Eddie Howe has stepped forward to defend Nick Pope after the Newcastle United goalkeeper’s costly mistake in their defeat to Marseille. The match ended in a 2-1 loss, with Harvey Barnes opening the scoring before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice to turn the game around for the French side.
The turning point came early in the second half when Pope rushed off his line in an attempt to clear a dangerous ball. He got it wrong, missed the challenge completely, and left Aubameyang with an open path to round him and bring Marseille level.
It was the kind of moment that instantly becomes the focus of the conversation, but Howe made sure to stand by his goalkeeper.
Howe admitted that conceding goals is always a concern, no matter who is involved in the mistake, but he urged for balance instead of blame. He reminded everyone of Pope’s value and the number of times he has rescued Newcastle in big moments.
Just days earlier, Pope had pulled off several brilliant saves against Manchester City, a performance that had once again highlighted his importance to the team.
Howe explained that the life of a goalkeeper brings both praise and criticism, and one wrong decision should not erase everything Pope has contributed. For him, backing his goalkeeper is the only option.
While Pope’s error naturally drew attention, Howe also pointed out that his team failed to take advantage of the chances they created. Scoring only once, despite taking the lead and finding good moments in the game, left them vulnerable.
Howe felt that the team needed to push harder for more goals, especially after going ahead. He said he would need to watch the match again to fully understand where things went wrong, but he already sensed that Newcastle did not maintain the same level of intensity they usually show.
He suggested that their pressing, which has been one of their biggest strengths under his management, lacked the force and aggression it normally carries.
That small drop allowed Marseille more space and opportunity, and against a striker as experienced as Aubameyang, those moments can quickly become decisive.
Even though the result was disappointing, Howe’s reaction made it clear that he is not interested in singling out individuals for blame. Instead, he prefers to evaluate the team as a whole, address the issues calmly, and move forward with confidence in his players.
For him, mistakes are part of the game, but unity and trust are what carry a team through difficult moments. As Newcastle look ahead to their next challenge, Howe’s message is simple: stick together, learn from the setback, and come back stronger.
