Brutal honesty from Eddie Howe


 
 
 
 
 
 

It was brutal honesty from Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe.

The NUFC Head Coach reflecting on Wednesday night.

United losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace, with one of the worst Newcastle performances this season.

Eddie Howe reflecting on the 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace:

“Crystal Palace were better than us.

“We can’t make excuses.

“We are going to blame ourselves and try to come back better.

“It was very disappointing, from the high of Spurs to this low.

“We started well for two minutes but we were disappointing in most aspects of our play and we have to take responsibility for that.

“The match unravelled into an uncomfortable feeling.

“We gave the ball away too much, we didn’t attack well and it baffled me that we were reluctant to shoot.

“None of our game was in a good place.

“I was disappointed, especially with the first 60 minutes, we were nowhere near where we wanted to be.

“Disappointed with our technical performance today.

“We are usually better than that.

“It was a difficult game for us.

“We were below our best levels.

“Crystal Palace played well.

“It was a high pressing game and we were both trying to high press each other but they more effective with their game than we were.

“We came alive a bit in the second half and had moments and opportunities but we weren’t good enough.

“We worked during the gap to not have an adverse performance.

“Maybe the gap did hamper us, we looked rusty in aspects of our game.

“We gave the ball away too much and we looked reluctant to shoot around their goal, which baffled me.

 “We never really got into our best fluent rhythm.”

Eddie Howe on Callum Wilson’s return to action:

“Callum’s return is more than welcome and he gave us a different dimension when he came on today.”

Eddie Howe on the penalty appeal when Sean Longstaff was fouled by Will Hughes in the penalty area:

“The penalty is a 50/50 call and it went against us.”

Eddie Howe on Tino Livramento, who remained an unused sub:

“Tino is still struggling with his ankle.

“That is why he didn’t come onto the pitch.

“He was there for an emergency really.

“Can he play at the weekend? I’m not sure.

“We certainly don’t want to give him a long-term problem.

“H is technically fit enough to be able to enter the pitch but it is sort of high risk.”

Eddie Howe on the chances of European qualification:

“It is still on.

“We are still in the mix but we can’t play like we did today, if we are going to maintain our push to be in the European places.

“There is certainly a lot to reflect on.

“There is a big opportunity for us and we can’t let our season] peter out.

“We have got a big chance to quickly bounce back on Saturday at home to Sheffield United.”

Stats via BBC Sport:

Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 24 April 8pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Palace:

Mateta 55, 88

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Palace 47% (51%) Newcastle 53% (49%)

Total shots were Palace 20 (9) Newcastle 6 (1)

Shots on target were Palace 7 (5) Newcastle 2 (0)

Corners were Palace 7 (4) Newcastle 2 (0)

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Newcastle team v Crystal Palace:

Dubravka, J Murphy (Wilson 65), Krafth, Schar, Burn, Longstaff (White 90), Bruno, Anderson (Ritchie 90), Gordon, Barnes (Hall 65), Isak

Unused subs:

Karius, Dummett, Livramento, A Murphy, Parkinson

(Was this a penalty? See for yourself, watch HERE these Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0 official highlights)

((BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Very interesting on Newcastle after 2-0 Crystal Palace defeat – Red HERE)

(Match Report – Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0 – United get what they deserved – Read HERE)

(Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 0 – Read HERE)

Newcastle United matches now confirmed for rest of the season:

Saturday 27 April 2024 – Newcastle v Sheff Utd (3pm)

Saturday 4 May 2024 – Burnley v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 11 May 2024 – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)

Wednesday 15 May 2024 – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 19 May 2024 – Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)

(The final day of the season live TV matches will be selected closer to the day but all 10 PL games will be same time same day)

Wednesday 22 May 2024 – Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG – Melbourne Cricket Ground)

Friday 24 May 2024 – A-League All Stars team v Newcastle (at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)