Eddie Howe urged Newcastle to use Saturday’s 4-1 triumph over Everton as a springboard for the rest of the season, after the Magpies finally secured their first Premier League away win of the campaign.

Defender Malick Thiaw set the tone by scoring the fastest goal of the season after just 52 seconds. Lewis Miley and Nick Woltemade added further strikes to put the game beyond doubt by half-time.

Thiaw doubled his tally after the break, while Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall offered only a late consolation for the hosts.

As the final whistle blew, Howe and his players celebrated with the travelling Newcastle fans, marking their first top-flight victory on the road since April.

“That was really important, as we haven’t felt that enough, or at all,” Howe said. “I’m very pleased we were able to put that right and give the fans that winning feeling to take back to Newcastle. I’m just glad I don’t have to answer the dreaded questions on it anymore.

“We still have a lot of work to do to address some of the issues we’ve faced, but this is a big moment for us. It’s a step forward.”

When asked if a significant mental hurdle had been overcome, Howe added: “Time will tell. I’m not going to make any big statements—there’s a long way to go.”

Everton manager David Moyes, meanwhile, declined to blame the absence of key midfielder Idrissa Gueye—who was sent off in Monday’s win over Manchester United for an altercation with teammate Michael Keane—for his team’s poor performance.

“It could have played a part, but it could also be down to the quality of Newcastle,” Moyes said. “You mustn’t underestimate them—they’re a Champions League-caliber team. They got off to a great start; we got off to a terrible one. They were better than us in every aspect: skill, experience, and composure.”