Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe delivers a speech as he attends a press conference at the Parc des Princes Stadium in western Paris on January 27, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 8 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe delivers a speech as he attends a press conference at the Parc des Princes Stadium in western Paris on January 27, 2026, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League first round day 8 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle United: Eddie Howe has had his say on his side’s latest Premier League defeat.
William Osula’s first-half opener was cancelled out by a late brace from Jean-Philippe Mateta as Palace leapfrogged Newcastle in the table.
The Magpies now sit 14th in the table with six games left to play, having now dropped 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League - the most of any Premier League side.
Eddie Howe reacts
It was a similar story to Newcastle’s previous Premier League defeat against Sunderland where they were leading 1-0 at the break only to lose 2-1 with the opposition scoring a last-minute winner.
“Yeah, I mean, those numbers are incredible, really, and it's blighted our season, the fact that we haven't been able to sort of consolidate really good passages of the game, but go on and score more goals and continue to attack,” Howe admitted.
“I think I've said many times that's not the tactical instruction we give the players. We don't want to go 1-0 up and change to a mentality of defending, but we've done it.
“So I can't say it hasn't happened. But then if you are going to defend, we have to defend better than we did. We gave a few chances, but we still look vulnerable towards the end of the game, and that's hugely disappointing.”
Tough games to come
Next up for Newcastle is Howe’s former club AFC Bournemouth at St James’ Park on Saturday. The Magpies boss has never beaten the Cherries in the Premier League in seven attempts.
And Newcastle are running out of time to save their season.
“I don't know in terms of where [the defeat at Palace] leaves us, I've not digested that,” Howe added. “I think where it leaves us is we're desperately disappointed to lose again. We have to respond, we've got games to come, and then we need to win.
“I think you always have to try and improve what you're doing, and of course there are moments where you need to change, but I think that can be very difficult for the players to do mid-season, and we've got six games left, I think that might be negative.
“I think improving what we deliver is huge, and I think there's a real willingness from the players to do that. I don't see a team with a bad attitude, I see a team with a good attitude that's just struggling with confidence.
“I don't think we're seeing the very best of the individuals within the team. Some players are just back from injury and will continue to get better, no doubt about that, but we're not where we want to be, we're well aware of that, and that worked for me today.”
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