How Newcastle's 'bullies' became too nice
It was just last month that Newcastle defeated Manchester United with 10 men, recorded a rare away win at Chelsea and came within seconds of a famous victory against Barcelona at St James' Park. But this flaky team have since suffered a series of damaging losses, including a 2-1 home defeat by in-form Bournemouth last week. The momentum of that game should have been with the hosts following William Osula's equaliser midway through the second half.
However, fragile Newcastle have conceded the most goals after the 75-minute mark (19) in the Premier League for a reason. The sight of so many Newcastle players jogging back as goalscorer Adrien Truffert drifted into the box undetected in the 85th minute summed up the listlessness that has gripped them. So, too, did the bowing of heads after the ball hit the net as this side's confidence plummeted further.
Kieran Trippier was the only player to visibly recoil before the substitute grabbed the ball and beckoned his dazed team-mates forward in an attempt to quickly get the game back under way. Trippier felt it was his down to him to front up and speak to reporters in the immediate aftermath of the defeat, and he did so again in a separate round of interviews before the trip to Arsenal . The former England international is leaving the club at the end of the season, but he remains one of the few vocal leaders in the building.
"It's tough," Trippier said. "Especially at home, since I've been at the club, we have been a real force. We have been tough to beat.
We have been feared. "I just feel we have come away from that a little bit. I don't know why.