Alan Pardew has leaped to Eddie Howe’s defence following Newcastle United’s dismal 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.
Alan Pardew has defended Eddie Howe after Newcastle United surrendered against Sunderland.
Anthony Gordon’s early goal had Tyneside buzzing inside 10 minutes. With many expecting the floodgates to open - the opposite happened as the Black Cats developed a foothold in the game.
As the match wore on, Newcastle looked nervous, leggy and out of ideas going forward. Sunderland capitalised, equalising on 57 minutes through Chemsdine Talbi before Brian Brobbey silenced St James’ Park in stoppage time.
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Alan Pardew defends Eddie Howe
Large sections of Toon fans called for the manager’s head on social media at the full-time whistle. The pressure has ramped up on Howe intensely for the first time in his four-and-a-half-year reign.
Speaking to talkSPORT, former Newcastle boss Pardew leaped to his defence, comparing the situation to the 2012-13 campaign when European football also impacted the Premier League form. He said: “I just can't imagine how dark it is because you have the build-up to it. Every person you meet in every walk of life, whether you're putting petrol in your car, anything, they're all talking about the derby. ‘Are we gonna win at the weekend? What are we going to do? You’re going to win’.
“All the radio, all the media, all the questions and then, of course, if you lose it then that all comes tumbling down onto a massive, massive negative and, unfortunately, going into the international break, that's a big bitter pill for him and his staff. They have to wear that.
“It's a tough old year for Newcastle but I have to defend him because I know when I was there, we had a much lower budget and a much lesser (quality) squad. When we went into Europe, we had a really difficult season. He's having the same kind of season at the level that his finances are at in terms of the impact of the Champions League.”
Alan Pardew questions Newcastle United signings
Pardew also suggested Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade are now having a “negative” impact on the team. He added: “The two big signings are starting to have an impact in a negative way.
“What they did in the summer, the boys they've brought in haven’t really taken the team forward. (Sandro) Tonali, (Bruno) Guimaraes and all that are (still) leading the charge there. That's a bit of a worry for all Newcastle fans everywhere.”
Eddie Howe committed to Newcastle United
Howe insisted that he remains the right man to leave the Magpies when grilled by the media. In a candid admission, the 48-year-old took full responsibility for the derby defeat, absolving his players of criticism.
“I’m fully committed to the job,” Howe said. “I’m disappointed in my delivery today and my delivery in the last week. The Barcelona game was very tough, today is even tougher.
“I always, as I said after the Brentford game, absorb that blame myself, I don’t look to deflect it anywhere else, certainly won’t deflect it to my players. I want to protect my players. That’s how I look at it. It’s going to be a tough, painful few days for me.”
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