Newcastle United’s struggles on the road continued on Thursday night.
Everton, after a tight game for much of the contest, scored three late goals to beat Eddie Howe’s side at Goodison Park.
While the injury crisis and relentless schedule are perhaps mitigating factors for Newcastle, it would be dismissive to suggest they are the only reasons for their struggles away from home.
Indeed, Newcastle have take only five points away from St James’ Park all season. Their only win on the road was the 8-0 thumping of Sheffield United and the other two points came from draws at West Ham and Wolves.
Certainly an interesting quirk of the campaign, Howe was at a loss to explain it.
Newcastle news: Eddie Howe admits something about this season is “difficult” to understand
Speaking after the game at Goodison Park, Howe said (via Hayters TV): “It’s a difficult one for us to understand because last year our away form was very good.
“We were free-scoring, our defensive record was very good. This year, the Sheffield United game apart, we haven’t really got going on the road.
“It’s certainly something for us to reflect on.”
Newcastle away form: A major worry this season
While Howe has focused on making St James’ Park a fortress since taking over, the drop in away form is a major worry.
Last season, only Arsenal and Manchester City picked up more points on the road. This time around, only the bottom three and Nottingham Forest have taken fewer.
With trips to Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and of course Sunderland to come, it hardly makes for great reading.
Though players returning to the squad will obviously help, it doesn’t quite explain why Newcastle cannot take their home form away.
Little about what Howe has done since taking over would suggest he can’t fix it but it certainly is an issue to sort.
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