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Howe responds to Pope criticism after ’10 minutes of madness’ sees Marseille comeback to beat Newcastle

Eddie Howe responds to Nick Pope criticism after ’10 minutes of madness’ sees Marseille comeback to beat Newcastle 2-1.

Newcastle were left bruised by ’10 minutes of madness’ as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the net twice, Marseille coming from behind with second-half goals in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Harvey Barnes had put Newcastle ahead on the 6th minute, but the visitors’ poor away form drags on as 36-year-old Aubameyang levelled with a fine finish after beating the on rushing Nick Pope to the ball, then hooked home the winner four minutes later from Timothy Weah’s cross.

The result gave Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille their second Champions League win of the season, lifting them to 19th in the table, while Newcastle remain in 8th.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to TNT Sports:

“I thought the effort was good. I think the start of the second half, obviously, was a big one for us – 15 minutes at the start of the second half, I thought, cost us.

“I thought we handled the atmosphere really well in the first half and even towards the end of the game, I felt there were chances for us to score

“I think the goal straight away, near enough, after half-time, changes the whole feeling around the stadium and the game itself.

“It was just a lapse of concentration from our perspective, I think. Then we didn’t maybe react well enough to that. We conceded the second and from there it was difficult.”

Asked about Pope’s error at his post-match press conference, Howe said: “It’s a concern when we concede goals regardless of who’s at fault. We have to look at everything with a balanced head.

“He saved us many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That’s the life of a goalkeeper. But I’ll certainly back him.”

Bruno Guimaraes said to BBC Newcastle: “We started the game so well, strong, keep the ball, aggressive, positive. In the second half, we just were not in the pitch for five, 10 minutes, [conceded] two goals.

“Shocking sloppy with the ball, without the ball. Very sad for today.

“I think we were in a great position after the first half, playing well. But we have to learn, we have to learn with games like that, we are still in a great position. But games like today, it’s tough to accept the defeat.

“I’m very disappointed, but we have to keep going.

“I don’t think [the performance] was that bad, to be honest,” Guimaraes admitted. “I think in the first half, we had the chance to make it 2-0.

“And the second half, five, ten minutes, I think it was too slow, I don’t know what happened. We cannot accept this.

“We have to play better, especially when we’re winning. I think it’s the three games in a row we start to win, and we lost the game [away from home].

“So, we have to, I don’t know, we have to work hard. We have to make things right in the changing room, because this cannot happen.”

When asked about the criticism aimed at Pope: “We know that Pope has already saved us many, many times.

“This happened to me, it happened to him, it already happened to Dan Burn. So, we have to keep going.”

Newcastle defender Dan Burn, speaking to TNT Sports: Definitely frustrating,. I thought we stuck to the game plan pretty well the whole game.

“[It was] 10, 15 minutes of madness at the start of the second half that cost us. So definitely disappointing to come to a team like this, a stadium like this and an atmosphere like this, and put all that in and not come away with anything. It’s disappointing.

“Mentally, we didn’t start the second half as well as we wanted. Aubameyang, 36 years old but still sharp and can finish, he showed his quality today. When you go 2-1 down, and you’ve got to break them down away from home, it’s tough.

“I think it was actually a pretty good performance, but we had chances that we should have scored and didn’t capitalise. Then two goals, very disappointed.”

Marseille goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, talking to TNT Sports: “I’m very happy to be here at this club to enjoy moments like tonight. It was a great game. We started a bit sloppily, but we reacted well.

“I’m feeling great, even if I’m 36. When you play these types of games, you want to play more and score more.

“It was very important, especially at home and for the fans. If we want to go through, then we have to win games.”

WHAT THE PUNDITS SAID:

Keown on the TNT Sports Champions League Goals Show: “No Isak. I know he’s not really doing it for Liverpool but he looks a huge loss for Newcastle.

“Gordon looked sharp in that first half, but you need a specialist centre-forward with pace. It’s not quite there. It doesn’t fit them with their game type.

“Everything is about pace and counterattacking. Lots of big games for Newcastle [to come].”

TNT Sports’ Joe Cole:

“The away record’s not good enough, you can’t hide away from that. There’s no disgrace losing by the odd goal here, because you give them a little bit of something, and they’ll grab it.

“They give Aubameyang a sniff, a top world-class striker like that, and he’s going to punish you.

“It’s a difficult place to play. As a group of players, they have to find a way to get a result away from home. Back to the drawing board for Eddie Howe.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Eddie Howe responds to Nick Pope criticism after Marseille’s ’10 minutes of madness’ comeback to beat Newcastle…

@AlexBirdNUFC: 3rd away game in a row weve gone 1-0 up and then proceeded to sit back and chuck the game away. 4 away wins in 2025 is just simply not good enough Pope NEEDS dropping for Ramsdale

@MagnificoMags: Is Nick Pope mentally unwell? He cost us this game. I’ve defended him this season but he’s destroyed our confidence before the second-half had even begun. Lifting.

@DanNUFC__: Pope has cost us that yes, but bigger picture is so worrying. Our away form is shocking and it’s the third away game we’ve taken the lead and lost. If we can’t fix that then I’m sorry but Howe will have to go. Can’t rely on only being able to perform at home

@AlCraig90: Same again at the weekend lads? Make sure Gordon, Burn, especially Nick Pope start. Same shit interview after saying we need to be better? Let’s just keep doing the same shit over and over again. We won’t win another away game this season

@HYBRlD: Start ramsdale next and gordon isn’t a striker

@OwenH04: Gordon walking about all night, burn just hacking away at people, tonali leathering that freekick over the bar, hall passing corners into the first man. 90% of the team just absolutely 0 intent to get a result, pathetic

@nufc_review: Has everyone been watching the same game as me?! Apart from the first 5 minutes and the last 10 minutes we hung on and were absolutely dreadful! Couldn’t string 3 passes together, constantly lost the ball or picked the wrong pass, even though they gave us plenty of opportunities

@sebvettelthings: a decent start and an utterly shambolic conclusion to an away performance? wonder where we’ve seen that one before

@halalthelads: Eddies favouritism will cost him his job. Pope willock burn Murphy all starting champions league game for us is a disgrace. Also the money wasted on elanga and Ramsay is a sackable offence. Thanks for everything Eddie but it’s time to be ruthless #howeout

@JonTombstone: Key moment. If Pope starts at the weekend after this, it’ll show Eddie doesn’t have the bollocks to upset a player for the good of the team. If that’s the case, he’s digging his own grave. For me, this is the end of Pope. If it isn’t, it’s the beginning of the end of Howe.

@bennufc_18: Win at home, lose away. like clockwork, clear mentality issue needs to be addressed asap.

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