Eddie Howe and his players received quite a hostile reception when the full-time whistle blew at St James’ Park as the Tyne-Wear derby finished Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland.
It was another gutless performance by the Magpies, who suffered yet another second-half collapse, just days on from our capitulation at the Nou Camp.
An early goal from Anthony Gordon was a good start, but Newcastle soon hit the metaphorical snooze button, allowed Sunderland to play around them and conceded twice with no reply, as Brian Brobbey’s 90th-minute strike ensured a disastrous defeat for Eddie Howe, who took the blame in a painful post-match interview.
The bad mood was exemplified at full-time when boos rang around the stadium from those still in their seats.
Then, as the players and Eddie Howe did their lap of dishonour, audible boos continued, as shown below in a post-match video from the Gallowgate End.
Don’t have any words right now, will put thoughts up next week. Big shouts from the gallowgate. #nufc pic.twitter.com/E1HaawEYQz
— Joel Bland (@JoelBlandSport) March 22, 2026
We now go into a two-week break on the back of two of the most damaging defeats of the season, leaving the players under fire and Howe in his toughest moment yet as manager of Newcastle.
The Newcastle gaffer has to wait a fortnight before he can even get the opportunity to make amends.
That being said, two weeks off from club football might be just what we all need right now. It has been a relentless schedule, and it’s clearly taking a toll on the players.
With us dipping out of the Champions League, we also get midweek training sessions back, so that will hopefully bring about some new ideas and allow a few struggling players to find their place within the side.
It’s a big ask, but Newcastle really need to win every game between now and the end of the season, and having midweeks off should give us the best chance of doing that. If they can pick themselves up off the floor after this week.