Newcastle United evening headlines as Eddie Howe sends ‘ruthless’ message to squad
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Howe’s ‘ruthless’ message
Eddie Howe admits defeat at Brighton is a warning Newcastle cannot allow their Champions League adventure to distract from the “ruthless” Premier League. The Magpies are back in the group stage of European football’s premier competition for the first time in 20 years and travelled to the Amex Stadium having been drawn to face heavyweights AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund.
But anticipation of those upcoming fixtures was swiftly tempered by a third successive top-flight loss as a hat-trick from 18-year-old Evan Ferguson earned the Seagulls a 3-1 success. Manager Howe, whose side were beaten 2-1 at home by 10-man Liverpool last weekend following a 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, accepts responsibility for the mini slump but insists he will not over-react.
“It’s never been lost on me how difficult the Premier League is,” he said. “I know how tough a league it is, it’s ruthless, so if you get your focus swayed, you’re going to have big problems – I don’t think our focus has been.
“We’ve tried to very much concentrate on our next match, that will always be our focus and we’re determined to be successful in the league this year and win as many games as possible. But we know the demands placed upon us are going to be extreme so this is a warning, I think, that we can’t be swayed and the Premier League is a very tough division. We’ve lost three in a row and we have to take responsibility for that. It’s important that I don’t over-react.”
Ferguson admission
Brighton’s hat-trick hero Evan Ferguson admitted it was an ‘unbelievable’ feeling following the win over Newcastle. Ferguson’s first senior hat-trick was the third in the Premier League on Saturday after trebles for Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Tottenham forward Son Heung-min.
“It’s a good day,” he told Brighton’s website. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. “It’s not bad company to be in; Haaland’s record last season (52 City goals in all competitions) and Son’s been doing it for a number of years, so it’s good company to be in.”
head of kick-off, the Seagulls paraded 20-year Spain forward Ansu Fati following his deadline-day loan switch from Barcelona.
“He’s going to be great for the squad, especially as competition,” said Ferguson. “It’s tough up that area of the pitch and he’s going to be another one chucked in there and I reckon he’ll be very good for it.”
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