‘Awful’ - Alan Shearer says what every Newcastle United fan is thinking after Sunderland defeat
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Newcastle United latest news: Eddie Howe and Alan Shearer have reacted to Newcastle United’s defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Alan Shearer has described Newcastle United’s performance against Sunderland as ‘awful’ after his former side were beaten 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in the first Wear-Tyne derby of the season.
The Black Cats’ win was secured following an own goal by Nick Woltemade, but in truth, the Magpies’ fate was sealed long before that goal after an abject first-half performance. Eddie Howe stressed the need for his side to play the game, rather than the occasion, in the build-up to the match, whilst the visitors, harnessing the Stadium of Light crowd, simply outran and outfought their opponents.
It was a performance that Newcastle United fans have become all too familiar with watching on the road this season and one that Shearer was not impressed with. Taking to X, the Premier League’s all-time record scorer wrote: ‘Offered nothing up front at all. Awful. Miles off it for a derby game. #SUNNEW’.
Defeat on Wearside leaves the Magpies sat 12th in the Premier League table and six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea - the side they host in their final league match before Christmas next weekend.
Eddie Howe reacts to Newcastle United’s defeat to Sunderland
Even with late heartbreak sprinkled into their campaign, none of their five prior defeats in the Premier League this season have felt as bad or as heavy as Sunday’s. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Howe described defeat at the Stadium of Light as a ‘horrible feeling’.
“It was not our finest game,” United’s head coach said. “The effort was there but the quality was not. It was a game of really few chances decided by a freak goal and we could not create the opening we wanted.
“The goal came at a really bad time and was bad in its construction - Nick has not meant to do it but it has decided the game. I thought we had defended pretty well.
“The quality was missing in both halves, we were disappointed with our creative output. There was more intensity and more bravery on the ball after the changes without creating the chances and their goalkeeper was not overworked.
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“We know how much this means and all the focus on today was huge. We tried to deliver our best performance and we haven't done that. We feel disappointed in ourselves and that we left something on the pitch and that's a horrible feeling.”
The fixture schedule continues to be relentless for the Magpies as they now have just over 72-hours to recover from their defeat on Wearside when they host Fulham at St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup. The holders of the League Cup have played in four consecutive quarter-finals and will not want to see their reign as champions ended prematurely in front of their own fans on Wednesday night.
There will also be a focus on Dan Burn’s injury issues heading into that game after he was taken off during the first-half of Sunday’s game. Burn suffered a rib injury following a challenge by Nordi Mukiele.