Newcastle United

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United returned from the international break and promptly lost for the first time at home since January, 1-0 to Brighton.

The performance and result have compounded the problems we have been having this season, prompting more questions than answers.

If you take social media as a litmus test of how fans are feeling, which I strongly suggest you do not, you would see an overwhelmingly negative sentiment towards Eddie Howe and the way he has us playing this season so far.

YouTube comments under our videos call for ‘Howe out’ and decry him as ‘inept’. For what it is worth, I think anyone calling Howe ‘inept’ is telling on themselves. Go back to your comprehension books! Howe may be struggling to find a creative way to break down opposition, but inept he is not.

I think the reality is that legitimate questions are being asked of Howe and his coaching staff after a run of games with no end product, a lack of intensity, and some terrible set pieces.

I am not sure that the fanbase actually is ‘Howe out'. Personally, I am definitely not. I’m not about to kneejerk my way into being managerless.

Perhaps there are limitations on what he can do. Perhaps he has been hamstrung by all the horrible acronyms we as football fans now have to think about (PSR, FFP, APT etc.). Perhaps the players we have are not fully committed.

Whatever it is, I still think that Eddie Howe deserves a chance to get it right. I also think he is technically in that chance as we speak, so the next few games are critical.

The mood could go either way for the bulk of Newcastle fans by the next international break. I just hope it is in a positive direction.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle are interested in Red Bull Salzburg's 20-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Michael asked: Feels like a strange thing to say, but Saturday was probably Newcastle’s best performance in every part of the game except scoring. Do you think it is just a matter of getting the strikers firing to start pushing on?

Phil answered: Hi, Michael. I think Saturday demonstrated just how important Alexander Isak is to Newcastle United. He is clearly still rusty after injury but he is a class act and once he is firing then their chances of moving up the table will increase greatly.

The big problem was Newcastle left themselves hostages to fortune by not signing a striker in the summer, leaving the potential problem of an Isak injury, which then happened. They cannot rely on Callum Wilson as an understudy because he spends too much time on the treatment table.

Anders asked: How safe do you feel Eddie Howe's job is at Newcastle? They didn't push on from an impressive 2022-23 last season (not qualifying for Europe) and haven't got off to the best of starts this season. With the rich, demanding owners and them almost three years into the project now, I'm surprised more hasn't been made of Howe's position.

Phil answered: Well, unless something remarkable and unforeseen happens I would say 100% safe.

I don’t think anyone could have done any better and I think he has been somewhat let down by Newcastle’s recruitment strategy.

They spent all summer focusing on a deal for Crystal Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi, which they eventually failed to do, while taking their eye off the ball for a reliable understudy to striker Alexander Isak and more creation on the right flank.

Isak then, almost inevitably, gets injured and the flaws are exposed.

Howe, though, should be safe as houses.

Follow the rest of Phil's Q&A and the rest of Monday's football news here

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Ward: Unfortunately we lacked a cutting edge and the guile needed to unlock a resolute defence. Our set pieces and corners are disappointing with little variation or creativity. This is important with the amount of box pressure we can generate.

Mike: It was very similar to the Everton game were we dominated but couldn't find the net. Again we created good chances against a resolute Brighton team and again we couldn't finish. It's so frustrating to watch, as long as we work hard and believe goals will eventually come.

Tom: Probably one of the most one sided first halves I have ever seen at St James Park. Newcastle should have been at least a couple ahead by half time. Newcastle's luck summed up with the Isak shot that hit Murphy. Shooting practice in training this week might be helpful. Right winger and a forward who can score goals are urgently required in the January sales.

Brighton fans

Philip: It was great to see a more pragmatic performance. We defended with determination as a team. Newcastle showed more intensity than us in the first half but lacked the finishing. If only we had parked the bus once we were up against Chelsea. In the second half we could have added more goals. Brighton’s flexibility and pragmatism were brilliant.

Brian: Not Brighton's most convincing or fluent performance. However, a great piece of individual brilliance from Danny Welbeck and some good defending enabled them to take all three points. Points from this type of match are vital to sustain a European challenge.

