Eddie Howe has revealed what Newcastle United were so good at last season that has been missing this year after they recorded their sixth away defeat of the season against Luton.
To find the last time Newcastle won a game after falling behind you’d have to go all the way back to April when they beat Southampton at St James Park, and the last time they did it away was the 2-1 win against Brentford.
In his press conference after the game, Howe suggested that the team have really been lacking that comeback ability this season which is starting to worry him.
Howe is ‘concerned’ at the lack of fight in this Newcastle team
While there have been some huge victories for Newcastle this season like a 4-1 win over PSG in the Champions League, we haven’t really seen the gritty side of the team that was so important last year.
Countless times it felt like Newcastle were playing their best football when their backs were against the wall and the pressure was on, but now they’ve really started to crumble.
In fact, Newcastle have been more prone to dropping points from winning positions this season with the defeat to Liverpool, a draw with Wolves, the loss to AC Milan and very recently the penalty shootout defeat to Chelsea all prime examples.
Howe is growing more and more concerned with the lack of desire in the team and the fighting spirit that was a huge reason why the club had achieved Champions League status in the first place.
If intensity is no longer their identity then it leaves Howe in a very difficult position as to how to motivate these Newcastle players.
In his interview, Howe said: “Last year there was a feeling that even if we conceded, we would potentially come back. We were never out of any game and this season we haven’t had those comebacks.
“We haven’t won enough from losing positions and these are all the hallmarks of a really top team. That’s been a concern.
“There have been reasons behind that, but I don’t want to make excuses and we can’t live in that world. We have to change it ourselves with what we have available.”
Newcastle need to be more resilient
While the ultimate aim is to play attractive, winning football, it may be time for Newcastle and Howe to return back to their basics and understand what got them in this position in the first place.
Nobody wanted to face Newcastle last season because of the reputation they earned of being a brilliantly physical side who were always going to outrun their opposition.
This year, especially against Luton, the team have looked lacklustre in all areas, losing out in key tackles and challenges. Whether or not that is due to fatigue is up for debate, but it must change now that Newcastle are out of two competitions.
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