Newcastle United’s struggles away from home continued as Igor Thiago’s late heroics condemned Eddie Howe’s side to another painful defeat. Thiago calmly converted from the penalty spot before adding a third goal in stoppage time, sealing a 3-1 win for Brentford.
The result left Newcastle sitting in 14th place in the Premier League table, hovering just two points above the relegation zone after 11 games and still without a single away victory this season.
For a team that once battled at the top end of the table, this sharp decline has become a growing concern among fans and pundits alike.
Eddie Howe faced the press after the defeat, admitting that confidence within his squad has dropped significantly. Following last week’s 3-1 loss at West Ham United, Newcastle once again took the lead only to collapse in similar fashion.
When asked why lessons hadn’t been learned from the previous weekend, Howe insisted that the issues were complex rather than stemming from a single cause.
He explained that the team’s current situation is “multifactorial,” suggesting that various elements mental, tactical, and physical are contributing to their poor form.
Howe was quick to defend the character of his players, emphasizing that their professionalism and attitude are not in question. “Confidence will now be an issue for sure because I think they’re honest players, really good people. They care. They want to do well,” he said.
The manager admitted that the team has “taken a few hits” recently, which has clearly affected their mindset. Still, Howe expressed belief that the experience within the squad should help them recover, urging unity in what he called a “difficult period.”
He also acknowledged that criticism is inevitable during times like this but stressed the importance of staying together and not losing faith in their process.
The defeat to Brentford not only exposed Newcastle’s lack of confidence but also reignited debate over Howe’s tactical decisions. After being criticized last week for his substitutions against West Ham, this time the spotlight fell on his reluctance to make changes early enough.
As the game unfolded, Dan Burn found himself at the center of controversy, first escaping a penalty before conceding another moments later and being shown a second yellow card. Many observers questioned why Howe did not act sooner to protect Burn or the team given the clear danger signs.
Addressing those concerns, Howe admitted that such decisions are difficult to make in real time. “Yeah, I mean, of course, we’re discussing that as the game’s going on,” he explained.
“But those moments obviously impact everything because with hindsight, you then go, well, you could have done something before that moment.” He went on to justify his decision, pointing out Burn’s importance in defending set pieces, particularly after Joelinton was forced off.
“With Dan’s height being pivotal from the set plays and with Joelinton going off, we then suddenly would have become very small. So, they’re big calls to make,” Howe said. He acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, he might have acted differently but maintained that each decision was carefully weighed in the moment.
The frustration among supporters, however, is understandable. Newcastle’s performances have not matched the standards set in recent seasons, and the team’s inability to maintain a lead has become a troubling pattern.
Howe’s men now enter the international break having suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats, with the daunting task of facing Manchester City next on the schedule.
Despite the disappointing results, Howe tried to find positives from the performance against Brentford. “My initial feeling after that game today was it’s different to West Ham,” he said.
“I think West Ham was a different kind of game today. I thought the players were there. I thought they were present. I thought they gave everything to the game physically.” Still, even he couldn’t deny what most fans could see Newcastle looked short on confidence, lacking the composure and spark that once defined them.
As the international break arrives, Howe faces the challenge of reigniting belief within his squad and rediscovering the balance that made Newcastle such a competitive force last season.
With key players underperforming and the team struggling to find rhythm, the next few weeks could be crucial in determining whether this campaign becomes a rebuilding phase or a fight for survival. One thing is certain both Howe and his players have a lot to prove when the Premier League resumes.
