Anthony Gordon left the pitch to a series of boos at St James’ Park as Newcastle United lost 3-2 to Everton on Saturday afternoon.
Eddie Howe reacted to the boos that took place at St James’ Park as Anthony Gordon was substituted off the pitch for Newcastle United against Everton.
Gordon had conceded possession in the build-up to Everton’s late winner moments earlier as Newcastle suffered a 3-2 Premier League defeat.
The Magpies had twice come from behind to equalise only to be undone by individual errors that gifted Everton goals.
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Eddie Howe reacts to Anthony Gordon boos
In the closing stages of the match, Gordon, who is Newcastle’s top scorer this season with 14 goals to his name, was taken off to be replaced by William Osula for the closing stages of the match.
The substitution announcement was met by a series of boos across St James’ Park. The Everton supporters had been booing their former player throughout the match, but this time the home fans joined in.
Though it was unclear whether the boos were directed at the player himself or the decision to take him off when Newcastle needed a goal.
When asked about it, Howe responded: “Yes, I genuinely wasn't aware of that. I think in every moment like that, if that is the case, we've got to try and stick together.
“Anthony's been brilliant for us in recent weeks, so I certainly back him and support him.”
Gordon has scored 10 times in the Champions League for Newcastle this season but has been limited to just three Premier League goals, two of which have been penalties.
More boos for NUFC
And after three successive league defeats at St James’ Park, boos are becoming a regular occurrence for the first time since Howe took charge.
Newcastle were booed off the pitch at half-time and full-time in the recent 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford. And on Saturday there were boos at full-time once again.
On the boos after Brentford, Howe said: “Yes, obviously not what we want. It is hard, but I don't blame the supporters for expressing their feelings. I think we've created that ourselves to a point with a run of games where we haven't played as well as we can.
“We've defended poorly and we've got punished and there's no other thing to do than accept responsibility for it.”
Anthony Gordon linked with Newcastle United exit
Scenes of Gordon being booed off at St James’ Park come after the forward was subject to fresh transfer speculation in the week building up to the Everton match.
The Sun claimed that Gordon will be a target for Arsenal during the summer window.
The transfer exit speculation has been played down by Gordon himself, the noise will only intensify should Newcastle’s on-field struggles persist.
“I have gone through enough transfer stuff now to know that it is all a load of rubbish,” Gordon said after the win away to Qarabag last week.
“I am focused on me and focused on the team, I am focused on right now. You look too far in the future and you start to underperform. And believe me I have done that [before] and I am not going to do that now.”
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