Louis: After all the chat about a high line and heavy metal football, this was a steely defensive performance that got us over the line. We all loved De Zerbi, but there was never any variation in tactics. Imagine if we had played like that against Roma. We've now played four of the big six, Newcastle and Everton away and have 15 points. Exciting times!

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Newcastle have failed to score in their last two games against Everton and Brighton

This is despite taking 35 shots, having 87 touches in the box and creating an expected goals of four.

The 1-0 home defeat to the Seagulls was the first time Eddie Howe's side have failed to score at home in the Premier League since a 0-0 home draw against Leicester in May 2023

They had 21 shots without scoring on Saturday – the first time they have registered 20 or more shots without scoring since that goalless draw with the Foxes.

Tom Gayle
BBC Match of the Day Commentator at St James’ Park

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Football comes at you fast. In the space of barley 36 hours Eddie Howe went from a pre-match press conference dominated by discussion as to why he wasn’t interviewed for the England Manager’s role, to a more humbling post-match interview with me, where for the second successive game, Newcastle’s Head Coach was trying to explain why his side failed to score during a game they had dominated.

The expected difference to the 0-0 draw at Everton was the much-anticipated return of Alexander Isak. Newcastle failed to score from open play during his three game injury absence, and if wasn’t for a) Jacob Murphy unintentionally blocking an Isak shot which appeared destined to ripple the Brighton net, or b) the performance of Bart Verbruggen, in particular his perfect execution of a starfish esque save to deny the striker, it could have been a much different story.

Last season Newcastle became the first team in Premier League history to register 80 plus goals, but also concede over 60 in one campaign. A ‘we’ll win by scoring more than you’ approach which was very unlike the Eddie Howe style we’ve become accustomed to.

This season, a strong emphasis on defensive solidity has returned. So far last month’s defeat to Fulham is the only time an opponent has managed to score more than once against Howe’s men. However offensively, compared to last year, they’ve scored 12 fewer goals at this stage of the season (8 v 20). Alan Shearer on Match of the Day said “There’s been a few things missing from Newcastle’s performances. The biggest thing is they’ve been so poor in front of goal. That has to change.”

Howe has the experience, and quality of playing personnel to turn things around in the final third. Yet given their next two league fixtures are away at Chelsea, before hosting Arsenal, things could get a little more frustrating before they get better for Newcastle fans.

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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It proved a frustrating afternoon for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle side who lost at home for the first time since January.

However, they only had themselves to blame after failing to make the most of several good chances in front of goal.

The Magpies have now not scored in open play in just under seven hours of football, albeit Alexander Isak’s performance on his return from injury suggests that wait may not continue for much longer.

Isak and Anthony Gordon - two players Howe is keen to retain well into the future, provided Newcastle’s main attacking thrust.

Sweden forward Isak linked play well and looked relatively sharp despite being unable to beat Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, when he was sent through on goal.

And with a Premier League and Carabao Cup double header against Chelsea approaching before the visit of Arsenal, Howe will need his talismanic striker to get back into the groove quickly.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Newcastle's defeat to Brighton: "I thought it was a good performance for the majority. We conceded with the first shot they had in the game. It's one of those moments where you go 'that sums football up'. That can happen sometimes when you're so dominant. One lapse in concentration cost us.

"I didn't feel we needed to totally rip up what we were doing. A goal looked like it was coming. The last 20 minutes was frustrating as we didn't put pressure on their goal. Credit to Brighton to the way we defended, but we're frustrated.

"We're going through a phase where we're not scoring, but the positive is we're creating chances.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves, it's back to hard work on the training pitch."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United have failed to score a Premier League goal at St.James’ Park for the first time since the start of last season, having scored in each of their last 22 at home; it brings to an end what was their longest home scoring run in the top-flight since a run of 24 from 1995 to 1996.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of Newcastle’s display?, external

Have your say on Brighton's performance, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

A few people out there thought Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would end up being the next England manager, but clearly that has not been the case.

