Newell’s first-half strike was the difference between the sides as the Hibees ran out 1-0 winners on the day against the 10-men of Kilmarnock.
The box-to-box midfielder picked up the man-of-the-match award, in what was an excellent all-round performance from the Hibs number 11.
Speaking to Hibs TV after the match, Joe told us how happy he was to get on the scoresheet.
“I know I can add goals to my game – I did it earlier in my career, so I have been trying to get into the box a bit more and having the confidence to keep shooting.
“Getting goals from midfield is a big plus for anything side so it is definitely something that I have been trying to improve and carry on this season.
“Playing as one of three in midfield allows me to get a bit further forward, so I can get into those areas of the pitches where I can score goals.
“My niece and nephew were here today so the goal today meant a bit more to me. Goals from me don’t come around too often so it was nice that my brother, his wife and my niece and nephew were here to see it.”
Joe’s strike proved crucial in what was a well-deserved win for the Hibees on the day. Ash Taylor was sent off for a last-ditch challenge on Martin Boyle and from the resulting free-kick, Joe fired the ball home from 20 yards.
“We fully deserved it today,” Joe continued.
“The intensity was there, we played on the front foot with aggression and we looked a lot more like how we aim to play today.
“The sending-off obviously changed things, but even before that we started well and got a well-deserved early goal.
“Our performance got a bit stale towards the end and a little bit impatient so there are things we can work on.
“We should’ve scored more goals today but sometimes it can be hard against 10-men. At the end of the day, after the performance and the result in Paisley the main thing today was getting the three points and we did that today.”