The game wasn't about Jose Mourinho and the Special One knew it but he made sure he gave credit where it was due
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring the opening goal
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Anthony Gordon is lighting up European football at the moment - and Jose Mourinho needed no reminder at the final whistle.
After the World Cup bound England star's sparkling display against Benfica, the Special One ran straight to Gordon to congratulate and tell him he had been brilliant. It was a wonderful moment for the Scouser but on a night in which Mourinho had set his team up to rattle Newcastle somewhat, Gordon calmly sliced through it to lead Newcastle to three massive points - and inject £1.8m into the coffers.
The Magpies made a positive start against Benfica, enjoying 70% possession with Dan Burn's header kept out by Anatoliy Trubin before Jacob Murphy's effort was struck straight into the arms of the Ukraine international. But Benfica threatened on 15 minutes when Dodi Lukebakio got beyond Burn, but his shot was blocked on the line by Nick Pope at the Gallowgate End.
United star Malick Thiaw went into the book two minutes later after a foul on Vangelis Pavlidis in the centre circle. It was a poor challenge in truth, and Mourinho was quick to shove his assistants in the direction of the fourth official to protest.
Newcastle struggled to clear their lines with Jacob Murphy's poor clearance falling to Lukebakio but his curving effort struck the upright on the 20-minute mark. The winger tried to make amends on Newcastle's next attack only for his effort to swerve wide of the post.
After weathering a bit of a first half storm from Benfica, United grabbed a much-needed lead when Bruno Guimaraes picked out Jacob Murphy with a superb pass down the right. Jacob Murphy latched on to the ball and crossed perfectly for Gordon to sweep home the opener on 32 minutes.
But Benfica came back at the Magpies as Lukebakio twisted and turned before forcing another save out of Pope two minutes before the break. Lukebakio went into the book after coming out of a 50-50 with Gordon on the stroke of half-time but on second viewing perhaps it could have been the other way around!
However, Newcastle went in ahead at the break despite being handed a couple of genuine scares by the Portuguese visitors. Howe's team started the second half in pursuit of number two with Nick Woltemade presented with his first real sight of goal on 51 minutes but his effort was deflected wide before Miley headed over Kieran Trippier's corner.
Three minutes later, Murphy dragged an effort low and across the face of goal with Trubin getting a glove on it to make a fine save. Howe made his first changes of the night just after the hour mark when Joelinton and Harvey Barnes were introduced to replace Murphy and Ramsey.
If Gordon had been magnificent for Newcastle, Barnes was set to stake his claim with an incredible contribution from the bench. First he raced on to Pope's throw assist to tuck it past Trubin with a clinical finish at the Gallowgate just eight minutes after coming off the bench.
Newcastle players rushed to Pope to congratulate him as if he'd scored a goal himself. But Newcastle put the icing on the cake with seven minutes left as Gordon played a one-two with Woltemade before releasing Barnes who he slotted it through the legs of the keeper to make the game comfortable.
Joelinton and sub Willock had chances late on and Burn also had two chances at the death. But Newcastle settled for an important victory that puts them on to six points in the Champions League table.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Attendance: 52,073