'We didn't look right' - Eddie Howe rues 'killer blow' as Newcastle slump to Fulham defeat
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Published 21/09/2024 at 19:18 GMT
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe was frank in expressing his disappointment in his side's "character" and "body language" as they "didn't look right" in the first half of their 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Raul Jimenez put the hosts in front just five minutes into the match, a goal which Howe described as a "killer blow".
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Eddie Howe expressed his disappointment in the manner of Newcastle United's 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage, saying his side "didn't look right" in a "poor" first half.
Raul Jimenez opened the scoring for the hosts on five minutes - a goal Howe described as a "killer blow" for his team - and the Newcastle boss highlighted his side's change in "attitude" and "body language" in the second half.
Emile Smith Rowe made matters worse for the visitors mid-way through the first half, and while Harvey Barnes scored for a third consecutive match soon after the break, Howe's side could not forge a comeback - with Reiss Nelson capping off the scoring in stoppage time.
Howe was particularly critical in his assessment of his side's showing in the opening 45 minutes.
"Physically we didn't look quite right today," he told BBC Sport. "We looked leggy in our defending.
"They're a good team if you give them space, we gave them too much, so I have to look at it before fully analysing it.
"We have to start the game better, we have to be more on the front foot and more dominant in our performance."
Asked whether Newcastle lost the match in the first half, Howe said: "I think we did.
"[It was a] slow start from us I think, first goal is a killer blow for us. It's a poor goal to concede, we need to do much better.
"The first half was difficult for us - I thought we looked stretched in our defending. Second half much better. We score a goal [to make it] 2-1 with a long time to play; you feel we could turn the game around. We had our chances in that period, but ultimately the third goal kills the game."
Fabian Schar had a golden chance to pull Newcastle level when he won the ball from Smith Rowe on the edge of the box at 2-1 down. But the defender failed to compose himself and sliced wide.
Howe added there was a notable improvement in his side's "character and attitude, body language" in the second half.
He said: "We won the ball back high, Fabian had the chance to score and unfortunately for us he doesn't take it.
"Games do swing on big moments, but the character and attitude, body language much better in the second period we have to take our lessons from the first half."
Fulham have made an impressive start to the campaign and sit in eighth after the victory having not lost in the league since their opening-day 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Cottagers manager Marco Silva believes his side should have more than eight points on the board, and said they need to be more "clinical".
"It was a great, great first half and we created many problems for them," he said.
"It was the same against West Ham [last weekend], we scored just one when we should have scored three or four. This was the same.
"In the Premier League you have to be clinical. These two goals were enough to win the game today.
"We are feeling clear and we are pleased. We should have more points to be honest.
"But the performances are good and you can see how this team is growing. We have been showing quality."
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