Eddie Howe points to crucial moment early in game that could have changed everything for Newcastle United
Newcastle United failed to score at St James' Park today, something that's as rare as hen's teeth, and while the Magpies' attack was woefully lacking, they did have a couple of chances that may have gone differently.
Sandro Tonali could and perhaps should have had the ball in the net in the opening minute, but for a superb stop by Emi Martinez, which we still can't understand how he pulled it off.
Lewis Miley also came close late in the first half with a header that looked destined for the top corner, but again the Argentine keeper pulled off a top-class save.
Both stops by Martinez were incredible, but his antics, rolling around on the floor holding his back when he hadn't even been touched, just undermined everything good he did.
Eddie Howe almost made excuses for this one
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Eddie Howe pointed to that early Tonali chance as one that would have massively changed the game had it gone in, but also pointed fingers at Billy Wind for his involvement today.
"Missed opportunities for us. Sandro has the chance at the start; if it goes in, it's a different game. But it didn't.
"It's a difficult one for us. There were chances and moments there. Their main threats came from long shots and they scored one. It changes the whole game.
"I don't know if it was conditions, it was blustery and windy. We can't use that as an excuse. We had enough time to recover [from PSV] and it's a season where we are constantly challenged.
"Villa have a similar schedule to us but just executed the final bits a bit better. I felt we could get back in the game but the second goal is a killer blow for us."
Newcastle have struggled against teams in the top half of the table
Complaining about the wind and the fixture schedule seems very out of character for Howe, who never tends to make excuses. Even though he caught himself and tried to say they aren't excuses, the fact that he even mentioned them suggests that the cracks are showing.
Newcastle's record against sides in the top half of the table this season has been horrific, and with Liverpool and Brentford up next in the league, that's a huge worry.
The Liverpool game is at Anfield on Saturday night, so that's pretty much a write-off anyway, given our record at that ground. Let's just hope for a shock win in Paris on Wednesday to lift the mood.
