Eddie Howe faces watershed week with Newcastle’s progress stalling | Louise Taylor
Carabao Cup tie with Chelsea comes with club’s dreams of major silverware being undermined by financial restraints
As Sandro Tonali trudged towards the touchline Eddie Howe looked momentarily puzzled. Then comprehension dawned. As boos, albeit a gentle smattering, greeted his decision to withdraw the Italy midfielder, Newcastle’s manager received a reminder that the widespread adoration he commands on Tyneside is no longer unconditional.
It was last Saturday at St James’ Park and, with 65 minutes gone, Newcastle were heading towards a 1-0 defeat against Brighton. If the outward show of dissent was muted, plenty of home supporters disagreed with the decision to replace the influential, if tiring, Tonali. Significantly, a manager who prides himself on an ability to read the room conceded his introduction of Joe Willock had failed to exert the desired effect.
