Tottenham beat Newcastle United in resounding fashion on Sunday.
Newcastle’s difficult week and struggles on the road continued as Spurs thumped them 4-1, leaving Eddie Howe’s side with just the one away win in the Premier League all season.
Their inability to match their home form on the road is something Howe admits he is struggling to explain.
Clearly, the injury crisis cannot be ignored but putting everything on that feels like a reasonably cheap way out.
To his credit, Howe has refused to do so. It would be equally as foolish not to suggest it plays some part but Newcastle should still have given a better account of themselves at both Everton and Spurs.
A 7-1 scoreline across two games is hardly an accurate reflection of a team who want to be challenging for the Champions League spots.
Sunday’s opponents, after all, have a number of injury issues themselves, albeit they are not having to juggle Champions League duty too.
After the game, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou sent a classy message about Newcastle’s injury crisis.
Tottenham 4-1 Newcastle: Ange Postecoglou sends Eddie Howe message
Speaking after the game, Postecoglou compared the situations of the two clubs.
“It’s no coincidence that now we’re getting some players back, we’re starting to look a little bit stronger,” he said (via Hayters TV).
“I’m not going to speak on Eddie Howe’s behalf but I can see what he’s going through.
“In this league, you have one or two key players out, you’re going to struggle.”
Newcastle injuries: Light at the end of the tunnel
Perhaps the only positive to Sunday’s game was the fact both Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson got back on the pitch.
Sven Botman, meanwhile, has made positive noises about his return too, so at least the crisis appears to be easing somewhat.
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