Eddie Howe answers back to Alan Shearer’s furious Newcastle United rant in spectacular style

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Newcastle United have been relentless for the past five months.

It has been a special period for Eddie Howe and his team. Newcastle United won the Carabao Cup to end their trophy drought, and that might not be the only thing the Magpies achieve this season.

Newcastle are favourites for Champions League qualification, as they aim to return to Europe’s elite competition.

To win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League will be incredible, in a season where it took Newcastle United a long time to find their groove.

In fact, they were heavily criticised back in December.

Alan Shearer hammered Newcastle United in December

At the start of the season, the Magpies were massively inconsistent.

That was summed up by a 4-2 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on December 7th.

Just three days earlier, Newcastle drew 3-3 with Liverpool at St James’ Park. In truth, Eddie Howe’s side deserved to win that game against the team that has gone on to become Premier League champions.

The contrast between the Liverpool and the Brentford game was frightening, and it resulted in Alan Shearer criticising Newcastle United for their lack of consistency.

“I’m slightly worried about what I’m seeing from Newcastle,” he said.

“I know they were brilliant against Liverpool. They were really competitive, edgy, had energy and everything. But you can’t just turn up in those big games. That’s what Newcastle are doing and I don’t like the look of that. It doesn’t sit easy with me.

“You can’t get away with not working at home in front of your own fans against the big teams. Their results against Man City – draw, beat Arsenal, Liverpool – draw, they beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, beat Tottenham at home. Big games at home, you have to turn up at St James’ Park, otherwise the fans won’t accept it.

“But you can’t do what they did at the weekend. You can’t not work hard. Defensively they were a shambles against Brentford. I know they’ve got really good players up front at Brentford with Mbeumo and Wissa. They’re really good and exciting, but the way Newcastle defended and the lack of energy and pressing didn’t sit easy with me.”

Newcastle United need one last push for Champions League qualification

Since that rant from Alan Shearer, Newcastle United have played 26 times in all competitions. They have won 20 of those games.

That form took them to Wembley and saw them lift the Carabao Cup. It has also put them on the brink of Champions League qualification.

Newcastle have found the consistency they were missing, particularly in recent weeks. Despite not being able to make many changes to the starting XI, the Magpies have won seven of their last eight games. During this period, Howe’s side have been ruthless.

While the Aston Villa display was disappointing, Howe can be delighted with the level his side have been able to play at over a period of almost five months.

That is why they are in the position they are right now.

With four games to to, Newcastle United need one more push to finish in the top five and return to the Champions League.