Eddie Howe Shares What Newcastle’s Coaching Staff Were Adamant About Against Brighton

Newcastle United suffered just their second Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday, falling to a Brighton side in excellent form. While losing to such a strong team is not in itself alarming, the manner of the defeat was particularly disappointing.

Despite a much-improved second-half display, Brighton appeared vulnerable, and Newcastle had chances to capitalize. The Magpies dominated much of the first half but couldn’t convert several promising opportunities.

Alexander Isak struggled to make an impact, though he wasn’t the only player off his game.

Things could have unfolded differently. There were calls for a Newcastle penalty in the first half when Brighton’s Joel Veltman appeared to handle the ball while pressuring Lewis Hall in the box. VAR reviewed the incident but ultimately decided not to award a penalty.

After the match, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke to The Northern Echo, expressing his frustration. His coaching staff believed the penalty should have been given.

“A couple of our coaches have seen it and they’re adamant it was a penalty,” Howe said. “If I watch it back and agree, it will be a huge frustration because we were completely dominant at that stage. When you start a game like that, you need a goal to show for your efforts. That was the only thing missing in the first 35 minutes. If we were 2-0 up, we’d be talking about one of our best performances in a long time. Goals change how performances are perceived, and I have to keep some perspective on that.”

Ultimately, Newcastle have only themselves to blame. Their struggles in front of goal were glaring, and even if they had been awarded the penalty, it’s hard to say whether they would have converted it, given their poor finishing on the day.

While it’s too harsh to say there was nothing positive to take from the match, the lack of cutting edge in attack is a serious concern. What was their strength last season has now become a significant issue. If Newcastle hopes to challenge for European football this season, they must find solutions. Better finishing could have secured wins over both Brighton and Everton before the international break.