🔗 Share this article The Past Repeats Itself for Newcastle No footballer has converted more penalties in the European Cup this season than the Newcastle forward. Frustration was clear as Aaron Ramsdale flung out his arms. Malick Thiaw slammed the turf. Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy stood in disbelief, hands on heads. The past was coming back to haunt them for the Magpies as the stadium roared following an late equaliser for the German side's Alex Grimaldo. After showing remarkable spirit to come from behind, and go in front against the German side, Newcastle were once more robbed of a precious victory. They had let in another stoppage-time strike. "You must show character and be accountable and we failed to do that sufficiently," the team's manager Eddie Howe said following the share of the points in the Champions League. "That's a team thing – the entire squad realising the critical nature of protecting our net." Newcastle have now let in nine strikes in the dying moments of games in every tournament this season. Only Nottingham Forest have conceded a greater number among Premier League clubs. "It all comes back to mentality," goalscorer Anthony Gordon told broadcasters. "We have to hold out in these games because that is how elite sides operate." 'We Gave Ourselves a Mountain to Climb' Newcastle aim to become a leading side, of course. And there was no danger of the away team having their focus diverted by Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby. So crucial was this match, and the esteem he held for Leverkusen, Howe named perhaps his best available side as Lewis Hall, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes all were included in the team. Yet they quickly found themselves going behind in familiar circumstances after not winning the initial header on a corner kick. Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich powerfully evaded Tonali at the back post to head the ball off Bruno Guimaraes and into the net. "Our performance isn't good enough," Gordon said. "Again it comes back to mentality. We need to be stronger, we need to be better. Ultimately, it's maintaining standards. We need to be a reliable team in all aspects of the game." Newcastle have devoted practice to set-plays recently, but a typically solid side have looked shaky from corner kicks in the recent matches. 'Must Employ Any Means Necessary for Victory' But Newcastle discovered a path to recovery. After a stern team talk at half-time, the Magpies rallied after the break and earned a spot-kick. And after converting the penalty, Gordon then went on to set up replacement Lewis Miley's header to put Newcastle ahead. Yet, another familiar issue reared its head. Even after going ahead in the 74th minute, Newcastle were unable to see out the game. This side have squandered more leads from ahead situations - 11 - than any other team in the Premier League. They have not won four of their past five matches on the road in all competitions despite taking the lead in all of them. Newcastle came close to scoring again through Jacob Murphy off the bench after taking the lead, but Howe's side began to drop deep against Leverkusen late on. And Grimaldo's smart feint took Newcastle's midfield out of the game before the Leverkusen star player levelled. "I don't think it's ever a case of sitting back and absorbing pressure," the Newcastle head coach said. "That isn't our primary objective, but you must employ all necessary tactics to win. Sometimes that is par for the course, that's what you have to do." Newcastle remain on course for at least a play-off spot and are only a few points off the automatic qualification places for the knockout stages. But Howe's team must not allow history repeat itself when they host a PSV side who are starting to hit form, before a trip to the Parc des Princes to take on holders Paris St-Germain. "We have it all to prove," Howe added. "The fixtures we have are extremely tough games but I believe in the group. Wherever we go, if we're near our best, we can win."
No footballer has converted more penalties in the European Cup this season than the Newcastle forward. Frustration was clear as Aaron Ramsdale flung out his arms. Malick Thiaw slammed the turf. Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy stood in disbelief, hands on heads. The past was coming back to haunt them for the Magpies as the stadium roared following an late equaliser for the German side's Alex Grimaldo. After showing remarkable spirit to come from behind, and go in front against the German side, Newcastle were once more robbed of a precious victory. They had let in another stoppage-time strike. "You must show character and be accountable and we failed to do that sufficiently," the team's manager Eddie Howe said following the share of the points in the Champions League. "That's a team thing – the entire squad realising the critical nature of protecting our net." Newcastle have now let in nine strikes in the dying moments of games in every tournament this season. Only Nottingham Forest have conceded a greater number among Premier League clubs. "It all comes back to mentality," goalscorer Anthony Gordon told broadcasters. "We have to hold out in these games because that is how elite sides operate." 'We Gave Ourselves a Mountain to Climb' Newcastle aim to become a leading side, of course. And there was no danger of the away team having their focus diverted by Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby. So crucial was this match, and the esteem he held for Leverkusen, Howe named perhaps his best available side as Lewis Hall, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes all were included in the team. Yet they quickly found themselves going behind in familiar circumstances after not winning the initial header on a corner kick. Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich powerfully evaded Tonali at the back post to head the ball off Bruno Guimaraes and into the net. "Our performance isn't good enough," Gordon said. "Again it comes back to mentality. We need to be stronger, we need to be better. Ultimately, it's maintaining standards. We need to be a reliable team in all aspects of the game." Newcastle have devoted practice to set-plays recently, but a typically solid side have looked shaky from corner kicks in the recent matches. 'Must Employ Any Means Necessary for Victory' But Newcastle discovered a path to recovery. After a stern team talk at half-time, the Magpies rallied after the break and earned a spot-kick. And after converting the penalty, Gordon then went on to set up replacement Lewis Miley's header to put Newcastle ahead. Yet, another familiar issue reared its head. Even after going ahead in the 74th minute, Newcastle were unable to see out the game. This side have squandered more leads from ahead situations - 11 - than any other team in the Premier League. They have not won four of their past five matches on the road in all competitions despite taking the lead in all of them. Newcastle came close to scoring again through Jacob Murphy off the bench after taking the lead, but Howe's side began to drop deep against Leverkusen late on. And Grimaldo's smart feint took Newcastle's midfield out of the game before the Leverkusen star player levelled. "I don't think it's ever a case of sitting back and absorbing pressure," the Newcastle head coach said. "That isn't our primary objective, but you must employ all necessary tactics to win. Sometimes that is par for the course, that's what you have to do." Newcastle remain on course for at least a play-off spot and are only a few points off the automatic qualification places for the knockout stages. But Howe's team must not allow history repeat itself when they host a PSV side who are starting to hit form, before a trip to the Parc des Princes to take on holders Paris St-Germain. "We have it all to prove," Howe added. "The fixtures we have are extremely tough games but I believe in the group. Wherever we go, if we're near our best, we can win."