“I’m glad he was here to see this. He didn’t say anything in the dressing room, he was just sharing the winning moment with the players and I embrace that.”
This squad will be improved over the summer – the chairman’s presence will coincide with more recruitment meetings this week – but there is so much to admire in those who fired the team out of the bottom three to secure safety with five games left to play.
Some might not still be here in September but they are running themselves into the ground for the club and each other.
None more so than Almiron, whose goal was like a lightning bolt across a dark sky. And, as fast, as he gobbled up Tyrick Mitchell’s five-metre head-start to beat him to Bruno Guimaraes’ long pass before smashing a swerving shot into the top corner from a tight angle.
