Eddie Howe on tough fixture run: They are all pivotal games

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has labelled the forthcoming sequence of fixtures “all pivotal” as his side prepare to host Manchester United on Wednesday night, the first of four daunting home encounters that could define the remainder of the Magpies’ season.

Fresh from a 3-2 home defeat to Everton, Newcastle have now lost four consecutive domestic matches at St James’ Park and have not tasted victory on their own turf in the league since edging Leeds United 4-3 in early January. That barren run will be severely tested over the coming weeks: after welcoming Erik ten Hag’s side, Newcastle face Manchester City, Barcelona and arch-rivals Sunderland at the same venue before 10 March.

“They are all pivotal games,” Howe said. “With these games, we have to try to be positive and relish them. We can’t play with any fear or with the thought of us not winning at home for a few games. We have to go and attack them. We have to play the games with our brains, not looking back and only looking forward.”

Howe, whose team sit 13th in the table, one point behind 12th-placed Sunderland, acknowledged the psychological toll of Newcastle’s erratic form. “It’s one of frustration really,” he admitted. “When I look back at the games where we haven’t executed what we want or we have performed uncharacteristically, there’s huge frustration. We feel we’ve made progress this season but then we take a step back from a point where we’ve just moved forward. It has been a mental challenge for all of us.”

The Newcastle boss also praised interim Manchester United coach Michael Carrick, a boyhood Magpies supporter, for revitalising the visitors. “He has definitely tweaked things tactically. It looks like he has built a really good atmosphere there, and players will play better because of that. He has been a real positive for them because you can see a real upturn in their general performances. It will be a great opportunity for us to rediscover our best form at home.”

With points at a premium and confidence fragile, Howe knows the next 90 minutes could set the tone for a month that may ultimately shape Newcastle’s campaign.