He said: "We played very solid, very compact. Tactically, my players were 200 per cent, they played absolutely fantastically. They did exactly what we planned for this match.
"We blocked the way that Newcastle usually play to attack and at the same time, we tried to create problems for the Newcastle defence. We created some problems during the match for the defensive part of the Newcastle team.
"We could have scored a second goal - new had a clear chance to score a second goal - but I think 1-0 is a score that I accept and I think is the correct score because we worked a lot.
"Newcastle had more of the ball, we know, but we picked these players to show a different face in relation to the last three matches. We tried to play more compact, block all the ways for Newcastle and tried with four very quick attackers to disturb Newcastle, so I am very happy, of course.
"I am very happy with the players. They were perfect in the strategy that we brought top this match. They gave 100 per cent to the team and to our strategy, so I am very happy with them."
Carvalhal had sympathy for McClaren, who he is convinced will turn things around on Tyneside.
He said; "I recognise a very good coach, I recognise very good players. It's very easy to recognise - that's why our victory means much more than a normal victory, because we know we beat a very good team with a very good coach in their stadium, so of course we are very happy about that."