Manager Eddie Howe believes playing Sunderland at home is a “good game” for his side after the game against Barcelona. But for him and his team, this is a game they can’t afford to lose.
Despite a 7-2 defeat to Spain that ended their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, a second successive defeat against their rivals in the Tyne Wear derby will send alarm bells ringing loudly at St James’ Park.
Sunderland will outperform their neighbours. Howe will leave behind the undesirable record of being the first Magpies manager to lose his first two derbies.
But beyond the pain of the blow to local pride, there will also be bigger questions about the direction Newcastle are headed.
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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was disappointed after his side suffered a disastrous 7-2 defeat to Barcelona.
“This is where we want to be,” Howe said after the loss to Barcelona, recalling how they were evenly matched by the Spanish champions in the first half and enjoyed how everything went wrong after the break.
But it could be years before Newcastle return to the Champions League.
Their current position in the Premier League is unstable.
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A look back at the moments from the Premier League’s most exciting Tyne Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland.
Newcastle could drop to the bottom of the table if they don’t win on Sunday. Any hope of repeating last season’s cup success is now gone, and a top-five finish may already be out of the question.
Sunday March 22nd 11am
Kickoff at 12pm
It looks incredibly difficult to bridge the seven-point gap to fifth-placed Liverpool, especially given Newcastle’s inconsistency this season. They are six points behind sixth-placed Chelsea and three points behind seventh-placed Brentford.
Recent wins against Man United and Chelsea were thought to give them the potential to move up the table in the second half. Heading into Wednesday there was a feeling that Newcastle were in the midst of perhaps their best moment of the season.
However, the mental damage caused by the crushing defeat in Barcelona ruined that and cast doubt on their prospects of making a leap towards qualifying for Europe.
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Sky Sports News’ Keith Downey reacts to Newcastle United’s 7-2 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League.
There is also a physical impact, with Sandro Tonali suffering an injury that will force him to sit out the second half of a fitness test scheduled for this weekend.
It comes after Tonali’s future was buzzed last week, with his agent speaking of his ambitions to take the next step in his career. Bruno Guimarães is also facing the possibility of leaving the club.
Qualifying for the Champions League was not enough to convince Alexander Isak to stay. Without qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition and even the Europa League, Newcastle may find it difficult to retain their more valuable assets this summer. Attracting key targets will also be difficult.
When will Newcastle be back in the Champions League?
Did Howe take Newcastle as far as he could? If this season ends poorly, that will be another question.
The Englishman etched his name into the club’s legend, ending their long-awaited trophy run by winning the Carabao Cup and leading them to a second Champions League appearance. This was an important job, given that Newcastle were fearing relegation at the time he joined, and Howe won many supporters within the club and among the fan base.
His eagerness to refresh and rejuvenate the squad will be a talking point, especially given the depletion that came in the summer when sporting director Paul Mitchell departed. Or could a fresh voice bring even more out of this group?
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Sunderland and Newcastle.
These are all matters for another day. For now, the immediate focus is on Sunday and the Sunderland team who, despite their recent dip in form, pose a real threat.
If Newcastle defend their set-pieces against Regis Le Bris’ side the same way they did against Barcelona, they will be in big trouble. Howe described the defensive lapse in that moment as “unforgivable.”
Sunderland, who came from behind to win in December thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal, will also go into the game with recent history on their side. They have won seven of their last eight games.
They don’t need any motivation to do everything they can to improve that record.
Newcastle will be really nervous if the visiting team gets an early goal. And after their collapse at the Spotify Camp Nou, there are fears of another disastrous defeat.
Howe and Newcastle must bounce back. “We have no choice but to play as if our lives depend on it,” the head coach said.
The club’s trajectory can be shaped by the results.
