Newcastle were well beaten by West Ham but Eddie Howe will demand the truth from his players in a team meeting this week
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe speaks to his players
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Eddie Howe will ask his players if they felt that their performances were up to scratch against West Ham and wants his Toon stars to take accountability of their loss at the London Stadium.
The picture quickly changes from Premier League commitments to the bright lights of the Champions League again with Athletic Bilbao on Tyneside this week. But Howe has made it clear what he wants to see from Newcastle next.
The Hammers could not believe their luck as Newcastle backed off after going a goal up on what was supposed to be a day of protest for the East London side. Instead, the alarm bells were ringing for Howe's side as they imploded just days after celebrating a Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle players had been all smiles after the win over Spurs but that upbeat demeanor did not transfer to Sunday. Howe was asked if there was a certain tone he was searching for as preparations for Athletic Bilbao began.
Howe told Chronicle Live: "However their faces are when they come in, I want to see a response, and I want to see honesty. That is what we have built our success on, that quality (honesty).
"In terms of what they have delivered in this game, and then to go and put it right if it is not the level they want it to be. We will work together on that.
"But it is really important we don't over-react to one performance. It is also very important that we are honest with each other."
Newcastle have been accused of looking lethargic by club legend Alan Shearer, which was a shock given he had rested several players in midweek against Spurs.
Howe was asked about whether his team were focused well enough as they went in against a West Ham side that were there for the taking.
Howe said: "I saw the focus before the game. I didn't see this coming in terms of our performance, which makes it harder to read because sometimes you can have a feeling going into a game because you are not quite where you are meant to be. I didn't feel that and thought we were ready to perform.
"That's football and that is why the game is fascinating and so elusive at the same time. You are always trying to catch the sweet spot and hoping the players are ready to perform.
"You can never think you have all the answers. It is such a game that can twist and turn. For us, it has changed negatively in a very quick time; now we have to turn it and flip it back the other way in a quick time too."
After fans battled through disruptions and the sheer terror of the LNER stabbing incident, Howe had a word for the fans heading back to the North-East last night.
He said: "I know it has been very difficult, and I really feel for them in so many different ways. We weren't able to give them a performance that justified that journey. We are determined to put that right."
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