Bizarre comments from Eddie Howe after Man Utd 1-0 Newcastle

It’s worrying just how much this Newcastle United side can change in the space of six days.

Last Saturday’s draw against Chelsea saw Anthony Gordon record arguably his best performance of the season in the league, where the England international looked electrifying against the Blues with two assists and bags of running.

At Old Trafford, however, Gordon put in a very divisive performance, wasting two big chances, struggling to beat his man and failing to deliver dangerous balls into the box.

Where the fans will feel Gordon was poor, Eddie Howe had a different opinion after the match, offering this slightly baffling assessment:

“Anthony Gordon was our brightest player in attack. He played well, was direct and full of running.

”Yes the goal wasn't there. We need more creation, goalmouth action and to be more clinical.”

Odd comments on away issues?

Friday’s defeat makes it just a single win and only six points on the road in this season’s Premier League: a torrid trend that will look even worse if continue these kind of performances in 2026 away to the Etihad, Anfield and the Emirates.

Howe feels we’re getting ‘closer’ to turning the corner on the road, but surprised a few in suggesting it’s “irrelevant” to focus too much on the home vs away debate, believing it’s better to look at performances in isolation, wherever they may come.

“We're not ducking the issue and not trying to be clever, but I just think we just need to look at the performances in isolation. Whether they're home or away, it's irrelevant, really.

“I think it's about what the team's identity is on that day and how it plays. If it's home or away, for me, I don't really care.

“So you look back to the Chelsea game, and for 45 minutes we were excellent, everything that we want to be. Today, for the second half, I think we were as good without the goals.

”So I think we're closer, as I say, for me, than we've been before this season, but we've still got areas to improve.”