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Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon was among three players hooked by Eddie Howe at half-time versus West Ham United.
Eddie Howe’s side took the lead in the fourth minute through Jacob Murphy and were widely tipped to go and win the game from then on with the Hammers 19th in the table and without a home win since February.
But that did not transpire and the hosts went into the interval 2-1 up following Lucas Paqueta’s long-range strike and an own goal from Sven Botman.
Newcastle United dealt Anthony Gordon injury concern
Angry with what he witnessed in the first half, Howe rang the changes at half-time with Gordon, Nick Woltemade and Emil Krafth replaced by Jacob Murphy, Will Osula and Fabian Schar.
While the triple change was thought to be tactical, Howe revealed after the game that Gordon had been feeling his hip.
He told Sky Sports: “I just felt the feel of the team was wrong and needed to try and get some energy on the pitch. We were lacking in physicality today.
“Anthony was feeling his hip slightly. There were some tactical changes there as well to try and get a different feeling on the pitch.”
Gordon has struggled to perform in the Premier League this season but the same cannot be said about the Champions League, with the 24-year-old the club’s top scorer in the competition with four goals.
Eddie Howe explains Newcastle United half-time changes v West Ham United
Howe admitted he ‘almost could have taken anyone off’ at half-time. The changes did not have the desired effect as United barely threatened an equalise before Tomas Soucek added a third for West Ham in stoppage time.
“I was really disappointed with the first half,” Howe said. “It started so well, we scored early and we thought we could really grab hold of the game from that moment, but we didn't and let it slip away. The longer that half went on, the more frustrated I was with our performance and we were unrecognisable in certain aspects of our game.
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“I made the change to try and bring some energy and a different dynamic to the team, a different feeling and different relationships on the pitch. I thought we were better in the second half, I don't think we were particularly great though, hence why we didn't get back in the game.
“That was the frustrating thing about the first half, I almost could have taken anyone off and I think that was a reflection of where we were in that moment in the game.
“It's very, very rare for me to feel that way. In fact, I don't think I have since I've been manager at Newcastle. I felt the team needed some shaking up at half-time, that's why I did what I did.”
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