Points on the again are simply as alarming for Newcastle as their lack of targets.
After they failed to attain in every of their opening three away days this season, they may not less than again on a resilient backline to maintain a clear sheet and safe a degree towards Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth.
However Newcastle have since let in eight targets – at Brentford, Brighton and West Ham – and a staff of supposed giants finally crumbled on the Gtech.
After Sven Botman may solely flick Michael Kayode’s lengthy throw throughout his personal aim, goalkeeper Nick Pope was at sea as Kevin Schade headed his facet stage.
Guimaraes might have argued the case with referee Stuart Attwell that Pope was impeded, however the aim rightly stood and Newcastle by no means recovered.
Dan Burn was then extraordinarily lucky to not give away a penalty – the primary time round – after taking down Dango Ouattara inside the world.
However slightly than taking Burn off there after which – at a time when the 6ft 7in defender was on a yellow card – Howe opted to not.
By the point left-back Lewis Corridor lastly entered the fray, from the bench, his facet had been 2-1 down following Igor Thiago’s penalty, Burn had been despatched off for a second reserving after fouling Ouattara, and Pope had gone off with a concussion on a day Joelinton additionally hobbled off.
But Newcastle’s defending solely received worse.
Malick Thiaw failed to chop out Mathias Jensen’s by means of ball for Brentford’s third aim and the informal Botman was far too gradual to react as Thiago slotted the ball beneath substitute Aaron Ramsdale.
It introduced again reminiscences of Newcastle’s show on the Gtech at the same stage of final season, when the guests had been overwhelmed 4-2.
That bruising loss ended up proving a turning level, however nothing suggests this facet are about to embark on an almighty nine-game successful run once more.
They appear a good distance away from that.
“We take full accountability for what we’re delivering and solely we will change it,” Howe stated.
