Eddie Howe 'crisis talks' truth as Newcastle future questioned after Bournemouth loss

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Eddie Howe did not avoid the post-match lap of honour at the final whistle against AFC Bournemouth after enduring a third consecutive Premier League defeat. But those laps are becoming shorter with each passing week, and they were met with boos from the Gallowgate End after Sunderland , with Howe and his coaching staff stopping short of venturing into the final third of the pitch as the stadium started to clear.

Some supporters were voicing their discontent after another disappointing loss on Saturday. Howe had pledged to battle on the day before the match and hoped that his squad would follow that message. But they turned out to be empty words, and this setback once more exposed serious problems within the squad.

The £69million club record signing Nick Woltemade can't get anywhere near starting a match in his natural position, £55m Yoane Wissa turned up at the ground alone and departed alone without touching the ball and too many players gave up early.

There were whispers after the match that Howe had been detained by Toon bosses for an explanation following the loss. Those claims are understood to be false, with Howe conducting his standard post-match briefing with sporting director Ross Wilson and performance director James Bunce.

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Chronicle Live reported before the match how only a "sober analysis" of Howe's record as manager would occur. And with five fixtures remaining, that seems to still be the situation. The full-time jeers rang out clearly in the direction of CEO David Hopkinson and Wilson in the directors' box. Wilson was positioned beside the club's head of football strategy and ex-Sunderland and Hibernian manager Jack Ross for Saturday's fixture.

However, as matters stand, an end-of-season performance assessment is expected. Howe didn't mince his words in his evaluation when speaking to the media. He said: "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."

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Yes, it is relegation form - whichever way you examine it The concern at the start of the year on Tyneside was that cup progress was masking deeper issues.

With the FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns ended by Man City weeks ago, the Champions League elimination to Barcelona exposed the genuine quality of United's class of 2026. Newcastle's highest Premier League standing this calendar year was sixth following the 4-3 victory over Leeds.

Yet since then Newcastle have secured just two top-flight victories at St James' Park. They have suffered defeat in eight of their previous 11 Premier League encounters and according to Opta they've lost more than any other Prem club.

The Premier League's ominous form table tells its own story too, Newcastle lie fourth bottom level on points with Wolves since match day 23 with only goal difference separating them from the bottom three.

Dressing room admission It was a player heading towards the exit door at Newcastle who was left to face the music after the match. Toon players now have the choice to dodge reporters with one designated player brought forward to speak to the media following the game.

Kieran Trippier shouldered that duty after the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth and acknowledged that he would accept the criticism coming his way.

He said: "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.