"A real problem" - Howe doesn't hold back after Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth

After nine straight wins, a brilliant end to 2024 and superb start to 2025, Newcastle United suffered their first defeat since early December after being totally outplayed by Bournemouth.

We went into it hoping to bolster out top-four hopes, see Eddie Howe become the first Toon boss to win 10 in a row and for Alexander Isak to edge closer to Vardy's record of goals in 11-straight league games, but we got nothing of the sort.

As good as Bournemouth were, it was a pretty woeful display all over the pitch and full of misplaced passes.

Howe reacts to 4-1 defeat

Speaking to the media after the game, Howe didn't exactly hold back in his assessment, saying we were "devoid of energy" and "off it in every area" of the pitch.

"We didn't have total control in any phase. They were better than us and never allowed us to find our rhythm. That is not the level we have played at. We were devoid of energy. I don't think any of our game survived. We were off it in every area."

"Technically and physically we weren't the team we have been. We were off. We started slowly and didn't ever play with the intensity we usually do. I don't think we ever had control of that game today.

"(There was) a real problem athletically. You could see we were fatigued and never really recovered from a poor start to the game and ultimately a lot to reflect on from me.”

Howe continued, picking out our conceding of possession in bad areas: "We played in areas that we usually don't. We lost the ball quite a lot in the middle of the pitch. It is disappointing. We've been on a great run so we just need to dust ourselves down and go again."

Burn's post-match message

Dan Burn has also reacted to the result and performance, accepting we "got outworked" by a Bournemouth side who were better than us "all over the pitch."

“Really disappointing day. Bournemouth were better all over the pitch. We got outworked which was the most disappointing thing for us.”

“I’d say to the fans to just keep getting behind the team. We’ve been on a great run. We haven’t performed the way we wanted to today but we’ll continue to do well and we’ll come again.”