Newcastle’s mistakes cost them against Blackburn as alarm bells ring for Howe

Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Szmodics 79′ | Gordon 71′)

EWOOD PARK — The alarm bells continue to ring for lethargic Newcastle United and Eddie Howe.

Throwing the big guns at Championship side Blackburn Rovers was supposed to be a win back into a season that is veering badly off course for last season’s insurgents. But they made heavy weather of this FA Cup fifth round tie, lacking authority and fluency in a game that was viewed as season-defining. The manner of Sammie Szmodics’ late leveller summed up their recent work: too many of their problems are self-inflicted.

Kick-off was delayed 15 minutes and so too was Newcastle’s response to Saturday’s shellacking at Arsenal. More than 7,400 visiting supporters crammed into the Darwen End looking for signs of evolution but rhythm is proving elusive, even against a side in the lower third of the Championship.

Blackburn is a club that is ill at ease with itself. A 16th minute tennis ball protest against owners Venky’s, whose questionable 14 year reign has alienated supporters and seen the club slide into mediocrity, was proof of continued off the field tumult but on it the appointment of John Eustace has arrested the slide in form at least.

They certainly looked the more dynamic of the two teams in a first half that was further proof of Newcastle’s alarming recent decline. Last term they looked electric, a team with presence who attack with purpose. Lately it feels like the switch has tripped and this was another underpowered display.

Their build-up play was laboured, runs lacked zip and their “swarm” – the intense pressing that was their trademark last season – had no buzz.

By contrast Blackburn’s counters carried real threat. The returning Martin Dubravka made a superb save to deny Tyrhys Dolan after Sam Gallagher cannoned against the side netting.

Just before the break Szmodics drew another fine save from the Newcastle goalkeeper. They worked out what too many of Newcastle’s opponents have sensed this season: Howe’s side are there to be got at.

Credit to Eustace, so unfairly sacked by Birmingham City earlier in the season, because he had clearly done his homework. Blackburn sat deep in defence, posing questions Newcastle’s underwhelming midfield couldn’t answer. And when the visitors gave the ball away – which they did with alarming regularity for most of the first half – they were poised to pounce at pace.

Howe tried to tinker, switching Alexander Isak to the wing and moving Anthony Gordon into a central role early on. But little was shaking them out of their lethargy and it was a sign of how worried the Newcastle manager was that he made a triple substitution on the hour mark. Isak, Newcastle’s best forward but who has clearly been rushed back to plug the club’s bewildering striker gap, was withdrawn as Gordon moved into the number nine role and Miguel Almiron entered the fray.

It was the spark they needed. Almiron has his detractors and struggles, at times, for composure in key moments but he breathed fresh life into Newcastle’s attack. It was his run and cut back that teed up Gordon for an instinctive finish.

Player of the match: Sammie Szmodics

  • The forward was lively, full of spark and the man who drew Rovers deservedly with a smart finish

Game over? Far from it. This is Newcastle’s class of 2024 – there is always a way back into things.

This time it was skipper Jamaal Lascelles whose attempt to head the ball out of play was a horrific misjudgement and let in Dilan Markanday. Dubravka tipped his effort onto the bar but Szmodics reacted quickest to convert the rebound.



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