Eddie Howe now shares why he ‘didn’t really like’ his Newcastle team vs Brighton

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Newcastle United cost themselves another three points on Saturday.

While to suggest Brighton outright did not deserve their victory would perhaps be too much, few would doubt the south coast outfit were there for the taking in the opening 35 minutes or so.

Indeed, Newcastle squandered some very good chances at St James’ Park, with Alexander Isak currently looking like a shadow of his former self.

Danny Welbeck’s goal did come as a sucker punch at the time but the visitors did improve and ultimately reduced Newcastle to a lot of relatively harmless possession after growing into the game.

Eddie Howe will reportedly seek an urgent inquest into why his team are struggling to score goals but the Newcastle United manager did make a major admission after the game.

Eddie Howe explains why he “didn’t really like” his Newcastle team against Brighton

Speaking to The Northern Echo after the full-time whistle, Howe admitted his substitutions did not work.

“To be honest I don’t think our substitutions helped our performance, I’ll be the first to give you an honest opinion,” he said.

“Sometimes the opposite happens, you make changes and it elevates the team. Whenever I make changes I’m hoping for that.”

He then went on to reveal he did not like how poorly his team chased the game in the final 20 minutes or so.

“For whatever reason today it didn’t. I didn’t really like us in the last 20 minutes and we didn’t chase the game particularly well. That’s something we’ll look at.”

Newcastle have a new priority in the January transfer window

Marc Guehi was a major target for the club this summer but a move failed to come off. Naturally, the defender has been linked again.

Still, Newcastle have reportedly switched focus to trying to sign a right winger and potentially an extra striker during the January transfer window, which certainly feels like a logical move.

Their lack of goals this season is a real worry, where it was the team’s saving grace last time out.

Perhaps some of their issues go beyond the need for more attacking invention but few would doubt some fresh faces in the squad would help Howe in his quest to take Newcastle back towards the elite.