They thought it was all over after Newcastle failed to win any of their first 14 matches. It is now. United up to an unbelievable 11th. Burnley down and relegated.
Be still my beating heart!
The final day, the final few minutes across the land, produced drama and counter drama including Burnley pulling a goal back to spark faint hope but this is a different United. This is one of bottle, of togetherness, of steel coupled with ability. When Steve Bruce was sacked in October, 13 days after the £305m takeover was completed, Newcastle were in the relegation zone at 19th below Burnley.
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Even Eddie Howe was naturally unable to produce an instant magic wand. With 14 matches gone United were still winless and bottom on only seven points before Burnley thankfully provided us our first win 1-0 in December. Still dead in the water? History told us so. Our eyes told us so. Even our hearts doubted survival.
However the transformation has been incredible. In their last 18 Premier League matches Newcastle have won 12 of them to banish any fears of the drop. Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have picked up more points in 2022 than Newcastle's 38.
More stats - 44 of United's 49 points have come under Howe. Steady Eddie? More his Hurricane Howe! Burnley were never going to have enough to turn over Newcastle. Man for man the Mags are better and their spirit cannot be topped either these days.
The return from a darkened room of Callum Wilson made certain of a grandstand finish. I said against Arsenal that United would never have won without his stupendous display. All that was missing was a goal he so richly deserved and at Turf Moor there were two.
No doubt Allan Saint-Maximin will claim that his unfeeling words about getting more assists with better players were nevertheless true after he set up the killer second with an accurate low cross when surrounded by bodies because it was a returning Wilson who was the man in space and he was never going to miss where others might.
United triumphed without their Player of the Year Joelinton for all but seven minutes, stretchered off with a bad injury to colour what has been an incredible transformation. We wish him well in his recovery. We thank those players who have contributed so much in the second half of the season as well as a relatively boyish boyo from Bournemouth who proved his point when others openly doubted his appointment.
Have a rest fellas. Enjoy your A-ha concert Eddie. And then get back to work! There is much more to do.
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