Eddie Howe accepts Newcastle slump is huge worry after Bournemouth defeat

Newcastle United slumped to yet another home defeat as Eddie Howe's horrendous record against his old side in the Premier League continued.

Bournemouth outplayed Newcastle from the kick-off to the final whistle and deserved their victory; there can be no denying that.

The way the Cherries played was almost as if the tactic was simply to let Newcastle self-destruct and they'd pick up the pieces, and that's exactly what happened.

Other than a brief spell shortly after Bruno Guimaraes made his return to action for the Magpies, Newcastle never looked up for the fight at all.

Eddie Howe was adamant on Friday that he still has the fire in him to take this job on, but looking at him at full-time, we're not sure there's enough heat to fry an egg at the moment.

Eddie Howe: It’s not good enough 

Eddie Howe accepts Newcastle's recent slump is unacceptable and has criticised our lack of quality at both ends today.

The boss is determined to keep working at solutions, but accepts that our current run of form and inability to stem the tide is a growing concern. 

”Despite what other people say, I have to retain a belief in my work and my staff and what I do. But of course, I am very aware that eight defeats out of 11 is not good enough. 

“Winning games is the very simple remedy but it’s very hard to deliver. Momentum is against us and you can feel that in the big moments in games.

“There was a lack of goalmouth action from our perspective and we haven’t defended anywhere near well enough. We’re not quite there at the moment. What’s happening is systemic. I’m beginning to say the same things over and over again. That’s a great frustration.”

Speaking to NUFC TV, a defeated-sounding Howe also spoke about the differences between the two sides being that his Newcastle players didn't do enough when in attacking areas.

"They're competitive, you can see they're on a good run. But then you break down the two goals we conceded and that's not a team that's at the peak of its powers.

"The other side of the foot is that when we got the ball into dangerous attacking areas we didn't do enough with it from minute one til the end."

Has Eddie been watching at all this season?

We have five games left of this awful season, and only now has the manager realised he's got a team of shot-shy players? 

What's he been watching all season that this is the first time he's acknowledged our lack of intent at the top of the pitch?

Honestly, we're trying not to turn on the gaffer, but he's not making it easy. We want to support him, we want him to continue in the role, we can't think of many more suited to the job, but his comments recently are a worry when nothing is changing. 

You can't play the same tired tactics week in and week out and expect different results.

That being said, the players need to start shouldering more of the blame. Everyone directs their ire towards the manager, but the players seem to get off scot-free, and they're the ones out there flopping around without a care in the world. 

Today was like watching a Mike Ashley side play. Just a bunch of players doing the bare minimum in order to pick up a pay cheque. This summer can't come soon enough. Big changes are needed.