Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored to give Newcastle United a well-earned 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday which lifted them into third place in the Premier League standings.
Both teams have 50 points from 27 games but Newcastle have the better goal difference in the race to finish in the top-four and qualify for the Champions League next season.
"I feel like we have to believe," Willock told Sky Sports. "We've got a brilliant team, brilliant manager and brilliant environment for us players to work in, so I feel like there's nothing stopping us."
Eddie Howe's side dominated play at St James' Park, narrowly missing the target from several excellent chances. Their persistence was rewarded in the 65th minute when Allan Saint-Maximin's headed cross found Willock for a close-range header.
Substitute Wilson put the game to bed in the 88th minute, heading in a free-kick cross from Kieran Trippier.
The victory was some sort of revenge for Newcastle losing 2-0 to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United in the League Cup final in February.
"We played really well," Willock said. "I feel like we deserved the victory and it was electric in there, and I feel like we fed off the fans, and I feel like we owed them one after the cup final. We didn't take that lightly.
"Losing the cup final, it hurts, it hurts a lot, so we took that anger into this game."
Newcastle were the better team all over the pitch, peppering the opposition goal from kick-off. Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was forced into a double save in the 16th minute, diving to punch away Alexander Isak's header and then stopping Willock's close-range shot with his body.
Willock sent another fabulous scoring chance soaring just over the bar in the 40th minute.
United were missing the influence of midfielder Casemiro, who is serving a suspension, and defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to illness. Marcus Rashford's return was good news, at least, after the striker sat out England's Euro 2024 qualifiers with a knock.
Earlier, West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 after Nayef Aguerd scored from a set piece in the first half to give the London side breathing room in the relegation battle. The teams were 19th and 20th before kick-off but victory moved West Ham up to 14th (27 points) while Southampton remained rooted to the bottom.
West Ham took the lead in the 25th minute when Aguerd rose highest to head home a free-kick but they had an agonising wait as VAR took several minutes to check if the Moroccan defender was onside before awarding the goal.
Rodgers leaves
Leicester City have parted ways with manager Brendan Rodgers by mutual agreement, the club said on Sunday, with the team 19th in the table and facing relegation. Rodgers’s last game in charge was Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace
