Brutal honesty from Eddie Howe after Brentford defeat ‘I have got to take full responsibility…’

Eddie Howe watched on as his Newcastle United team lost 3-2 to Brentford.

Brutal honest after the game from the United boss.

Eddie Howe declaring after Newcastle 2 Brentford 3: “I think there is a harsh reality for me, I think I have got to think long and hard about my…not my effort, my efforts…I can’t question that of myself, but I think I have got to work better. I have got to do more. I have got to take full responsibility for everything you see on the pitch and I have got to work out solutions.”

One of the many things I love about Eddie Howe, is that he doesn’t hide, he doesn’t try to deflect blame.

The Newcastle United Head Coach doesn’t look to make excuses.

I think there are plenty of mitigating factors, so many tough games recently with so little recovery time in between, plus so many injury issues.

Whilst today I think for sure some players weren’t 100% physically, but the Head Coach feeling he had little option but to play them.

However, when matches are ending up in defeat, even if there are mitigating factors, you still need to find a way to turn it around.

Eddie Howe taking full responsibility for getting United back on track, but at the same time, also making clear that the players all need to do their bit as well: “So I think that is for me to do (find solutions) and then of course, I have to ask the same from the players. I have to ask them to be really honest with themselves and look at their best level and judge how they are playing against that now, in this current moment. And I don’t think there is too many that can say that they are playing towards their best. So, I think that then gives us growth to improve.”

Newcastle 2 Brentford 3 – Saturday 7 February 2026 5.30pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Botman 24, Bruno pen 79

Brentford:

Janelt 37, Thiago 45+2 pen, Ouattara 85

Possession was Newcastle 54% Brentford 46%

Total shots were Newcastle 16 Brentford 11

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Brentford 5

Corners were Newcastle 9 Brentford 3

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 24 Brentford 21

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope, Trippier (Burn 87), Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali (Ramsey 87), Bruno, Willock (Elanga 46), Barnes, Jacob Murphy (Woltemade 46), Wissa (Osula 65)

Subs:

Ramsdale, Alex Murphy, Neave, Shahar