Eddie Howe said he was facing a “harsh reality” and felt “angry” with himself after watching his Newcastle team lose 3-2 at home to Brentford on Saturday evening.
It was their fourth defeat in five games in all competitions and left the Saudi Arabian-owned club 12th in the Premier League. A soundtrack of boos greeted the final whistle but Newcastle’s manager did not complain.
“I don’t blame the supporters for expressing their feelings but it’s hard to hear,” said Howe, who conducted a lengthy dressing room inquest. “I’ve got no issue with their reaction. We’ve had a run of games where we haven’t played as well as we can and got punished. There’s nothing else to do but accept responsibility for it.
“It’s not good enough and it’s been out of character. There were certain moments tonight when we didn’t defend anywhere near well enough, either individually or collectively. We only have ourselves to blame. Accepting that is the only way to improve.”
Howe appeared to blame himself as much as his players. “There’s a harsh reality for me,” he said. “I’ve got to think long and hard, not about my effort because I can’t question that about myself, but I think I’ve got to work better, I’ve got to do more.
“I’ve always said the pressure I put on myself couldn’t be more extreme because I demand really high standards and I’m obviously not doing my job well enough at the moment. I’m annoyed with myself, angry with myself and blaming myself. I’ve got to take full responsibility for everything you see on the pitch and I’ve got to work out solutions.
“Then of course I have to ask the same from the players. I have to ask them to be really honest with themselves and look at their best level, and judge how they’re playing against that now. I don’t think there’s too many that can say they’re playing towards their best. It’s a difficult moment for us.”
Howe refused to blame the exhaustion of attempting to compete on four fronts – Newcastle’s Carabao Cup defence ended with semi final defeat by Manchester City last Wednesday and they remain in the Champions League and the FA Cup – for adverse league results.
“Yes, some of our players are having to play fatigued and we’ve a lot of injuries,” he said. “But we’ve got to do better. We’ve got to take full accountability. It’s a mentality issue, I don’t think it’s an ability issue. So we have to look at ourselves and show real character and strength.”
Howe was particularly concerned that, not for the first time, Newcastle deteriorated after taking an early lead. “We’ve been worse for scoring and I don’t understand it,” he said. “Its a very, very difficult thing to work out because I think it’s all in the brain of maybe two or three players who sway the performance negatively.”
He agreed Newcastle’s trademark physical aggression was absent. “Ultimately our preferred way of playing is to go for the throat and try to control the game even sometimes off the ball with relentless pressing, with really good physical performances. But that hasn’t been there regularly enough. It only takes one or two players to be off physically for that to break down. We’re not functioning like we have done historically as a team.”
Brentford’s manager, Keith Andrews, was considerably happier after a fourth win in six Premier League games. “I’m pleased, really pleased,” he said. “There’s a feeling around the group that whoever we go up against we can win.”
