Newcastle United are set a challenge as Joe Cole sums up Eddie Howe’s biggest problem perfectly

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Newcastle United’s lack of consistency haunted them again on Tuesday night as they lost to Marseille in the Champions League.

The Magpies had gone in front thanks to a smart finish from Harvey Barnes, but will return to Tyneside with no points after a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace.

His first goal came from a Nick Pope error, with the 33-year-old making yet another mistake away from home as Newcastle United lost to Marseille.

It is an infuriating defeat for Eddie Howe, just days after he finally found a way to beat Pep Guardiola in the Premier League. Newcastle United were brilliant against Manchester City, but failed to back it up on the road.

Consistency is the major issue, with former Premier League attacker Joe Cole calling on Howe to close the gap between Newcastle’s best and worst performances.

Joe Cole criticises inconsistent Newcastle United after Champions League loss

Following Newcastle United’s defeat to Marseille on Tuesday night, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Magpies this season.

“I think the problem is there is too much of a gap between when they are at their best and when they are at their worst at the moment,” he said.

“He’s got to find a way of making that more consistent. They’ve got goalscorers: Barnes, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade. The midfield is physical. Good quality from Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali. Big physical back four. Two good goalies.

“I think this team is capable of more than what they are showing. Eddie’s got to figure it out, particularly away from home, how to get that rhythm back into the team. We’ve seen them play so well at times this season, then they fall short of it.

“They’re still in the top eight [of the Champions League]. It’s not doom and gloom.”

Newcastle United pass up ideal Champions League opportunity

As Cole says, it certainly is not doom and gloom when it comes to Newcastle United and the Champions League. They have nine points from five games, and still feel well placed to advance to the next round of the competition.

However, they would be in an incredibly comfortable position had they held on for victory at the Stade Velodrome.

Next up for the Magpies in the Champions League is Bayer Leverkusen away on 10th December. Four days later, they face Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light.

Had Newcastle United beaten Marseille, they would be in such a strong European position that they could afford to rest key players ahead of facing their bitter rivals. Alas, they squandered that opportunity.

On top of that, Newcastle have just one more away game in the Premier League before they travel to Wearside. That comes on Saturday when Newcastle face Everton at the newly built Hill Dickinson Stadium.

If they do not win on Merseyside, the Magpies will go into their game against Sunderland with zero away victories in the Premier League all season.