‘Why not change history?’ - The Eddie Howe quote Newcastle United fans will love

No team in Premier League history has survived relegation after not winning in their opening 14 matches. Can Newcastle United be the first?
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The history books are stacked against Newcastle United as they hope to fend off Premier League relegation.

But Eddie Howe’s mentality is, ‘why not change history?’

Howe side’s head into this afternoon’s crunch relegation clash with Burnley at St James’ Park without a win in their opening 14 league games.

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Indeed, all the other teams to record such a start - Swindon Town (1994), QPR (2013) and Sheffield United (2021) - have fallen into the Championship come May.

Lose to Sean Dyche’s Clarets and panic will well-and-truly set in with a brutal December fixture list to come.

However, whatever the outcome today, Howe is challenging his players to defy the odds.

‘Why not change history?

“I’m realistic but I’m also very, very positive,” Howe told reporters during his Burnley pre-match press conference.

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“I know it is going to be extremely difficult, there’s a reason why no team has done it because it’s incredibly tough but why not be the first?

“That’s always been my mindset, why not change history? That’s what we’re going to have to do. We’re going to have to do it the hard way but we’re more than capable.”

A must-win versus Burnley?

Newcastle (20th) can move level on points with Dyche’s side (18th) with three points on Tyneside.

And if results go Howe & Co’s way, the gap to safety will stand at just three points.

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On the flip side however, United could finish the weekend nine points adrift should they lose and every result go against them.

“Every game is a game we’re going into win,” Howe said. “We’re desperate for that first three points.

“(There are) so many positives to take from Tuesday, although it wasn’t the result we wanted, the manner of the performance and circumstances we had was really, really encouraging for the future.

“If we can go into this game with the same fundamentals, spirit, fight and togetherness we showed on the pitch, then I’ll back the players to get that first win sooner rather than later.”