Steve McClaren refusing to get carried away but admits 'huge relief' at claiming his first league win as Newcastle manager

• Newcastle beat Norwich 6-2 to avoid a ninth winless game in the league 
• Georginio Wijnaldum bagged four as Magpies ran riot against Norwich
• Manager Steve McClaren targeted a top-eight finish only two months ago
• But a desperate start to the campaign has led to goals being re-evaluated
• Defeat would have meant no win in their first eight games for the first time since the 1898-99 season 

By Craig Hope for the Daily Mail

Published: 14:30 EST, 18 October 2015 | Updated: 06:37 EST, 19 October 2015

For the first time this season, Steve McClaren's smile was not masking a frown.

Through eight winless matches – the club's worst start since 1898 – the head coach had grinned, an increasingly desperate attempt to negate the negativity descending on him and his team.

So when he emerged from a breathless and bizarre first victory of his tenure – secured thanks to a stunning four-goal haul from Georginio Wijnaldum - his smile was at last genuine.

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren was given welcome respite as the 6-2 mauling brought his first win in charge

McClaren was thankful to the contribution of Holland international Georginio Wijnaldum at St James' Park

And, in fairness, it was deserved. McClaren has taken a fair bit of flak in recent days with his side bottom of the Premier League, criticism amplified by the manner in which he and the club had trumpeted their top-eight target just two months ago.

That remains an unlikely eventuality – they are still in the bottom three - but finally there was evidence to support McClaren's faith.

He stopped short of sounding 'I told you so', but the Newcastle boss wore a look of satisfaction in the wake of their 6-2 mauling of Norwich.

'We won't get too high and there is lot of work to do, but that shows what we're capable of when it comes together,' he said.

Wijnaldum scored his third and fourth headers of the season - more than any other Premier League player

But the attacking midfielder saved his best goal until last, rifling his dipping shot into John Ruddy's top corner

'We've been quite calm behind the scenes. But of course, you need that first win. It's a huge relief.' And that was the overriding emotion inside St James' Park – relief. For McClaren and the home fans knew that this crazy contest could easily have swung Norwich's way before their team pulled clear in the final half hour.

'That's Newcastle, is it possible to make any sense of things?' said McClaren when asked to evaluate a match in which his side led 3-2 at half-time and never looked comfortable until two goals in three minutes after the hour mark.

'The game wasn't under control, we need more control than that. We rode our luck at times. In the long run, you will lose and win games playing like that.

The former England manager gives a passionate cry as he galvanises his side to achieve their first league win

Wijnaldum injected energy into Newcastle's hitherto lifeless season, instilling hope where there was desolation

'But going forward we showed what a threat we can be. Our front four caused Norwich real problems.' And no man wreaked more havoc than match-winner Wijnaldum. Indeed, take away his goals this season and Newcastle would have just two points instead of six.

So much for the fear of a hangover from Holland's failure to qualify for Euro 2016, of which Wijnaldum was very much a sorry part.

Here, he was brilliant, an inspirational bundle of energy, endeavour and, crucially, goals.

For a man of just 5ft7ins, it is remarkable that four of his six this term have been scored via his head.

McClaren acknowledges that the significance of this resounding win will only be known in the longer term

But for now, he will take extreme pride in the manner his side responded to the defeat by Manchester City

Even Aleksandar Mitrovic scored past the Canaries

Explanation for that lies in a childhood spent training to become a gymnast. Thankfully, for Newcastle, he eventually pursued a career in football.

A £14.5million signing from PSV Eindhoven in the summer – he was a title-winning captain and Dutch Footballer of the Year – his capture was hailed as something of a coup.

A flying header during the opening-day draw against Southampton added volume to those who had hailed his arrival, especially as former PSV team-mate Memphis Depay – at £25m – struggled to impact at Manchester United.

But amid Newcastle's winless malaise Wijnaldum faded. Another headed goal against Chelsea helped United to an unlikely point, but questions remained about the consistency of his contribution. He answered those in emphatic fashion against the Canaries.

'It was great to see him get his rewards,' said McClaren.

'That is why we brought him here. He showed today why he is a Premier League player. 'But we still need more consistency, and that's from everybody.' McClaren is right, the only thing consistent about Newcastle so far this season has been their inconsistency.

But should they repeat this performance during next weekend's Wear-Tyne derby then the boss will be smiling from ear to ear, and rightly so. 

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