Eddie Howe fired reality check to Newcastle United squad immediately after beating Leicester

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United remain on course for a fantastic end to what has already been a historic season. 

Indeed, Newcastle United could yet add Champions League qualification to the Carabao Cup they won last month, which ended the infamous wait for a 70-year major domestic honour.  

Newcastle beat Leicester 3-0 on Monday night to reclaim fifth spot in the Premier League and Eddie Howe’s side now sit behind fourth-placed Chelsea on only goal difference. 

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	31	17	6	8	51	37	14	57
4	ChelseaChelsea	31	15	8	8	54	37	17	53
5	NewcastleNewcastle	30	16	5	9	52	39	13	53
6	Man CityManchester City	31	15	7	9	57	40	17	52
7	Aston VillaAston Villa	31	14	9	8	46	46	0	51

A top five finish in the Premier League table could well be enough to reach next season’s Champions League and Newcastle are on course to claim one of those spots. Crucially, they also boast a game in hand on many of the other teams also competing on that front.  

Still, the Newcastle United manager was not overly pleased with the performance at the King Power Stadium. 

Eddie Howe’s brutal reality check to Newcastle United squad

Such was the emotional energy expended on winning the Carabao Cup and then subsequently celebrating it, a potential drop-off in the League would have been a concern.

Newcastle have since taken six points from their two resulting League games, although they haven’t exactly put in vintage performances.  

Sandro Tonali’s wonder goal against Brentford edged a tight game that could have gone either way and even that was fortunate. Tonali admitted he was attempting a cross against Brentford rather than a genuine shot on goal.  

Leicester, meanwhile, are in absolutely dire form and little can be taken from beating them, particularly after Newcastle got reasonably sloppy in the second-half.

Clearly, there is no cause for immediate alarm but Howe was keen to fire something of a reality check to his players ahead of huge games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

Speaking to the BBC immediately after the full-time whistle, he said: “I don’t think we were at our very best today. We certainly need an upturn in performance if we’re going to win the next three.” 

Newcastle United backed for Champions League qualification

Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle will reach the Champions League, largely due to the fact they have that aforementioned game in hand.  

Craig Bellamy believes Newcastle will finish higher than Nottingham Forest too, so it seems there is a real belief Howe’s team will do it.  

Still, the Toon boss is right to warn his team that things must improve. They will be favourites for Sunday’s showdown but Palace and Villa will not be easy to overcome.

If they can get through this period without dropping too many points, however, then a return to Europe’s grandest stage looks likely.