Alan Shearer ‘worried’ by Newcastle United as Eddie Howe now under pressure
Alan Shearer was left feeling just as perplexed as other Newcastle United supporters following the defeat to Manchester United.
Alan Shearer has slammed Newcastle United for their lack of quality in the final third.
A wasteful display at Old Trafford saw the Magpies lose 1-0 despite having the better chances and most of the ball. Patrick Dorgu’s first-half volley was enough to put Newcastle to the sword.
In truth, the toothless attacking performance typified the campaign overall. Eddie Howe’s men have scored just seven goals in nine away games this season - four of those against Everton.
Alan Shearer fumes at Newcastle United
Speaking about Newcastle’s defeat, Shearer said: “When you’re putting 46 crosses into the box, or attempting 46 crosses, then someone has to get on the end of them. This is a brilliant ball (Jacob Murphy in the first half). There weren’t that many great balls but this was one of them last night.
“(Anthony) Gordon or Woltemade have to get on the end of that. The movement has to be better. Same thing again here (Gordon’s chance). Gordon might be looking to score but look at the four or five Newcastle players there. There’s not one of them in the six-yard box.
“If someone is and they’re attacking that, they’re getting a tap-in. So it’s decision making as well as the lack of quality. Again that (Harvey Barnes’s ball to Gordon) has to be rolled across to Wissa.
“It’s not a difficult ball. He chooses the more difficult chance to pick Gordon out. It is worrying, there’s no doubt about it.”
Eddie Howe rues attacking mishaps
Howe - now under pressure for the first time as Newcastle manager - was left frustrated by his side’s offensive play following the 1-0 loss. He told reporters: “Away from home, we haven't done well enough in front of goal. I mean, that's obvious. Some of the games we've been really flat in front of goal.
“I think our general performances have been steadily improving but the feeling that you're going to score at any time, or you can score at any time, or that you've got goals in your team away from home is such a powerful confidence lifter for the team, and we haven't had that enough. Ultimately, that's what's cost us tonight.”
“I think you could make an argument that we should have got something from today, but ultimately we haven't, and we've had that feeling too many times on the road this year. As I said a second ago, I feel genuinely our performances have been better since the last international break, bar one big blip.
“I thought today was another step forward in terms of performance, but no one really wants to hear that. No one really wants to analyse that too deeply, because ultimately the result is the most important thing, and we're well aware of that, of the world that we live in.”