Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has admitted that he’s not doing his job “well enough” – and that “not too many” of his players who playing at their best right now.
The comments came after the Magpies fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford despite taking a first-half lead.
Sven Botman headed in from a corner to open the scoring before Vitaly Janelt equalised. The visitors went into the break ahead after Igor Thiago converted a penalty.
The sides were level again late in the second half, however, when Bruno Guimaraes scored a spot kick of his own, but the Bees had the last laugh when Dango Ouattara squeaked the ball between Nick Pope’s legs.
The defeat caps off a dreadful week for Newcastle, who were well beaten by Liverpool at Anfield last weekend before being dumped out of the League Cup by Manchester City in midweek.
The Tyneside outfit are now as close to the dropzone as they are to the Champions League spots in the Premier League table, and fans booed the team at both half-time and full-time.
“I always feel under pressure. It’s irrelevant to me, the type of pressure,” said Howe in his post-match press conference.
“When you’re in this job, you’re always in that moment: whether it’s pressure to win, or to turn around results. We’re very much in that [second] feeling.
“I always say the pressure I put on myself could not be more extreme. I demand really high standards from what I am doing and how I work, and what I ask the players to do.
“I’m obviously not doing my job well enough at the moment.
“I’m annoyed with myself, angry with myself, blaming myself, taking full accountability on my shoulders. No one else.”
On his players’ performances this season, Howe added: “I have to ask them to be really honest and look at their best levels, and judge them against that now in this current moment.
“I don’t think there are too many who can say they are playing their best. That then gives us growth to improve.”
Asked if he is concerned about the boos from his own supporters, Howe replied: “If we perform, the crowd will back us. They will be with us every step of the way.
“I have no issue with their reaction today. They are reacting to what we deliver. I don’t see that being a problem. Of course we have to turn that around with our performances.”
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