Howe is doing a great job for Newcastle, though, and what a cracking game this should be. We know the way Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler plays too - like Howe, he really goes for it.

This is seventh in the table versus sixth, so these teams should be pretty well-matched, but If Alexander Isak is fit enough to feature up front for Newcastle after almost a month out, then he might just make the difference.

Kellie's prediction: This is going to be a good game. I like watching Newcastle, because I'm a big fan of Howe. 3-2.

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

There are seven matches that make up Saturday's Premier League action:

• Tottenham v West Ham - 12:30

• Fulham v Aston Villa

• Ipswich v Everton

• Manchester United v Brentford (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Southampton v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Arsenal - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Opta

With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.

Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.

Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.

Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.

Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.

At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast, Matty Renton from the Magpie Channel joins the team to chat about his interview with Magpies legend Alan Shearer.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home against Brighton (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Alexander Isak is available now his toe injury is "fully healed", while fellow striker Callum Wilson is being assessed "day to day" as he gears up to return.

• Lewis Miley returned to training over the international break: "He has looked really good - like he has not been away. It has been great to see. We will re-introduce him at the right time."

• However, Kieran Trippier will be sidelined for "a few weeks" with a hamstring issue that is "probably nothing too serious".

• Howe said his side still "haven't hit top gear" with a key run of games on the horizon: "We have been resilient and hard to beat, but we do need to find our best form to get some good results from these matches."

• On Yankuba Minteh, who left Newcastle for Brighton in the summer: "In my opinion, it was the right thing to do but it hurt to do it. No matter the narrative in the future, it was still the right thing to do. We couldn't break PSR [profit and sustainability rules] and get a points deduction. We didn't want to sell Yankuba but we had to make a decision."

• He is impressed with Fabian Hurzeler's impact at Brighton: "They've always had the patient buil up, very fluid tactically But now the progression makes them a very difficult team to play against."

• Finally, he was asked about the England job and confirmed he was never interviewed for it: "For me, it's about Newcastle and trying to win games and it's hard enough to do that if you are 100% focused. I will always remain that way to my work. If you drop your levels, then the job becomes impossible and at no stage have I allowed myself to do that."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck says the Magpies look "a lot fitter" than they did at the start of the season and believes Brighton's trip to St James' Park on Saturday could be "a lot of fun".

"Earlier this season they were not playing well but it did not look like they were fully fit," he told the Albion Unlimited podcast. "They have got a new performance director at the club called James Bunce and Eddie Howe has said they've worked together really well.

"A lot of fans have been asking the question about any kind of directive from above to just ease off in training a little bit. We've asked questions about that in press conferences.

"Eddie Howe has said that a lot of players have come back late from the summer break and international break and were just a bit sluggish at the start. What we've seen in the past couple of weeks is a team that is a lot fitter."

Both Newcastle and Brighton have picked up 12 points from their opening seven games and are side by side in the early Premier League table in sixth and seventh respectively.

Raisbeck is expecting an open and entertaining game when the two collide.

"Maybe it's just coincidental but if Newcastle are fit and aggressive like they were against Manchester City at home and Brighton come to play like they do it could be a lot of fun," Raisbeck said.

"It could be very open which the crowd will enjoy. Newcastle don't have a good record against Brighton home or away so there's always a little bit of anxiety around this fixture."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

After a strong start under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's chances of finishing fourth have increased from 19.5% to 37.1%.

Newcastle are second favourites for fourth spot at 15.1% - down slightly from 17.5% at the start of the campaign - followed by Tottenham at 14% which is up slightly from 11.6% before a ball was kicked.

Aston Villa's continued good form has seen their probability of finishing fourth go from 5.6% to 13.2%, with their most likely finish now fifth at 18.1%. Before the start of the season it was seventh or eighth, both at 11.1%.

Manchester United's poor start is reflected in their chance of finishing fourth dropping from 12.9% to just 2.1%.

Image source, BBC Sport

Which Newcastle player has made the most sprints in the Premier League so far this season?

He's also walked further than anyone else for Eddie Howe's side.

But do you know who?

Find out here