Eddie Howe's big message ahead of Newcastle vs Man Utd and season-defining March

For a few weeks now, so many of our league games have been dubbed a 'must-win.'

Sometimes, that tag hasn't been entirely accurate, but it has never applied more heading into tonight's game against Man Utd, with our slim prospects of European qualification (via the league) being on the line after last night's results left us eight points behind Brentford in 7th and seven behind Everton in 8th.

With that and our recent struggles in mind, Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media ahead of tonight's 8.15pm kick-off at St James' Park.

Discussing our struggle for consistency and behind-the-scenes response to Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Everton - our fourth straight home defeat domestically - Howe had this to say:

"We want to be consistent. We want to be our best in every game so it's a frustration for all of us. We are trying to find solutions to every problem we have."

"We have to get the focus in the right areas. The focus has to be on what we can do better and we try to bring it back to what can help the players and our next performance.

"The players and my staff did a really good job of trying to bring it back to that. We did some good work on the training pitch (on Monday), one of the rare opportunities we've had to do that, and today (Tuesday) will be the same.

"It's highlighting themes and mentality to our performance that will help us in our next run of games. They are all pivotal games. The games we have, we have to try and be positive and relish those games."

The boss then revealed the mentality he is trying to get across ahead of not only tonight's game, but a vital run of March fixtures that will see us take on Man Utd, Man City, Barcelona, Chelsea and Sunderland across the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

His message was clear. "Attack them", play with no fear and be proactive in our approach, not reactive:

"Our intention in every game is to get into them, be a proactive team rather than a reactive team. Attack them. They (Man Utd) have tweaked things tactically; they have a really good atmosphere there.

"You can see an upturn in their general performance; they have some really good players. It is a chance for us to rediscover our best form at home.

"We can’t play with any fear, need to go and attack the games and be as positive as we can be."

 

Howe also discussed the touch schedule and injuries that have come at the wrong time, but insisted that must put off-field challenges aside and defend better as a team:

"The team we have is a very good team, but we need to defend better collectively, and that is on us as a whole team.

"We have been slightly unlucky with injuries, that is tough for any team to absorb, especially when you are playing every three days.

"We have been put in a position where we haven’t had the luxury to rotate which has impacted our performances.”

Let's hope Howe can find the answers and the lads can pull together, with tonight's match a defining moment in our league campaign after a run of costly defeats at home to Aston Villa, Brentford and Everton.