"I didn't like us" - Eddie Howe's honest response after Newcastle United's £100m call goes wrong
Eddie Howe refused to make excuses after Newcastle United went down 1-0 to Brighton at St James' Park.
The Magpies dominated for long spells but could not find a breakthrough in the first half but even when Howe made some tweaks, in the form of £100m worth of talent emerging from the bench, Newcastle failed to get better and were not close to an equaliser that would have at least spared blushes and scraped a point.
A draw would have also maintained the unbeaten home record built up since January. But much was made after the likes of Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and William Osula were all thrown into the mix without really threatening a leveller.
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Howe told Chronicle Live: "I don't think our substitutions today necessarily helped our performance. I will give you an honest opinion. Sometimes when you make changes it elevates your team and whenever I make changes I am always looking for that outcome. For whatever reason today it didn't.
"I didn't really like us in the last 20 minutes. I don't think we chased the game particularly well."
Howe's side looked disjointed after the break and with the likes of Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon not enjoying a full week of training, it was put to the head coach that a lack of preparation may have played a part.
Howe reacted: "You can never make excuses. Every team has the same problems and issues during an international break. It is never easy because you are juggling lots of different things at the same time. Our record after international breaks has been excellent.
"I thought our performance was good, I think it was swings and roundabouts from early season when we weren't playing well when we were winning. Now we are playing much better and the results aren't there. I am always a great believer that if you continue to do the right things consistently then long-term the results will come."