Eddie Howe faces Newcastle crisis talks after boos as Yoane Wissa leaves alone | Football | Sport

Eddie Howe did not avoid the post-match lap of appreciation at the final whistle against Bournemouth despite enduring a third consecutive Premier League loss. However, those laps are becoming shorter with each passing week, and after they were met with boos from the Gallowgate End after Sunderland, Howe and his Newcastle United coaching staff stopped well before reaching the final third of the pitch on this occasion as supporters began to filter out.

Howe had pledged to battle on in the build-up to the match and had hoped his squad would embrace that mindset. Yet they turned out to be empty promises, and this loss yet again exposed significant problems within the squad. The £69million club record signing Nick Woltemade cannot get anywhere near earning a starting berth in his natural position, £55m signing Yoane Wissa turned up at the ground by himself and departed alone without featuring, and far too many players gave up.

Speculation later emerged that Howe had been detained by Toon officials to explain the result. Those claims are believed to be inaccurate, with Howe instead conducting his standard post-match review with sporting director Ross Wilson and performance director James Bunce.

But crisis talks are expected at the end of this season. The pre-match plan was that a sober analysis of Howe’s performance as boss will be undertaken once the campaign ends. And with five fixtures remaining, that seems to remain the case.

The full-time jeers were clearly audible to CEO David Hopkinson and Wilson in the executive seats. Wilson was seated alongside the club’s head of football strategy and former Sunderland and Hibernian manager Jack Ross for Saturday’s fixture.

As matters stand, an end-of-season performance review is on the cards. Howe was unequivocal in his assessment, telling journalists: “We are not delivering what we want and we have to accept that. I’m beginning to say the same things as well, and that’s a huge frustration for all of us, and that’s the players feeling that frustration as much as anyone else.”

The concern at the turn of the year on Tyneside was that the cup form was merely masking deeper problems. With both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns brought to an end by Man City weeks ago, the Champions League elimination at the hands of Barcelona cast a harsh light on the true condition of their squad.

Newcastle‘s highest Premier League position this calendar year was sixth, following the 4-3 victory over Leeds. Since then, however, Newcastle have claimed just two top-flight victories at St James’ Park. They have been defeated in eight of their last 11 Premier League outings and have suffered more losses than any other side in the division since.

The Premier League’s dreaded form table makes for grim reading too, with Newcastle sitting fourth bottom, level on points with Wolves since match day 23, with only goal difference keeping them above the relegation zone.

It was a player heading towards the Newcastle exit door who was left to face the music after the match. Toon players now have the choice to sidestep reporters, with one nominated player brought forward to speak to the media following the game.

Kieran Trippier accepted that duty after the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth and acknowledged he would shoulder the criticism. Trippier said after the game: “We’re so disappointed and frustrated. Especially with how we conceded that second goal.

“As a senior player, I’ll take any criticism that comes my way. “We’ve been a real force at home in recent seasons – but we’ve fallen short this year. We have to start getting wins and fast. We’re hurting in the dressing room right now. And we understand the supporters. But we have to stick together.”