Nick Pope’s mistake cost Newcastle dear at the Velodrome with Eddie Howe accepting there is a concern
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe after the defeat to Marseille(Image: Dave Winter/Shutterstock)
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits he was concrned about Nick Pope’s second-half clanger in Marseille.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was able to slot home to make it 1-1 at the start of the second half before he went on to grab a second.
But Howe insisted that it was a team concern rather than an individual worry for the England international. Pope’s mistake came just days after a string of top notch saves against Manchester City but the star still has Howe’s backing.
When asked about the second half rush of blood, Howe said: “I think it’s a concern when we concede goals, regardless of who’s at fault. I think we have to look at everything with a balanced head.
“He saved us many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That’s the life of a goalkeeper. But I’ll certainly back him.”
Speaking after the 2-1 loss made Newcastle’s last 16 chances tougher, Howe reflected: “We got what we deserved. It was not a West Ham or Brentford.
“There are areas we can improve. These are the games we want to play in and test ourselves in.
“The second half I think we did not react to the goal. We did not react to the goal, we were on the back foot and the crowd came into it. Then we were not at our best.”
Howe said that the defeat could prove to be a learning curve but accepted that United’s flimsy lead was always going to leave them vulernable if Marseille started the second half strongly.
Howe said: “I will learn more from watching it back. We need the intent to go for more goals in games.
“The intent was there. Maybe our press was not as intense as it has been.
“1-0 is a delicate scoreline and we did not defend well enough.
“The result leaves us bruised. We have great games ahead.”
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