Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said Sandro Tonali's eye-catching winner in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Brentford was a "big moment" in their push to qualify for the Champions League.

Tonali fired Newcastle into fifth place in the Premier League as the Italian midfielder's 74th-minute rocket beat Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank claimed it was a lucky goal, describing Tonali's winner as a "one in a million cross".

Even Tonali admitted there was an element of fortune to his strike.

"Honestly, it was 70% cross and 30% shot," said the Italian midfielder. "It was difficult for the goalkeeper and difficult also for me. Also a little bit of luck."

But Howe was convinced Tonali deserved credit for his headline-grabbing blast, especially since it gave fresh impetus to Newcastle's bid to return to Europe's elite club competition.

"Let me say one thing about Sandro: he can hit a ball like no-one. When he strikes it, I fear for our goalkeepers' wrists sometimes because he can hit it that hard, so I wouldn't put it past him meaning that," Howe said.

"It was a big moment in the game because we needed it. At that moment, the game was very much in the balance, so it's a big moment in our season."

The League Cup winners, playing for the first time since beating Liverpool to clinch their first major trophy for 56 years, are one point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea, who host Tottenham on Thursday.

The Magpies are one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

The top four qualify automatically for the Champions League, with fifth place also likely to secure entry depending on the results of the English clubs remaining European action this season.

Howe, who was pleased with the way Newcastle responded in the first game since their historic day at Wembley, added: "I was really hoping the players would be professional, but Wembley behind them and move forward and work, and we did - and we had to work.

"I think it was a massive win in our season. Credit to everybody because that wasn't an easy game."