It's Happened Again...

After Gordon put us 2-1 up from the penalty spot "It's happened again" was the chant aimed at the Spurs fans from the Gallowgate - only for the 'It's happened again' moniker to be yet another late goal conceded by the Toon.

That brings the total number of points already lost from winning positions this season to an alarming 11 - not far off a point a game.

Eddie Howe after the match said "It's a strange one".

Not to Newcastle fans it isn't.

I bet I wasn't alone last night when 9 minutes of added time was held up to have that a guttural feeling of what was to come - an equaliser. And it was no surprise.

Yet again, as against Liverpool and Arsenal, it was a goal from a poorly defended cross that seemed to take an age to find the net.

Ramsdale failed to clear the box with a punch and was then too slow to react to Romero's overhead kick that seemed to bobble in slow motion on it's way past him.

It's a training ground issue that needs to be addressed urgently

Conceding goals is part of the game, but when you repeatedly concede goals when ahead late in the game - even at home - that smacks of poor game management.

Teams, when just a goal behind, will nearly always up their tempo and press for an equaliser and the top teams will do the same if the game is level and go for the win.

You combat that by slowing the game down and retaining possession.

What you don't do is react by sitting deep, rushing passes and challenges, and giving away cheap free kicks and corners. Exactly how we reacted last night.

Eddie's homework is a simple one this week - late play game management.

Bruno was a massive miss & another top midfielder is needed

Bruno needed a rest but was this the game to do it? Was Burnley not the game?

Whilst we had good spells in the first half, and should have gone in ahead, there was a distinct lack of drive and urgency from the middle of the park.

Miley was subdued, Jo almost non existent, which left Tonali to push all of the creativity practically on his own. That changed when Bruno entered the scene and IMO if he had started it would have given us the extra quality that we needed on the night.

Unless Miley and Ramsey can really step up their game and put in consistent quality performances we will suffer if Bruno or Tonali are out injured or suspended.

IMO we should target an older seasoned quality mid who can step up from the squad when needed - dare I say the likes of Xhaka down the road.

Beating Burnley is an absolute must

There was head shaking, frustration and despair at the whistle from Eddie, the team, the fans at SJP and those watching on Sky. This result just wasn't in the script.

Beating Burnley will ease the pain - and that is a must - but this 'in and out' season has to be turned around and the pressure is now back to full on for Eddie and the squad.

The hokey cokey of one step forward and one step back has to stop.

But... it's still three games unbeaten and 7 pts added... but if we are to genuinely make a push for the top 4/6 over the Xmas rush of games we need wins. Simple as.

Comments welcome.

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