Eddie Howe described Newcastle’s display as “nothing like us” following their 3-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium. His side fell behind 2-1 by the interval, prompting the manager to make a triple substitution. Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon and Emil Krafth were withdrawn in favour of Jacob Ramsey, Fabian Schär and William Osula.
Despite the tactical shake-up, the visitors failed to regain control and later conceded a stoppage-time goal, confirming their second league defeat on the road this campaign. Newcastle’s struggles away from home continue, with their last victory outside Tyneside dating back to April.
Frustration at first-half drop-off
Howe said the early goal should have set a positive tone, but admitted his squad allowed the match to drift. As the opening half progressed, he grew increasingly unhappy with the team’s overall sharpness and decision-making.
He explained that the substitutions were intended to inject more intensity and alter the dynamics on the pitch. Although he felt there was some improvement after the restart, he conceded that the performance remained below the level required to recover the result.
Manager points to possible fatigue
The defeat came only days after Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in the EFL Cup, a contrast Howe acknowledged. He noted that the side’s body language was concerning and suggested that tiredness may have played a role.
Even though several regulars were rested during the midweek cup match, Howe reflected that the routine of constant preparation could still influence the players’ energy levels. He stressed that he was not offering excuses but was trying to understand the range of factors that contributed to the disappointing outing.
