Mark Hughes: "In fairness to Erik, he's already held his hand up. It was a little bit of fortune, that wasn't his intention obviously, but I thought his link-up play with Marko (Arnautovic) was really positive for us.
"He's been in that position many times this season and put quality balls in that haven't been converted.
"Today he's got in the same position and put another quality ball in and it's gone in, and he takes credit for that.
"We had the vast majority of the clear-cut chances in the game. Newcastle put balls into good areas but I thought defensively we were nice and sound today.
"We didn't really come under any sustained pressure, and any pressure we did come under we dealt with.
"All in all, it was a very professional performance.
"Pieters joined us last summer from PSV Eindhoven and has started all but two Premier League games.
"He's done really well.
"It's difficult for a player to come into a new league. He's played almost every game for me and done really well in the majority of them.
"Prior to that he hadn't played a great deal of football for a year, so for him to come in and have the season he has in his first season in the Premier League, he takes great credit.
"I'm pleased he's able to get the headlines today."