Newcastle United continue to be their own worst enemy at times.
Indeed, offered the chance to put pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League’s top four, Newcastle simply blew it.
Newcastle lost 2-1 to Fulham despite taking the lead at home. While the Cottagers are no doubt a good side, Eddie Howe’s side should be expecting to win home games in which they have the advantage.
That’s now two consecutive defeats at St James’ Park, which doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence ahead of Wednesday’s huge Carabao Cup semi-final second leg showdown with Arsenal.
This is a result that will take some processing. Taking nothing away from Fulham, but Newcastle really should be seeing that out. The lack of intensity at times was pretty staggering.
Such was the level of frustration, Anthony Gordon’s post-match reaction sums things up.
Anthony Gordon’s reaction to Newcastle’s defeat to Fulham is telling
As reported by The Chronicle, Gordon fell to his knees and looked inconsolable after the full-time whistle.
It was such a frustrating afternoon during which Newcastle only really got going in the first few minutes and then again briefly after Jacob Murphy scored the opener.
Gordon is right to have been frustrated. This is the kind of thing that could cost Howe’s side qualifying for the Champions League.
The race is tight and there is little room for error.
Eddie Howe should question his Newcastle players again
Howe questioned his Newcastle squad following the defeat to Brentford last month, which ultimately led to the recent unbeaten streak.
Though clearly there’s no guarantee that will work again, performances like that one perhaps underline the need to ask more questions.
The manner of the performance was much more frustrating than the result. There are ways to lose games and that wasn’t one of them.
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