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16 hours ago
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With a trophy already banked, Newcastle United now looking to add Champions League qualification to that silverware.
Fara Williams now declaring; “If I cast my mind back to the first half of this season and I was questioning Newcastle United – and so were many others – but it has ended up being a not so bad season!”
The record holder for most caps when it comes to the England women’s team, Williams adding; “…there is no reason Newcastle United can’t finish in the top five.”
It is in the hands of Eddie Howe and his players, as if they won all remaining nine matches, United would be guaranteed to finish at least fourth as a minimum.
As Fara Williams points out, there was a lot of focus on how Newcastle United would get on, as they returned to Premier League action after Wembley. It wasn’t a vintage United performance on Wednesday night but plenty to like about the character shown and some great football played at times against tough opposition.
Over the 90 minutes Newcastle United deserved the win and an excellent move finished off by Alexander Isak and an astonishing Sandro Tonali strike, ensured a very valuable three points. The win puts Newcastle in a powerful position to go on and now qualify for the Champions League.
Fara Williams speaking to BBC Sport:
“Newcastle United are not in a bad spot at the moment to qualify for the Champions League and they have the key thing: momentum.
“The city is buzzing still after the Carabao Cup win, and the players are too.
“Questions were raised about how they would play against Brentford following the weekend’s celebrations, but they came out with the three points.
“They will be looking at their remaining fixtures against teams in and around them and know what they have to do to hold their position and secure a return to the Champions League.
“If I cast my mind back to the first half of this season and I was questioning Newcastle United – and so were many others – but it has ended up being a not so bad season!
“They started with a few injuries at the back, but once they found the stability they have been used to seeing and that has brought them success in the past, they have been very good and hard to beat.
“This has obviously been helped by players finding their form at the right time and Alexander Isak’s ability to change games.
“The surprise package has been Jacob Murphy, as no one would have thought he would go on such a run of games and provide as many assists as he has to Isak. There was outside noise at the beginning of the season that Murphy isn’t good enough to be at the club, but he has certainly changed a few people’s mindsets now.
“From nowhere, or maybe just stability in personnel, Newcastle have found their belief and to every man in the cup final they were brilliant.
“If they can put the same fight into the final part of the season, then there is no reason Newcastle United can’t finish in the top five.”

 
