Eddie Howe has suggested that Newcastle United's 5-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur could prove beneficial for his side, as it may help 'realign their thoughts and bring them back down to basics'. The Magpies took an early lead in Saturday's match but conceded one goal before half-time and four more in the second half, leaving them empty-handed.
Speaking after the game, Howe said: 'In the future we might look back at this as a good thing for us. It might just realign our thoughts and bring us back down to the basics that have got us success. Sometimes that jolt can be a good thing for you.' He emphasised that the team remains 'in a huge fight to stay in the division'.
Howe reflected on the match, noting that Newcastle executed their game plan well in the first half and controlled Tottenham's key players. However, he identified Matt Doherty's goal as the turning point, after which his side became 'too expansive' and took risks that proved costly.
'We were 1-0 up and executing a really good plan,' Howe said. 'I think the second goal was the key thing... We chased the game probably in a way you can't against this type of team. We became expansive, we ended up taking risks and we didn't execute that well enough.'
