Eddie Howe gives telling update on Newcastle future after Sunderland defeat

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Eddie Howe insists he will not walk away from Newcastle after a damaging last-gasp defeat to bitter rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park.

Newcastle were 1-0 up at half-time but two second half goals, including a late winner from Brian Brobbey, enabled the Black Cats to complete the league double over their neighbours. Howe and his players were booed at the final whistle by their furious fans, whose team are now in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League .

A disappointed Howe offered no excuses for the defeat but stressed that he was going nowhere despite a chastening week which saw Newcastle thrashed 7-2 by Barcelona in the decisive leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.

Speaking after the game, he said: “I am committed, fully committed.

“I'm disappointed in myself and my delivery today over the last week. The Barcelona game was very tough. Today is even tougher.

“Yeah, I mean, I always, as I said after the Brentford game, absorb myself and don't look to deflect it to my players, I protect my players to my last breath.

“That is how I look at it. It is going to be a tough painful few days for me.”

The Magpies were gifted the lead just 10 minutes into the game with Anthony Gordon finding the net to nudge them into the lead. But Chemsdine Talbi equalised just before the hour mark to set the stage for Brobbey to plunder the most dramatic of winners.

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Howe was forthright after the final whistle, adding: “I've got very little to use an excuse and I don't want to go down that road - I never have and I never will, never believed in that, once you have not performed.

“If you don't deliver, you expect to be criticised and you understand why.

“I understand the criticism at the end of the game. We have not done our jobs well enough and I expect to be criticised. We are desperately disappointed in ourselves.

“We have to absorb it. The only thing we can do is come back stronger from it.”

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On the anger that was directed towards he and his team at the full-time whistle, Howe added: “Very, very painful. Most of all, it's painful for our supporters, and they're the ones I think about now.

“I've got very little to use as an excuse. Once you haven't performed and you know how much the game means you have to accept the criticism.

“I understand the reaction at the end of the game.

“We never want to go through a hostile reception from crowd. I understand the criticism.”

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